I continue on down toward the exit of the harbor,  it segways into a vast body of water that extends as far as the eye can see, scanning to my left I see land mass that protrudes from the water creating sites that are ineffable! These small islands are the vacation spots for the rich and famous.

As head back toward the hotel, I see the historic buildings all around. Off to the east there is a church that sits high atop a hill (l’eglish: Notre Dame de Gard,) it is easily visible from any point in the city. The church is one of the largest and most luxurious churches and it represents the power of the bishop during the middle centuries. In modern times, it is said that the church looks after the ships as they exit the harbor and insures safe navigation of the treacherous waters. The locals are very superstitious about this and always make sure that the church is maintained at pristine levels – so it will reward the ships with safety!

If you ever have a chance to travel to this wonderful city, you will not be disappointed, it is magnificent in every way!

]]> http://www.andybloyer.com/?feed=rss2&p=99 0 http://www.andybloyer.com/?p=58 http://www.andybloyer.com/?p=58#comments Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:49:18 +0000 andy http://www.andybloyer.com/?p=58 Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long since my last post. Needless to say it has been non-stop work this week, and I have not had a lot of time to dedicate to my blog posts.

I visited the Louvre and got some amazing photo…I hope you all enjoy!

The jet I was traveling on made it all the way from Salt Lake City, Utah to Paris, France  in one piece. (Even from a pilots point of view, that flight blows my mind!) I appreciate everyone’s prayers for travel mercies, they were answered!

I can tell you that after 11 hours of flying, your butt really starts to hurt! It would have been one of the best flight experiences of my life if there hadn’t been three little rowdy girls, that were excellent at acting up as soon as I managed to doze off for a few minutes. I’m confident that their kids will repay them someday…:)

Upon arriving at the Charles de Gaulle airport, I managed to make it through customs successfully and gather all of my bags. (I thank God that they all arrived, I can’t imagine a bigger nightmare!) I made my way over to the ATM and withdrew some Euros, and this is when it really started to sink in, I am in a totally different country surrounded by people that don’t speak English. It is a wildly different feeling, and no matter how loud I talked they didn’t seem to understand me. I thought, well, this is weird:) I have been getting pretty crafty with my communication skills and even managed to make my way around on the Subway.

I visited the Eiffel Tower today, and no matter how many pictures you have seen, it’s still magnificent in real life… I have attached some pictures so you can see the start of my journey through Europe for yourself!

Thanks for your continued prayers, I really need them as I continue to adjust in this different culture!

I am reminded that spring is right around the corner. The cold days are getting fewer and further between. It was a beautiful day in Bend, Oregon, and I decided to take a walk along the Deschutes river trail. The tranquility surrounded me! I watched as people jogged by, moms played with their kids, and the fishermen fished. People seemed to leave all of their cares behind them and just enjoy the outdoors, it was amazing!