Le Tour Eiffel + Bethel = Good times!

Who goes to the Eiffel Tower and writes : "We saw the Eiffel Tower and watched the sunset. You get the idea." and that's it??!! I can't let that go by- THE EIFFEL TOWER IS AWESOME. We went at the perfect time- evening when it was still very light. We climed up 700 steps (its cheaper of course and shorter lines) and by the time we got up to the middle, the sun started to set. Then as we climed back down, the sun set, and the lights came on. We also met fellow brothers and sisters on the way up and down as well. It was everything you think it will be times a hundred. Well worth the lines, the fees, and the scary climb up. We went across the street to the bank of the Seine river and had crepes and beer.

The only thing that can top the Eiffel Tower, is of course what we are really here for: Today we went on our tour. We met for breakfast in the lobby and let me tell you- Jehovah's organization does not skimp on food. We definitley had a proper breakfast! Then we drove 2 hrs to the French Bethel in the town of Louviers, in the Normandy region.

The French Bethel is very clean and cute. In some parts it even looks like an Ikea- very stylish. After a good breakfast and 2 hr drive, we needed a bathroom asap. So the first stop on the tour were bathrooms set up for the tour. Little did we know, we would be squatting in heels! Very interesting. What's funny is that at the end of the tour, they had more bathrooms set up for us with REAL TOILETS. I think they did that as a joke on us.

The boys were admiring the new carpet that looked like wood floors. This was humorous to the Bethelites. Weird americans taking pictures of the flooring! All the Bethel family were so nice- giving us gifts as we go along the tour. I kept making sure I still had my purse, and then I realized we were in the safest place - physically and spiritually. It was wonderful.

Family from Ukraine- one sister from Ukraine came up to Emily and I and said she loved us. It was the only English she knew. Very touching

Sisters handing out French candy.

We had boxed lunch on the way back to Paris- just a warning: if you are on the Atkins diet, don't even come to France until you are done. Our lunch was a giant baguette, a large piece of chocolate cake, and a smaller baguette-like cookie. People say even though you eat bread and cheese all day that you still lose weight because you walk everywhere. I have yet to experience this! Maybe we need to climb the Eiffel Tower again...

We ended the day, driving around Paris FOR 4 MORE HOURS. We did mostly drive-bys, hopped out at like 2 places, and still did not see all of the city. Everything about the city is so planned and beautiful to the eye- its overwhelming- but not a let down in anyway.

What good are these things if we can't share them with others? We really do miss everyone at home. The only thing that would make it better is if you all were here with us. Cheesy, but true. And that's not the jet-lag talking...

~ Jessica

First day

Can’t sleep:
It’s 4:38 am Paris time and none of us can sleep. For the first night, we (Bret and I) are sharing a room with Shawn and Emily. They messed up on the arrangements and we have only one bed in the room. So the 6 foot people are squeezed onto a sheet on the floor. Actually, Emily is sleeping on the carpet. We all want to get up now and see the sights but there isn’t anyone else out but French hookers.
Just a note about London- We took a train from the airport to the Chunnel train station. It was our first experience with the native people. On the train, NO ONE talked- AT ALL. So just imagine the 6 of us loud idiots fumbling onto this train. We’ve had no sleep, and Emily and I are trying so hard not to resist talking in our English accents like we do back in the states. Everything is starting to look funny and strange with the lack of sleep. Kinda like how at the meeting everything seems funnier because you can’t talk- but it’s really not that funny when you try to talk about it later- or write a blog about it later. So, sorry if this is not funny at all guys!
Anyways, there were no seats and the English people on the train wouldn’t respond to politeness- no moving your stuff over so someone can sit. You just have to go and pretty much sit on that person’s stuff and they will move. Personal space is not an option here and no one cares. But it’s weird sitting so close to people without anyone saying a word-very dry.
They were all dressed for work (it was a Monday morning ) and all reading the paper. Another thing is everyone looks like English actors from English movies. Just from seeing this little bit on our train, England looks just like it does in the movies. I even saw little knickers hanging on a clothesline behind a cottage. -Jessica
Bret-That was the beginning of our day. I’ll be brief. We went to Musee d’Orsay (which is a museum for the lay person) and saw lots of nudity. Really up close and personal. And also went to the Eiffel Tower and watched the sunset. You get the idea. Enjoy the pics. (btw accidently posted the pictures without rotating them first. whoops)

You know it's going to be a good trip when it starts out with......

...A goiter! (eeewww) Interesting start to our trip…My dad has had this goiter on his neck and a week ago it swelled up. So instead of going to the doctor then, he decides to go yesterday just before it explodes! The nurse relieved it and packed it with packing and now he has a big bandage on his neck. He's gross. The worst part is, so that it doesn’t get infected, every morning for the next three days we have to remove the stuffing with sterile tweezers and repack with stuffing. And believe me it’s not as easy as a nurse makes it look. Jessica saw surgery going on on her kitchen floor at 6 am and decided it was a good time to take her tranquilizers....and it was. Saying goodbye to Phoenix could have gone alot worse but we kept it together.

Today has been the longest day ever- after a plane delay, rush to get to our connecting flight, 2 trains, speaking english to french people, speaking spanish to french people, crying everytime we see a blond child, and monitoring a goiter- we finally made it!