It's been awhile since I go on a trip with my whole family (almost). I have a list of thing I would like to do before I'm 30 that is to visit Europe, doesn't matter which country. I almost did, last year for the World Youth Day in Spain, but alas due to complications and clashes at work and my training schedule, I can't make it. It was frustrating since i've been planing for 2 years. That is why I'm so thankful when my dad insisted the whole family go for this pilgrimage to Lourdes.
My parents have always been religious, so I grew up in a sctrict Catholic environment. I have to thank them for being a hugh part of my faith formation. I've not seen them since Christmas so naturally I miss them.
It's a group of 33 people including a priest, Rev. Father Joseph Liew. My parents flew in from Kuching with the whole group and my sister, Beatrice "Beat" Emma and I joined the group at KLIA. It's my first international flight for KLIA and checking-in was a headache as the personals insisted that we use the automated self-check in kiosk which didn't seems to hold our booking info until the officer in-charge helped.
So we were at the departure hall waiting for the rest of the group before we found out the the group have been divided into two, as there have been some problem with our booking. So, the other group have to fly in to Frankfurt instead of Amsterdam with us. My family was lucky, none have to fly to Frankfurt.
There's a lot of first times for me for this flight. It's my first flight with KLM. 12 hours journey on a Boeing 777-300 is definitely my first and despite the awesome entertainment suite, I wasn't that interested and slept the whole journey. The food is good but to me the air stewardess are a shock to me. They are old. But it doesn't mean that they service are any less good. The food is good and have a variety of choice for beverages. "What would you like to drink? We have red wine, white wine, beer and water. " I settled for a glass of orange juice and a bottle of red wine.
There were about 600 people aboard the plane and only 8 toilets. Naturally, the toilets are always occupied. Aisle seat is good if you have a weak bladder not when you are seated next to someone wrote the same condition. So, I was like constantly going in and out of my seat as the lady I sat beside keeps on going to the loo.
When we reached Schipol Airport, Amsterdam, it was already very bright. Before landing, I had a glimpse of the aerial view of this beautiful country. Too bad, it's just a transit. Our connecting flight is at 8am, so we just have about an hour to explore the airport.
Our connecting flight to France is a shorter one in a smaller plane, a Boeing 737-300. By the time we got to Charles De Gaulle Airport, our ride is already waiting for us. Our driver is Portugese and he's from Lisbon. When we saw him with his blazer, he don't look like a driver at all, but like some businessman.
After picking up the rest of the tour members who flew in via Frankfurt at Terminal 1, we proceed to the City of Love, Paris. It was a pleasant journey on a modern highway with walls decorated with graffiti all the way to the city centre.
After a heavy Chinese lunch, our guide brought us for a short tour around Paris. It is a really charming city, with awesome architecture. These makes Paris so fotogenic. The city is so full of history and culture. Too bad, we didn't get to go the Musee de Lourve with housed a few thousand paintings and sculptors with includes the famous Monalisa.
After Eiffel Tower, we proceed for our private Pentecost Mass at the Chapelle Notre Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse. It's a very beautiful chapel indeed. Check out the fresco below.
Right on top at the middle, the fresco recalls the night in which the young Sister Catherine Labouré received the first visit of our Mother Mary.
Her intact body is placed here in the reliquary at this chapel together with the body of St. Louise de Marillac, co-founder of the Company of the Daughters of Charity with St Vincent de Paul.
After mass, I bought some of the miraculous medal as gifts.
After the chapel, we visited the Notre-Dame Cathedral. It's huge and there's a long line snaking into the entrance.
On a lighter note, what is the City of Love without weddings. It seems to be a trend started by the Chinese to get married in Paris and hire super long limousine.
Paris is also a very dog-friendly city, with people walking their dogs everywhere.
Parisian cycle a lot too. They even have trishsaws.
Paris girls are beautiful, yes.
After a long day, we checked in our hotel at the south part of Paris. It's a little bit hard to get used to the fact that the sun will only set at around 10pm.
No comments:
Post a Comment