D Is for Disneyland Paris (and E Is for EuroDisney)

Buttercup takes a whirl at Disneyland Paris, 1992 

I'm sad to admit that I haven't been the most careful photograph conservator over the years. Anyone else have that issue? Fortunately I've been able to keep track of photographs of my first visit to Disneyland Paris, then known as EuroDisney, in 1992. My trip in 1992 was part of a trip to Paris and it let me live a dream come true, a visit to a Disney Park. As you can see I had a great time on the teacups. 

Dumbo, as seen in 1992 

I'm not sure if I rode on Dumbo during the 1992 visit and there are no photographs for proof. But I rode almost all of the other rides, except for those not recommended for people with heart conditions. It seems amazing that I could ride most of  the rides at the park in a one day visit. But in the summer of 1992 there were no lines, no special admissions, no advanced tickets and no app to guide me around the park. My friend and I showed up at the park, bought our tickets and then had a wonderful time. No advanced planning was needed. 

  

My trip last year was very different. I joined a Facebook group dedicated to people coming from outside of France to visit the now Disneyand Paris. I bought my ticket several months ahead and downloaded the app to my phone. I kept up with the Facebook group and studied the app. It was a lot more complicated than my first visit. 

Buttercup (and Pep and Leo) Meet Pluto

Even with the app and Facebook, it was a lot more difficult to maneuver the park thirty plus years later. The lines were beyond belief and the additional fees for quicker access seemed too pricy for me.  There were a few rides I would have paid the additional fee for, but they weren't recommended for people with spinal issues. All that aside, I enjoyed my visit very much. The high point was meeting Pluto. So much fun! I also rode several rides, including Pinocchio and Ratatouille, and enjoyed a magical soft ice cream. 

This wraps up Week 1 of Blogging from A to Z. I'm delighted that I'm up to date with my posts and so glad to be back (at least for now) in a regular blogging habit. Sunday is a vacation day for the A to Z Challenge. It's been a busy week and I'm happy to have a less scheduled day. I'm going to spend time catching up with all the thoughtful comments that have been left this week. Thanks, all, so much!

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

Bonjour, New York!

I love Paris, especially on beautiful sunny days

Greetings from New York City,

I'm back from Paris after a wonderful not-quite two weeks of museums, walking, croissants and cafes and a very fun day at Disneyland Paris. I also returned with a massive case of jet lag, and though I attempted to get back on New York time, my body wasn't having it. I was awake at six a.m. -- which is noon Paris time -- needed a nap in the afternoon and then asleep again around nine. I'm pretty much back on New York time and hoping to get through a post without falling asleep.

I've got weeks of posts, but in this first post-Paris post I'm going to include just a few of the high points. Seeing Notre Dame (above) was a thrill. It's a miracle that this 800 year old building survived a major fire in 2019 and is scheduled to reopen this December. It's completely closed to visitors while the reconstruction is taking place, but I was so happy to see it and visit the area. 

Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa? 

It wouldn't  have been a visit to Paris without a visit to the Louvre and it wouldn't have been a visit to the Louvre without stopping by to see the Mona Lisa. The room was crowded -- very, very crowded is a more accurate description -- but I raised my phone way over my head and was able to get a clear photograph of "the lady with the mystic smile." I promise a post later this month with some of my other favorites from my visit to the Louvre. 

My good friend, Pluto

I was staying close to Disneyland Paris and decided to spend a day at Disneyland. I'd been there in 1992 and it was both much smaller and totally uncrowded. I was also thirty plus years younger. On my first visit I rode many of the rides and got to see just about all of the park. There were a few new rides I wanted to ride, but they came with a warning to people who had spinal issues, which left me out. I enjoyed a few rides, the beautiful gardens and best of all, meeting Pluto. Yes, I wasn't the only one of the Buttercupland Crew who met Pluto, Pep and Baby Yoda were along for the fun.   

Tomorrow we'll be visiting the Musee D'Orsay, which focuses on Impressionist art. It was a favorite part of my visit to Paris and there are two paintings in particular that I'd like to share for Mother's Day.

I've been away from blogging way too long and it's good to be back to writing and sharing my Paris adventures. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for a sweet Sunday.

It's Time for Another Whirl on the Teacups

 

My first (and only) whirl on the teacups in 1992

One of my childhood dreams was a visit to Disneyland in California. Despite a number of trips to California I've never made it to Disneyland, though I have visited Disneyland Paris and Disney World in Florida. My visit to Disneyland in Paris took place in 1992 and it was one day of a longer visit to Paris. It was a lot of fun as the picture above confirms. 

The Eiffel Tower, in a photo now turning to sepia

It's been almost 25 years since I've been to Paris, though I was in France last spring, and a return trip has long been on my mind. Though I've traveled a lot in the interim I've tried to visit places that I'd never visited before, and Paris didn't meet that criteria. But this winter I thought about places I loved and wanted to return to. Sedona and Paris were at the top of my list. The trip back to Sedona last month with college friends was fabulous and later this month -- next week! -- I'm off to Paris. 

Dumbo will be waiting in Disneyland Paris

There will be a return to Disneyland, but also visits to the Louvre -- can't go to Paris without time at the Louvre -- the Musee d'Orsay -- and the amazing collection of Impressionist art and the Marmatton, dedicated to the work of Monet. What else will I do? I predict coffee at cafes, a trip (or two) to my favorite ice cream store on the Ile St. Louis and time spent enjoying the beauty of Paris. I will also be meeting friends who live in France and are graciously making the trip to Paris. 

I'm just about ready, though there are still a few errands to go. It's a busy while before I leave, but so enjoying a beautiful spring in New York. It's tulip time and they're lovely this year. I promise a tulip post to come. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and happy spring!