Thursday August 1 Lisieux, France

I feel very fortunate that I got to go to Lisieux, France. This is where St. Theresa, the Little Flower, who is my favourite saint lived from 4 1/2 yrs of age til her death at 24yrs.
We had to take 2 subways and then a 1 1/2 hr. train ride to get to the town Lisieux. It was probably our hottest day -- 90 degrees. We did a lot of walking this day and I think mostly uphill, but it was worth it.

                                                     Basilica of St Theresa up on the hill

                    Start of our trek uphill toward the Basilica. But we're pretty pro at walking uphill by now.

 The Basilica can hold 4,000 people and there are more than 2,000,0000 visitors a year, 2nd only to Lourdes, France. So magnificent!

                                                             One of the side altars.

                                                   Picture of St. Mathias on one of the walls.

So beautiful inside and I did get to light another candle for family & friends.

                          Statue of St. Theresa, with plaques expressing words of thanks.

We also visited the home where she lived from the age of 4 1/2 until 15 yrs. when she entered the convent. This is the entrance from the street.

It's a large house. There are beautiful rose bushes in the front......  symbol of St. Theresa.

 

                                                              Dining room of the house.

                                     
Some of her personal belongings as a child. It was awesome looking around and envisioning St. Theresa in her home, walking in areas where she would've walked.

 On our walk to the convent of Carmel we came across a palm tree. There are palm trees in Europe. I saw some in Rome too.

I took this picture for Tom. It's a giant milk can/fountain in a flower bed in Lisieux.

                                      
 At the convent there is a shrine for St. Theresa with a statue that represents Theresa on her deathbed. Her remains are inside the base of the shrine. It was a very quiet & holy place where people sat or kneeled to pray. There was also a museum at the convent which was quite interesting.
 I really enjoyed my day at Lisieux and I really appreciate Michael for making it happen.
 

                                                     On our way back to Paris by train.

                                                                    And then subway.

                                           Our last dinner in Paris at "Chez Clement" restaurant.

                        Sandy got to have her creme brule. Tom & I shared one too. Soooooo yummy!

Ahhhhhh, back at the apartment ...... feet up and toasting to our last night in Paris with wine which the owner left in the fridge for us.