On the eve I came by a tourist firm called Weri( www.weri.com ), and bought a one day trip to the castles of Loire. At 8:00 a bus embarked from Denfert-Rochefort Square. Besides French in our group were also Chinese and Italian tourists. By the way, nice Italian voices were to hear everywhere in Paris.
The first castle was Blois. It is situated in a small town, to be probably reached with a train. The castle had been built in three stages � every proprietor has left his own style. About 20 minutes we were told the history of the castle, after that we had approximately an hour to walk around by ourselves. What I retained in my memory is the view to Loire river from the castle walls � grey roofs and smooth river.
The second castle we visited this day was Chenonceau � it may be called the most beautiful. We were passing the narrow streets, alongside the Loire, which seemed to be not very deep � here and there we could see small islands of the ground in the middle of the river. Built on the river Chenonceau is looking very gracefully, notwithstanding a lot of rooms. Wonderful kitchen with a cooking inventory is inside. Everything is made in a middle-aged style and I felt myself living in that century.
The last castle in this trip was Chambord. Approaching it we met many tourists on bikes � it might be a good idea to visit them with a bike � drivers are very friendly and you can go across the street not looking to the left or to the right � they all stop when see a foot-passenger. The castle is huge � one can get lost there. Many entrances and exits in every room � a real labyrinth. Marguerite de Navarre praised the beauty of Chambord but, in a letter to her brother Francois I, complained that she was unable to understand his castle when he was not there. We come back in Paris about 20 o�clock. It was still bright. I went to Latin Quarter. (metro St Michel) � till midnight or may be later there is a life there. Many restaurants, souvenirs shops � the music is everywhere, national food is prepared under the sky.

It was a national holiday that day, and at the same time the birthday of Napoleon. The first divine service at Notre Dame was beginning at half past eight. At eight I have already been at Notre Dame, which shadow was covering the whole square before it; I spent time examining different relieves. The cathedral is huge, acoustic is wonderful � I really enjoyed the singing. I could not detain my wish to go upstairs on a narrow spiral staircase to the tower. Last view to Paris � I will not see it this time any more.

Next � Museum Orsey where I wanted to see just one picture of Napoleon � his winter campaign in Russia 1812. Having searched it for some minutes I finally saw it � dark colors, small size � the painter has caught correctly the Emperor�s feelings and the soldier�s mood. The museum is situated at the building of the old Train Station and is very unusual inside. Unfortunately I did not managed to visit the Museum de Legion d�Honeur � it is closed for reconstruction for uncertain period of time. I could not leave without visiting Army museum for a second time. The court inside resembles Fontainebleau. Canons and the Emperor, looking from his height on his Imperia impressed me. I walked there more than 2 hours � wanted to retain in memory as much as I could.

After dinner I went to Versailles. (RER 4, Chateaux Versaille River Gouche, 5-7 minutes at foot from the train station). The Palace is very interesting, there were many people inside. I ve got the impression that all tourist world was there. Having seen many other castles in France this one did not impress me much. I still remember the Empress bedchamber, which I knew from the films and paintings, and Hall of Battles, that I aimed to see. Enormous painting �Marengo battle� �Austerlitz� one can see only there. The second original of Napoleons crowing is also hanging there. So there is enough stuff to see for those who admire the First Empire. I did not go to the Versailles garden � it seemed to me not large enough and I saw most of it from the palace�s windows. The whole impression, compared to Peterhof, not a good one. The Peterhof's Residence outstands the Versailles.

Having come back from Versaille I catched up the last visit to the Grevin Museum ( www.grevin.com) Incomparable! The whole history of France is represented there � Quasimodo and Esmeralda, Three musketeers, Maria Antoinette, Napoleon. All that is made in scenes with a musical accompaniments, mirrors make the trip a historic reality. The ticket is very expensive, but it is worth seeing!

At the evening I went to walk in night Paris. Ahead of me is the garden of Luxembourg. Vases, statues, fountains, flower-beds in French style� Many people were resting on the grass. At the exit on the other side of the garden begins the street of Bonaparte. While preparing to this trip, historic events waked up in my memory as I was reading the metro plan and the city plan: Metro Wagram, street of Marshal Lann, Austerlitz station, Jena Avenue, Arcole Bridge, Square d Italy, Avenue of Friedland� And now I see the sign � street Bonaparte, with the life years of the Emperor. The street is quite long � it starts near the Luxembourg garden and goes to Seine � and not wide. There are many small streets in Paris that makes it resemble a medieval town. In the middle of the street there was a large fountain and a church. No shops on the way to Seine, just small houses. The sun was going down, and long shadows were seen on the ground.

In year 1803 Napoleon was preparing the invasion into England. In March 1804 here was a regiment with about 30 thousand people, placed in 4 camps; by august it amounted to 200 thousand. All that is called Camp de Boulogne in history.

At 7:07a train was leaving from Gare du Nord for Boulogne Sur Mer. It takes about 2,5 hours to get there, and another 15 minutes to go with a bus till Le Portel. About 11 I was there. White tents in the field, canons, people in uniform of French Army � all that brought me 200 years back, into 1803. The weather was sunny; the ocean was seen on the horizon. Campfires were burning, soldiers were cleaning the uniform, communicating with each other. It was interesting to look at admired faces of national people who view us as though we were from another world� .And we were� Boys could not detain the eyes from our uniform

The parade through the town, sun, sea air� At the head is to hear the roll of a drum of Prussian army, behind is the � Scottish bagpipes. The battle follows the parade. As admirers of French army we were fighting on its side. The emperor was standing at the head of the imperial guard, watching the battlefield.

The canons were thundering sparks were striking the powder�the attack of English cavalry was successfully beaten by courageous 4th regiment of the hussars.

That day we won the battle. At the evening there were songs, someone learned to dance Scottish dances... In the sun lights, which was going down one could see the canons� silhouette. Fantastic week, with a remarkable final! Tomorrow in the morning the train will bring me to Paris, tomorrow will be another day, that will not be worse than all spent here, on French earth, because one can never embrace the eternity and every day brings its own miracle � you have just to catch it.