Adventures in Deutschland

Paris, November 4 - 7

With our tickets home purchased, Britt and I thought we'd better have one last Euro adventure and Paris was the place. Sure, it might be a little cliche but Paris is very easy to fall in love with. From the history, to the food, to the (opposite to what you may have heard) friendly people, Paris is my absolute favorite place in Europe and I think Britt is sold as well. Even though there were a few mishaps (our train had some "technical difficulties", as did our hotel elevator), we made sure to hit the major Parisian monuments. We figured we must have walked about 10 miles each day we were there, so THANK GOODNESS we were able to keep our strength up with croissants and crepes!If you haven't been, you really must visit Paris. Hopefully, the pictures will inspire someone to go because I know we're going back!

Leaving for Paris in 12 minutes.

This train better get here quick...I'm ready to go!

Our first site as we stepped out of the metro station: the Place de la Concorde and Eiffel Tower at sunset.

We look rather ghost-like in front of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (Napoleon loved building these things, this is the smaller one).

The pyramid entrance to the Louvre was designed by I.M. Pei, and in my opinion looks oddly out of place amongst the other buildings.

Venus di Milo.

One of Michaelangelo's slaves (my favorites at the Louvre.)

Winged Victory.

A tired museum goer takes a break.

Bonsoir!

Cruising along the Seine on our first night in Paris.

One of the original Metro entrances.

They never tell you about the elevators in the Paris guide books, but apparently if you JUMP in them, they stop and you have to wait for a half hour before rescue. As one of the maids hollared up the elevator shaft, "courage!"

At one end of the Concorde (home of the guillotine during the Revolution), is the Obelisk of Luxor.

Mr. King does his best Napoleon impression in front of the Arc de Triomphe.

Inside the Arc de Triomphe. You think this is alot of stairs? Try climbing up the Dom in Cologne!

A closeup of one of the carvings on the Arc.

Britt giving a big American style hello to the home office of his former employer.

Britt and I cannot say enough about Laduree, our favorite place in Paris. They are famous for their macaroons, which I always thought were coconut type things, but are actually little wafer cakes. Try the caramel. It will make you cry.

A beautiful day on the bridge leading to the Hotel National des Invalides.

La Seine, La Tour, et me.

The dome of the Hotel National des Invalides. Les Invalides is a large complex of monuments, which includes the tomb of Napoleon.

The chapel of Les Invalides.

Napoleon's final resting place.

During the French Revolution, most of the gold was taken from the dome of the Invalides. It has since, obviously, been replaced.

The official title for this photo is "Macaroon Coma."

Britt is awed by the Parisian sunset.

Britt, standing beneath the Tour Eiffel. Built for the International Exhibition of Paris in 1889, the Parisians did not like it at all. They were afraid the thing was going to tip over.

A bit of a blurry view from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

It's a bit hard to tell, but these lights are actually twinkling.

Notre Dame. Near the entrance is a gold plaque on the ground that is used as "ground zero" from which all distances in France are measured.

Sunday morning mass had begun when we entered the cathedral. The air was filled with the smell of incense, and the sound of prayers in Latin.

The priests are preparing the incense.

Just two of the many beautiful stained glass windows of Notre Dame.

I've perfected a really awesome scowl that I use on special occasions (like when SOMEONE is being a smarty pants).

Now that's a blue sky!

Britt takes a break from all the walking.

Located in the Latin Quarter, Shakespeare and Company is famous in the literature world for giving free room and board (and sometimes books) to a young Hemingway.