Cityscape from the top of the Arc d' Triomphe
Ahh, Paris. What a gorgeous city. We arrived late in the morning by train, and were immediately struck by how little English the Parisians know. Luckily some nice lady pointed us in the right direction using gestures and my broken French.
Our hotel was outside of the city by a little, and the best way to get there was to take the train out of the city (only one stop, though). We got there too early to check in, but the concierge let us up anyway. We then went back into the city to explore. First we found the Arc d'Triomphe, where we went to the top. Then down the Champs Elysees for a bit, headed towards the Eiffel Tower. We got there, rested, and moseyed down to the Louvre. The Louvre is nice, and HUGE. It's practically exploding with art...unfortunately all of the great impressionist work that I love is in the Musee d'Orsay, which we did not visit.
Kiersten and I left the Louvre together and headed toward the metro. Unfortunately, we went in the wrong side, the side where we couldn't buy tickets. Some lady, being nice (we thought), held the exit open for us to sneak in. We squeezed by her and she disappeared...a minute later Kiersten realized that she'd lost her phone. Good thing we were both holding our purses/wallets protectively! Kiersten was pretty upset, and we decided to retrace our steps just in case. But we're both pretty convinced that it was the lady. Oh well, live and learn. At least it was just her phone!
That kind of put a damper on the rest of the day, so Kiersten and I headed back to the hotel, leaving Bryce in the Louvre to wander some more, where she called her parents from a pay phone. We finished the day with a delicious dinner of pizza and wine.
The next day we took the train in and ate the most delicious pain au chocolat for breakfast. I had two, they were so good! We found a department store called Prientemps that lets you go to the roof, where it has a spectacular view of the city. From there, we went to the Opera where the Phantom of the Opera was inspired. It was gorgeous (see pictures). Then we went onwards along the Siene to Notre Dame, ate some crepes, bought some postcards, saw the crypts in the Pantheon, and headed back to RueRoyale to eat the most delicious desserts ever. No joke. The place was called Ladurée, and it was heaven. I had macaroons and Marie Antoinette tea, which were soooo amazing. By that time we were exhausted, and Kiersten and I headed back to the hotel so that we could get up at 3am to catch our plane. Bryce stayed out to watch the Eiffel Tower light up, something that I hope to see when I'm back in a few weeks!
Our hotel was outside of the city by a little, and the best way to get there was to take the train out of the city (only one stop, though). We got there too early to check in, but the concierge let us up anyway. We then went back into the city to explore. First we found the Arc d'Triomphe, where we went to the top. Then down the Champs Elysees for a bit, headed towards the Eiffel Tower. We got there, rested, and moseyed down to the Louvre. The Louvre is nice, and HUGE. It's practically exploding with art...unfortunately all of the great impressionist work that I love is in the Musee d'Orsay, which we did not visit.
Kiersten and I left the Louvre together and headed toward the metro. Unfortunately, we went in the wrong side, the side where we couldn't buy tickets. Some lady, being nice (we thought), held the exit open for us to sneak in. We squeezed by her and she disappeared...a minute later Kiersten realized that she'd lost her phone. Good thing we were both holding our purses/wallets protectively! Kiersten was pretty upset, and we decided to retrace our steps just in case. But we're both pretty convinced that it was the lady. Oh well, live and learn. At least it was just her phone!
That kind of put a damper on the rest of the day, so Kiersten and I headed back to the hotel, leaving Bryce in the Louvre to wander some more, where she called her parents from a pay phone. We finished the day with a delicious dinner of pizza and wine.
The next day we took the train in and ate the most delicious pain au chocolat for breakfast. I had two, they were so good! We found a department store called Prientemps that lets you go to the roof, where it has a spectacular view of the city. From there, we went to the Opera where the Phantom of the Opera was inspired. It was gorgeous (see pictures). Then we went onwards along the Siene to Notre Dame, ate some crepes, bought some postcards, saw the crypts in the Pantheon, and headed back to RueRoyale to eat the most delicious desserts ever. No joke. The place was called Ladurée, and it was heaven. I had macaroons and Marie Antoinette tea, which were soooo amazing. By that time we were exhausted, and Kiersten and I headed back to the hotel so that we could get up at 3am to catch our plane. Bryce stayed out to watch the Eiffel Tower light up, something that I hope to see when I'm back in a few weeks!
Arc d'Triomphe
Inside the Arc, they compare all of the other Arches in the world. I found my favorite.
From the top of the Arc d'Triomphe
Kiersten and Bryce walking down the stairs in the Arc
Kiersten, sitting underneath the Eiffel Tower
We got some baguettes, because it's one of those things you have to do in Paris
And we got really excited when we found American things, because nobody in Paris speaks English. It feels much more foreign than Germany.
The Louvre
Winged Victory
One of the many giant hallways
EVERYONE wanted to see Mona Lisa. You couldn't get close to it!
Kiersten, finally with a clear shot of Mona
The Louvre itself is gorgeous
This pictre of the crowning of Napoleon was in my European History book back in high school. It's also huge!
The Louvre has so much art that it has to hang some in the hallways by the bathrooms
Venus
Kiersten, preparing to attack Bryce with a pillow
Bryce retreated
We weren't sure what these giant bunnies were for outside of Prientemps...
Lone poppy
In the Opera
I made Bryce do this.
Box 5, the Phantom's box
This couple got angry at the person before them that was hogging the view. And then they hogged the view.
Notre Dame
The crypts. Alexandre Dumas is in the coffin on the left.
Delicious food at Ladurée!
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