Blogs from Île-de-France, France, Europe - page 485

First was the boulangerie I keep smelling around here. Awesome. We got up early to go to the Louvre, so we went there and the line was insane b/c it hadn't opened yet for some reason. We gave up on that and went to the Centre Pompidou for some modern art. After all, we did have a museum pass. I fail to understand how most of that stuff is art. It's how I might want my living room to look, but Target has the same designs! Maybe I just can't appreciate a huge canvas painted solid blue. The building was pretty cool, though, as was the square. We had lunch in the Toulleries, and that was very picturesque. We then headed back out to the Louvre. The line was much better, but the Japanese tourists were ... read more

It's actually Paris Day 5 but I just got the Internet working. Day 1 we basically were really really tired after emerging from the chunnel. We struggled with the Metro b/c the billet machines were very unkind and the station was very very busy. My french was beginning to be tested as I had to figure out what metro pass I needed. I got carte d'oranges for Mike and I and we were set for the entire time here. After finding the hotel, right beside the Arc de Triumph, we took naps. After that we headed out to the Champs Elysees to sit at a cafe for dinner. We headed to a bar after that and had some wine and glace (ice cream... chocolate of course). Then went back to sleep. The bulk of the day ... read more

I usually create independent entries for my personal journal and this blog, but in this case, I'm posting an edited version of my private journal I guess I'm doing Paris kind of backwards. My last day in Paris, and only now do I go to the Eiffel Tower. I was convinced last night to do the tower the "authentic" way. Let me tell you, those 600 or so steps to platform 2 were definitely authentic - brutally so. This morning's trip on the metro was rather eventful as well. You see, with the Carte-Orange, you're supposed to attach a photo to the card, sign your name, etc. Lets just say I neglected that part, and had the fortune of running into Metro enforcement. It was quite an experience trying to talk myself out of a ... read more

The 24 euro night's sleep was definitely better than the 13 pound's night's sleep. I actually felt rested this morning.... I wouldn't say I'm in love with Paris, but I'm definitely loking this place. I got a bit of a late start today (walked out at 8:50). The first stop was the Louvre. Now that place I am in love with. Just the building alone. If it was initially built as a fort, it doesn't show. I especially like the Apartments of Napolean III. The fellow knew how to live. Burgandy walls, what I presume to be gold-leafed moulding, elaborately painted ceilings, etc. I won't even get started on the paintings. It was interesting to see the one of Napolean's coronation up close. It doesn't look like much in textbooks, but the thing's massive. Lunch was ... read more

As we write our third installment of the blog, we would like to welcome several new readers to the blog who have been added and tell everyone that our trip is still going marvelously. Right now, we are sitting on a train from Paris to Amsterdam (Jacob is napping…surprise surprise) as I sit and have my second espresso (a definite new favorite) of the morning. Between the two of us we churned out a little description of our four full days in Paris. We know its long, but we hope you enjoy our musings wherever you may be reading them. As to pictures, many are finally up and others are loading as you read this on our pic site at http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=jperlin&p=F950&AID=2504676&Pres=Y and although many do not have titles feel free to just scroll and enjoy. If ... read more