Bonjour!
It is only day two and I am already beginning to adapt to the French ways. We wait less at "Do Not Walk"signs, seldom smile in the Metro, and are even picking up a few different local words. This has been an fantastic experience already. Catching the Metro this morning we picked up a fresh baked pastry and cappuccino.
Our first event of the day was the Louvre Musee (Musuem). First comment about the Louvre: it. is. beyond. massive! I had no idea it could be so large. The thought you might see everything in it is very funny, once you've been there.. I took over 500 pictures, so I'll only put in a few of favorites and highlights.
This sculpture was enormous, I have been set for size effect only.
We did manage to
think we'd seen all the sculptures.. Only to find there was an entire section dedicated to them on the other side of the museum.
The installment upon the entrance, within one of the glass pyramids.
Just a fragment of the elaborate outside building.
Mum, having a wonderful time.
Venus de Milo, of course.
I adored the feather detail on some of these sculptures.
Mumsy expressing our joy for the Louvre!
And the Mona Lisa. Apologies for the photography quality, but when people are shoving you around and potential stealing your Euros, you don't have much time for camera focus.
A very elegant gentleman to bid us farewell.
And lastly the Hammurabi Code. Hundreds of symbols and hieroglyphics all over this. Amazing.
There was yet more to see, but we were a bit tired...
Walking away from the Louvre, into the Gardens of Louvre which were, not surprisingly, huge.
Everyone was eating or napping within the bushes.
The Gardens have a carnival inside!
Walking through the Garden, because we hadn't already walked miles or anything like that.. (Yes, yes we had.)
Between the row of trees, there is a barely visible corner of the Arc de Triomphe. We decided to walk there too. Yeah..
At this point, we strolled down the Champs Élysées. This street has the highest profit earning McDonalds in the world, being a very high fashion shopping district.
The small purse in the corner of this window was over 2500 Euros, which is even more dollars!
And here, for your viewing pleasure, is a heavily staffed Marriott on the street.
We decided to get on the Metro ere and go back to Notre Dame. Here I discovered someone had swiped my day-use Metro ticket. Brief moment of panic, but I soon discovered that's all they took. And I suppose if that's the worst that happens we'll be completely fine. Still, you can't be too careful.
At Notre Dame we went inside and under into the crypts.
There was prayer and confessions taking place.
The stained glass is mind blowing.
While it was gorgeous architecture, the place made me feel quite general disturbed.
Then, of course, we had dinner (No picture this time) and dessert (of course.)
This was the dessert shop options.
We hope to do so much walking that we just even out all this dessert!
We returned to the steps by Notre Dame and watching dancing and acting steer performers for a bit and also took a stroll through the Latin Quarter. Just to get a little walking in. (Ha. Ha. Ha.)
Eventually, it is time to head home though. You need a lifetime to see Paris, I think. However, a week will suffice.
As a final note: Because we didn't really get in enough exercise today, it's a good thing we have this lovely four flights of stairs to climb when we arrive back at the apartment. ;)
Well, it is 11:30 pm here and tomorrow includes much more to do and an early alarm, so I bid you Bon Soir (Goodnight).
~Roaming Rapunzel
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