Category Archives: Paris

Paris Day 2

11 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by in Paris, Travel

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

I was on my own today. It felt good to be able to navigate the metro and the travel umbrella. It was a perfect day for a museum, but the Louvre was closed today, being Tuesday. I stood in a very long line in the rain… Speaking to nobody, observing everybody. A few guys were selling umbrellas. I had read that it was smart to get a museum pass to avoid the long line but it seems the pass must be used on consecutive days, and I plan on being in the country for the next few days so it seems I will experience more lines later in my trip. Oh well…. The people watching was actually excellent. A real showcase of cultures all getting along just fine with a common purpose, to view art. Politicians can learn a thing or two about diplomacy from international tourists.

I roamed around for a while without a map or audio tour… I am really not all that knowledgable of art… But when in Paris…

I was observing the posted no photo rule while all those around me snapped plenty of photos… So I didn’t get any of Van Gough and never managed too see the famous sunflowers. I finally made it to the 5th floor where they kept the good stuff and then I snuck out the iPhone and started to snap away – with a huge crowd of others doing the same. The impressionists Monet, Renoir and Degas we’re very popular

20120911-175424.jpg

20120911-175501.jpg

20120911-175521.jpg

20120911-175547.jpg

20120911-175556.jpg

20120911-175606.jpg

20120911-175644.jpg

20120911-175654.jpg

20120911-175705.jpg

20120911-175635.jpg

20120911-175729.jpg

20120911-175740.jpg

20120911-175805.jpg

20120911-175821.jpg

Paris Day 1

10 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by in Paris, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , ,

My first full day as a tourist in Paris was low key.  My host went out and got a baguette and a chocolate croissant – not a bad start.  Eventually, we made our way to the Bastille Metro stop – I really felt the need to see the Eiffel tower right away

My very first metro ride was quite entertaining – at the second stop a few musicans rolled a tiny PA onto the train and played some pretty jazzy tunes

This portable PA system was pretty awesome

When we emerged from the Metro we were suddenly in Tourist Central – every type of souvenir imaginable in many carts.  Everyone had a camera and the buildings were all very impressive.  I turned the corner and pow.. right there in front of me was the Tour Eiffel

I actually expected it to be much more crowded than it was – especially after reading in the guide books that many of the major tourist spots are closed on Mondays.

I was enjoying the statues – and so were the pigeons

Perfectly Parisian Pigeon

I felt obliged to take many photos of the Eiffel tower as I approached – they are all different angles, after all.

One would think to put on some pants before fighting bulls, no??

Here’s another naked dude, just hanging out looking at the fountains

Giving equal time to the naked lady statues

The sky looked remarkably like the sky in Vegas’s Paris casino

Ok, here’s another view because I doubt anyone else has ever posted photos of the Eiffel Tower

Here’s my perfectly Parisian lunch at a quiet sidewalk cafe. I was happy this cafe had a view of trees and only light traffic

I had a much better shot of these two approaching, but some rude tourist popped out of the cafe and took my shot. I was going to give him my email address, but eh.. this one will do

This place looks pretty cool

Rue Cler – made very popular by Rick Steeve’s

Purchased Brie, Camembert and Roquefort cheese on Rue Cler

Also picked up some berries to go with that cheese

This Metro sign was a welcome sight to my feet

Paris Prep

07 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by in France, Paris, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

The Paris trip is 18 hours away! It’s been months of excitement building to this point – It’s finally here. I do believe I’m ready! Next blog post will be from the Central European Time Zone!

I understand some of my friends are interested in hearing about my preparations… so here they are.. in no particular order;

  • Opened Travel Account
  • Informed credit card companies of travel plans
  • Paid Bills
  • Arranged for airport transportation to/from on both sides
  • Arranged for dog sitting and walking
  • Took dog to groomer
  • Purchased plenty of Euros
  • Purchased French phrase book
  • Purchased Rick Steeve’s pocket Paris
  • Burrowed Binoculars
  • Stocked up on sugar free mints
  • Purchased electrical converter
  • Loaded IPad with entertainment
  • Loaded Kindle with books
  • Packed laptop
  • Formatted card on Nikon and packed extra card
  • Packed special request items for my hostess
  • Packed clothes & shoes for all seasons and reasons
  • Packed travel pillow, ear plugs and eye mask
  • Packed umbrella and fashionable scarfs
  • Researched side trips to Brugge, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Brussels, Antwerp, Switzerland, French Alps, French Riviera, Burgundy, Venice, Lake Como, Loire Valley, Mont Michele, Normandy and the French wine regions
  • Made reservations to visit the community of Taize for noontime prayer
  • Researched Labyrinths – and Chartres
  • Found Pipe Organ concert at St. Sulpice
  • Researched Paris’s metro and bus lines and the high speed trains
  • Consulted Trip Advisor, Lonely Planet and Rick Steeve’s tips on Paris attractions, museums, neighborhoods, cathedrals and cemeteries
  • Compared Burlesque shows in Paris
  • Spent a lot of time on google maps street view walking the streets of Paris
  • Went to the chiropractor for final neck adjustment
  • Had lunches and dinners with most of my friends and family
  • Printed boarding pass
  • Had my fish taco from Cafe Zazzle for final dinner before trip