We woke up to a beautiful winter day. No rain or clouds!!! Amazing. So, as planned we headed out to see the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe (I just learned how to spell it the french way rather than the kim way).
Here is almost our first sighting of the Eiffel this morning...I figured you don't want to see all 200 photos as we approach and leave the tower so I'll give you the highlights.
We opted to climb the first 2 levels by stair and then take the elevator up to the top. That way the experience would be more real rather than just an elevator ride straight up. It was real.
It only took 668 steps to get to the 2nd level. Not bad. I could have done that with my legs tied behind my back. We are going to be so sore tomorrow.
Ahh, the pretty Parisian sky line with me to accent the view.
If you look out this window really hard and squint your eyes you can see the US.
Can you see the shadow of the Tower as if falls across Paris?
This pigeon was also touring the tower. He seemed to be having a great time.
Back on the ground. A little shaky but ready for the next set of stairs (and there WILL be plenty more).
We met up with Cindy's friend Jordan for a late lunch or an early dinner. She showed us the traditional side of Paris. She took us to a cafe, a pharmacy, a cheese shop, a pastry shop, gave us directions for a few shops that she felt we shouldn't miss, and sent us on our way to tackle the next few days of Paris.
Look at who we found in the pastry shop buying doughnuts...the stereotype is worldwide.
Then we headed out to see the the Arc. But first we got to see the Eiffel again.
Then we climbed some stairs.
And we walked through a christmas boutique.
There was ice skating on a little patch of frozen water.
Me and the Eiff.
Then the Arc de Triomphe
Where we ascended another 260 stairs.
Back on the ground as we strolled along the Champs Elysees.
We tried out cooked chestnuts. They weren't very good. Now I know. Maybe they'd be better made into a powder or salted.
Look at how angelic Cindy looks.
Notice that Christ is still missing?
Then back home on the subway.
3 comments:
Uncle Richard treated me to roasted chestnuts once. I can't remember what they tasted like, but I do remember they weren't good.
I love pictures of the Parisian sky line with Sacre-Coeur in the distance.
In one of your pictures, I think it's from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, you can see the big square building in the distance. There was some interesting stuff off that way if I remember.
Also, the Virgin Megastore on the Champs Elysees is pretty darn nice, as is the fnac store. I still have dreams about going back to France and hitting those stores for books.
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