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PARIS, FRANCE 2003 |
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Click on pictures for larger version (disclainer: these pics were taken in 2003, before digital cameras were common, so they are scanned from lower quality printed pics!) A quick last minute super cheap deal took us to Paris for a few days to celebrate our 5th Wedding anniversary. I had been to Paris before but it was Wendy's first time. I did not care much for Paris on my first time, people were rude and it was quite dirty. But this time was different, we had a blast! Wendy was on top form with the locals and they loved her! |
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 The Louvre has over 12 miles of hallways and was built in 1190 and opened to public in 1793 |
 2 of these cars fit into one parking space! |
 Arc de Triomphe, of course! First place to go in Paris! |
 The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel was built in 1806 to celebrate the Napoleonic victories of 1805, and it was originally intended as a monumental entrance to the Tuileries palace. |
 Playing in the roden gardens |
 We didn't want to go up the Eifel tower as it was foggy, just wanted to see it. |
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 The hop on, hop off bus. Note the ugly headphones to hear the English commentary. |
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| The Royal Palace built in 1632. It now houses State offices. That's us in the reflection on the silver balls! | |
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| Sacre Coeur - built as a memorial to 58,000 killed in the Franco Russian war. Priests pray here 24 hours a day for the dead souls. The starving artists hang out at Montmartre trying to get famous. Paintings are very expensive! | |
 The Paris Opera House. Built for Napoleon to resemble a giant wedding cake. There is also an underground lake said to be the inspiration for Phantom of the Opera. |
 La Madeleine - designed in Greek temple style in 1764. Consecrated to Mary Magdelene in 1845. |
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Place de la Bastille. Originally a fortress it was used to jail political prisoners. |
 St. Eustache - Took more than 100 years to build finishing in 1637 |
 Place des Yosges - Paris' oldest square. Laid out in 1612, it is 36 houses. One belonged to Victor Hugo who wrote Les Miserables. |
 Wendy having a typical French lunch: bread, cheese, chocolate and wine. The drinking glass broke, so what's a girl to do? |
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 Notre Dame - no hunch back was found! First stone was laid in 1163. |
 One of only 2 of the original 30 windmills. Used to crush grapes and grain. |
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 This reminded me of San Francisco |
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 Time for an over priced beer! $7 in 2003, ridiculous! |
 Hotel des Invaledes. Originally built in 1671, it was used for wounded soldiers. |
 Luxembourg Gardens There is a mini Statue of Liberty here. |
 Canal St. Cruise - not night time, it's noon, cruise is through canals underground and several locks. |
 At it's highest point, the canal is 80 feet above the Seine, hence the locks. |
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 Once over, the boat drops you off at a 135 acre park, where the locals are sitting on the grass and eating bread and cheese and drinking wine. We complied to local customs! |
 We followed this up with an evening cruise on the Seine. |
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