Saturday in Paris, Part 1

 So, on Saturday we decided to buy a day ticket for one of those "hop on hop off" bus tours.  If you aren't going to be in Paris for several days, this is the way to make sure you see all the sights.  This particular company had 4 different tours you could ride along.  We ended up riding on the 2 main ones.  Before we took our river boat cruise.

 This is the area with the military training facility. 

 Some of it was under construction, but the buildings are beautiful.

 These statues are set up on the bridge as you reach the Grand Palace & Petite Palace.

 Grand Palace

As you turn right past the Petite Palace you ended up being on the Champs de Elysee.  At the end of that road is this massive open area with lots of fountains and statues.  The middle statue was given by Egypt.  And yes, our small version at the zoo looks like the original. ;0)

 Many famous things have happened here.  The infamous pictures of the soldiers walking down the street at the end of the WWII happened here.  King George & Mary Antoinette were both killed here in this open area.  In fact this area was where the city people would come for all the beheadings and such. :(

 Paris Opera House

The Louvre was on our list of places to see of course. 

 You see this area where all these building start to look just like this.  You have passed the hotel de louvre so you know you must be close.  Then we drive through this dark tunnel........

 The minute your eyes adjust to the light, ALL the buildings you see are 

THE LOUVRE!!!!!

This place is HUGE.  Movies do not do it justice.

Goodbye Louvre, you are amazing.

The next stop:

Notre Dame!!!! (yippee)

Friday in Paris, Part 2

 After buying our pictures we decided to head back down the hill.  We got a little snack to tide us over until supper.  Then we started making our way back towards the tower.  We walked around some more (I have a TON of pictures of the tower, but will spare you.)  We found a place to eat and then headed back to the hotel for the night.  We were beat & my feet were so swollen.  We called the kids and then crashed.  The tower lights up at night every hour on the hour after dusk.  But in May, the sun doesn't go down until 9:20.  We were hoping to get a good night's rest so we could stay up Saturday night to check it out.

 These trees are blooming in all the park areas around the tower.  So pretty.

 This is where we ate.  You really do feel like Audrey Hepburn when you are in Paris.  Everyone eats outside at these little bitty tables.  And you don't sit across from one another like we do here at home.  You sit side by side.  It was getting a little chilly at night, but that's not a problem.  They all provide these heat lamps that are over your head.  I think I could get used to eating outside all the time if we didn't have the humidity that we have. ;0)

 The amount of detail that was put into this tower is incredible.  SO COOL.

 This merry go round is across the street from the tower.  Notice there are bike wheels on the horses.  Totally makes sense to me.

Yes, it's the simple things in life that I find fascinating.

Until tomorrow.........