Saturday in Paris, Part 2

 There she is.  WOW

 The tent in front of Notre Dame was set up for a bread festival.  OH MY WORD it smelled so good around there.  

The detailing is unreal.  Pictures do not do it justice. 

 Notre Dame was built in sections & over MANY years.  But they were resourceful.  All the stainglass windows open so it doesn't get too hot no matter when you are there. 

 This is the front and the picture below is the view of the back looking at the pipes from the organ.  MASSIVE!!!!!!

I really think I could have stayed there alot longer.  They have this display that takes over half of one side that tells the progress of how it was built.  So many people were there, I didn't get to read it all but if I ever go back I want to take the time to check more of it out.  I was really fascinated by it. ;0)

The Arc de Triumph. 

We started to get tired at this point so we only walked to the road across from it.  I would have loved to gone over to see it, but it looked like it might start to rain.  Did you know there is a museum inside?  I had no clue it was this big!!!!!  

 I tried to imagine being there on Vday when the soldiers marched down this path.  Now it's so populated - it's crazy how crowded this area is.  We stepped inside the McDonalds for Andy to get some coffee.  OH MY WORD.  It made the one in Beijing look like ours.  There had to be at least 1000 people in there.  You got in line to place you order at one of the 15 kiosks THEN you got in line to go pick up your food at one of the counters.  They were very efficient though.  At home, we'd just walk away. lol  Andy had to get into a DIFFERENT line for the coffee.  And it was like a huge starbucks back at home.  I've never seen anything like it.  And I have to admit - I hope I never do again.  (I needed some personal space there.)

 Our chariot for the afternoon coming to get us.  It was cloudy as we got on the boat, but then the clouds broke and the beautiful sun came out.

 All the bridges are adorned with either gold, sculptures, or both.  

Those are locks on that bridge.  Couples will lock them on & then throw the key into the river never to have their love broken.  AWWWWWWW 

 More details for the bridges.  Why don't we gussy up our infrastructure like the French?  I'm sure there are some stone masons who could use some work.

View of Notre Dame from the river. 

The Grand Palace 

 More cool bridges

 Are words really needed?

 I just want to point out that Hollywood once again has messed up.  If you've seen the National Treasure movies, then you know the scene where Riley and Ben are on the bridge with the drone/remote control camera trying to read what is on Lady Liberty.  Well they took some liberties here!!!  I was so disappointed.  There isn't an angle of a bridge anywhere near there - we looked.  But it was still cool to see. ;0)

 Look what we found next.  Bwahaha.  It's right down from our hotel.

 We then walked to our hotel to freshen up and get ready for supper.  We walked to this cute little place.  Of course we ate outside again.  It was getting a little cool that night so we did sit under the heat lamps.  But still, Audrey Hepburn would have been proud.  This is where the funny story comes in.  We were sitting there minding our own business and just enjoying dinner, when a British couple comes and sits beside us.  Now let me start by saying, it wasn't really crowded.  They didn't have to choose the seats right beside us.  Anyway, we traded pleasantries and went on with our meal.  She was kind of rude to the waitress and we did notice that they sat across from one another - which we never saw anyone do.  So, as we are leaving we hear her say "stupid americans."  WHAT?  I mean really!?!  What in the world did we do to deserve that?  We got the biggest kick out of that.  We could name several things that seemed to be a faux pas on their part, but for the life of me I can't figure what we did that set her off.  Anyhoo... Since then that's been our new mantra.  "stupid americans"   heeheehee

Then we headed over a couple of blocks to see the Tower with it's light show.  Once dark, every hour on the hour it lights up for a two minute show.  Lots of proposals and picnics happen around this.  It was sweet to watch.  

Paris is an amazing city.  But it's time to move on.  Bulgaria here we come!!!!!!!!