Paris

Stevie's parents came to Amsterdam, and Debbie and I went to Paris for three days on our own. Steve and Jimmy met us on Friday for the weekend. So in 6 days, we saw many of the famous sights, and walked through a lot of the city. We tried some of the French specialties: escargot, macaroons, rabbit, duck confit, croissants, and carpaccio. And, I can't speak French worth a crap.

This street is famous for shopping, and it's the Tour de France finish line every July.

The Champs-Elysees ends at one end, here, at the Arc de Triomphe.

The Tour Eiffel at night!

Prettier at night, isn't it?

How romantic!

The Champs de Mars- the view from the top of the Eiffel.

The tippy-top!

Notre-Dame Cathedral. We had toured the inside of the Cathedral and the tower was (suspiciously) closed that day. As we exited the area, the streets were being blocked off. The Obamas were in Normandy and Paris for the anniversary of D-Day, and they went in the Cathedral on a private tour after us. We waited around to try to see them exit, and lucky us, we saw Michelle Obama in the suburban smiling and waving! It was cool (for me, anyway).

One of the rose windows inside the Cathedral.

Another beautiful stained glass window.

Gorgoyles gaurding the side of the Cathedral.

La Venus de Milo (in the Louvre).

The Pantheon

Sainte Chapelle Cathedral- built in 1248.

Inside the Sainte Chapelle. The stained glass windows are originals that survived the whole revolutionary period. There are 15 tall windows, each with panels of glass containing a picture.


The pictures depict the stories of the Bible, in order. They can be "read" from the bottom to the top, from left to right.


Pretty impressive!

The main entrance to the Louvre goes through the pyramid. There are three wings and 30,000 pieces of art. We saw all that we were interested in, and that took 3 hours. Too much for one day.

The Dying Slave, Michelangelo. I was surprised that we were allowed to take pictures throughout the Louvre.

Monna Lisa

La Victoire of Samothace (ancient Greece).

Chateau du Versailles. It's a huge estate where Louis the XIV and Marie Antoinette lived, in the city of Versailles. It's 800 hectares (sorry, I don't know the conversion for that number). The interior was absolutely over-the-top gaudy and stunning. Marble of all colors, gold, crystal chandeliers, painted ceilings, statues, wall-sized portraits, etc. You know, pocket change. The estate has it's own canals, gardens, hamlets, and Trianons (much smaller than the palace, but still mansions).

Inside the Palace (the main building).

The Hall of Mirrors

Marie