Day two in Paris. We got up at 6:30 to get ready for my photo tour. We had to go to Starbucks since the pastry shop Julien was closed. Notice how Starbucks looks the same in Paris!
We decided to figure out how the Paris Metro works
(a.k.a. the "Subway" in the U.S.)
We got ourselves successfully to the Hotel du Louvre where we were scheduled to meet Rebecca, our photo tour guide. We got there early, so we decided to walk around the outside of the Louvre. When we got there, we saw this cafe overlooking the famous glass pyramid of the Louvre:
Behind the scenes shots and small videos courtesy of my hubby!
I saw this car coming from up ahead and had to take it's picture! It was quite a contrast in the world of Rolls Royces and Audis!
Met up with Rebecca at 9:30 all ready for our 3 hour tour! She was great, a native Austrailan who had been living in Paris for awhile. She got her degree in Art and Photography. I was in very good hands! We headed back to the Louvre to take some shots:
After this, we walked across the Pont des Arts Bridge It is a pedestrian bridge which crosses the Seine River. This bridge is so cool because it has padlocks attached to the railings. Lovers often throw the key into the river as a sign of undying love, or keep it and open the padlock when they next return to Paris.
This bridge was a photographer's dream the day we were there! I saw this man painting a picture of the city:
And this guitar player playing a romantic tune:
Next up, we walked back across the bridge to an old cathedral. I believe Rebecca called it St. Germain Cathedral. To call it a church was kind of an understatement! It was fabulous!
Once inside, we couldn't use any flash, so it was a little tough to get great shots in this dark place.
The stained glass was beautiful!
This angel watches over the outside of the cathedral and she is quite beautiful!
When we were done inside, we walked outside and what do we see? A wedding party about to walk inside the neighboring church!
The bride notices me clicking away at her!
This little boy was just the cutest! He seemed to be such a clown joking around with some of the men.
The getaway car:
Outside of the cathedral:
Around the corner, I noticed this cafe. I loved the colors.
And the tables and chairs of course:
We left that area and headed towards Tuileries Gardens. Along the way I spotted a photo shoot in action:
Approaching the gardens. It seems like everything is so perfect in Paris. Rebecca had noticed that about the city also and mentioned how the artist in her really wants to just go and mess things up and not be so orderly!
A typical-looking French woman enjoying her Saturday morning in the park:
I liked this hotel along our walk:
Finally reaching our destination:
We all loved these chairs:
Pony rides in the park anyone?
Here is where those great chairs get to live (with the Eiffel Tower overlooking them!):
Just one of MANY statues in this area:
A fountain:
Yet another bride and groom! It must be wedding season in Paris!
This is where we had to end the photo tour. We were exhausted but decided to go get a quick bite to eat at a nice little brasserie where we had a great steak and some chicken and a 5 dollar Diet Coke! Then it was time for a NAP! Here is a shot I took from across the street from where we ate.
After we took naps, we were ready to hit the city again! We started walking up Franklin D. Roosevelt Ave., a great little pastry shop called Paul and had a couple of chocolate éclairs. Yum! We then walked across Champs-Elysee Ave. to Montaigne Ave. This was a really fascinating street! This was an amazing 5 star hotel all decked out with flowers at every window:
We made it to the Eiffel Tower to get some pictures before it got too dark. Also bought the boys some cheap tower statues.
I loved this neighborhood right before we reached the tower.
A neat little pathway behind some of the apartment buildings in this neighborhood:
We went under the tower, beside the tower, sat on the grass below it and every which way! It was SO fabulous and bigger than I ever imagined! Stunning!
Two very old carousels sit right below the tower.
There was so much activity and just great overall atmosphere. Everyone was happy! We walked up to the Palais de Chaillot and sat and had (the best!) hot dog in a french baguette and a Nutella crepe while watching the Eiffel tower sparkle. It was really romantic and such a great memory we both will have of that night.
It was getting late and we were getting tired, so we started for "home". We walked up Kleber Ave., stopped at the Frog XVI Microbrewery, which my husband felt quite at home at! We had a white wine and a stout beer and had a really nice, English-speaking waiter (which isn't easy to come by!).
Saw this really cool fruit and veggie stand still open late:
We "stumbled" upon the Arc de Triumph (which is kind of hard to do as it is so huge!) as we were walking back:
Then down Champ-Elysees, did some window shopping (or as the French like to call it "window licking") and then back to the hotel for bed.
What a wonderful, memorable day. Whew, that might have been the longest post ever!
It was getting late and we were getting tired, so we started for "home". We walked up Kleber Ave., stopped at the Frog XVI Microbrewery, which my husband felt quite at home at! We had a white wine and a stout beer and had a really nice, English-speaking waiter (which isn't easy to come by!).
Saw this really cool fruit and veggie stand still open late:
We "stumbled" upon the Arc de Triumph (which is kind of hard to do as it is so huge!) as we were walking back:
Then down Champ-Elysees, did some window shopping (or as the French like to call it "window licking") and then back to the hotel for bed.
What a wonderful, memorable day. Whew, that might have been the longest post ever!
