Paris exceeded all expectations- I had heard from several people that I would be disappointed. I don't know if I had low expectations, or the city was just amazing but I loved it. Gorgeous and shockingly friendly, Paris is one of my favorites.
The memorial dedicated to the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe. This is the Eternal Flame. According to our walking tour guide, some Australians decided to pee on it one day making it not so eternal. The Arc was built by Napoleon to commemorate his triumphs and is in the middle of the most dangerous round about in Europe.
The Eiffel Tower was built for the World Exposition in 1889. Officials had a contest to see what giant monument could be built so that you could see it from anywhere in the city. Entries included a giant cyclops and an elephant. Gustav Eiffel won with his tower. So it was built and was going to be a temporary monument until Gus talked to Thomas Edison who wanted to light that baby up. Once Parisians saw it lit... they were in LOVE. It became permanent- and was built using American rivets.
View from the first level. There were three and apparently Gus had an apartment on the very top level- can we say bachelor pad?
The Sienne River
The Champs de Mars
Every 7 years, the Eiffel Tower is repainted a different shade of brown. The painting is a tradition and is done by hand. Whew.
Notre Dame: the most famous Gothic cathedral in the world took over 200 years to complete. It was worth 200 years. The view was breathtaking- if you could climb up all 400 winding stone stairs.
The statues aren't actually gargoyles- they are call Chimeras and are evil spirits. I thought this was a little strange to have evil spirits guarding a church, but who am I to judge?
This square was designed by the architect Haussmann who pretty much designed all of Paris.
Saturday morning we got up early and went to Versailles. King Louis XIV decided one day that he didn't want Paris to be his home anymore, so he picked up his royal court and peaced 30 minutes away to Versailles. He built the most amazing palace I have seen yet and massive gardens. I can understand why the French Revolution happened when the monarchy had this place.
The Hall of Mirrors- where the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
A chandelier in the palace
The amazing fountains outside the palace- we watched a fountain show as well
The Louvre... so massive
Sacre Coeur- the basillica was on top of this massive hill and outside people were drinking and relaxing while inside others were deep in prayer.
The Pont Neuf bridge in Paris. It's the oldest bridge- but the name is 'new bridge.' What's funny about this is the heads on the bridge. Henry V liked to party and after getting his friends wasted one night- he woke up all the artists and had sketches of his friends made. Then Henry instructed these artists to carve his friends' portraits on the unfinished bridge- the past's drunk photo.
Monmarte was my favorite area of Paris. The hill leading up the the Sacre Coeur was filled with artists, shops, cafes and bars. The atmosphere was pure fun and relaxation. Ryan and I spend several hours there Saturday night and Sunday day.
I loved this painting, but couldnt afford its 300 euro price.
We also saw Paris's red light district and the Moulin Rouge, the Bastille, Luxembourg Gardens, Museum D'Orsay, walked down the Champs Elysees, etc. What a weekend!!!
The memorial dedicated to the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe. This is the Eternal Flame. According to our walking tour guide, some Australians decided to pee on it one day making it not so eternal. The Arc was built by Napoleon to commemorate his triumphs and is in the middle of the most dangerous round about in Europe.
The Eiffel Tower was built for the World Exposition in 1889. Officials had a contest to see what giant monument could be built so that you could see it from anywhere in the city. Entries included a giant cyclops and an elephant. Gustav Eiffel won with his tower. So it was built and was going to be a temporary monument until Gus talked to Thomas Edison who wanted to light that baby up. Once Parisians saw it lit... they were in LOVE. It became permanent- and was built using American rivets.
View from the first level. There were three and apparently Gus had an apartment on the very top level- can we say bachelor pad?
The Sienne River
The Champs de Mars
Every 7 years, the Eiffel Tower is repainted a different shade of brown. The painting is a tradition and is done by hand. Whew.
Notre Dame: the most famous Gothic cathedral in the world took over 200 years to complete. It was worth 200 years. The view was breathtaking- if you could climb up all 400 winding stone stairs.
The statues aren't actually gargoyles- they are call Chimeras and are evil spirits. I thought this was a little strange to have evil spirits guarding a church, but who am I to judge?
This square was designed by the architect Haussmann who pretty much designed all of Paris.
Saturday morning we got up early and went to Versailles. King Louis XIV decided one day that he didn't want Paris to be his home anymore, so he picked up his royal court and peaced 30 minutes away to Versailles. He built the most amazing palace I have seen yet and massive gardens. I can understand why the French Revolution happened when the monarchy had this place.
The Hall of Mirrors- where the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
A chandelier in the palace
The amazing fountains outside the palace- we watched a fountain show as well
The Louvre... so massive
Sacre Coeur- the basillica was on top of this massive hill and outside people were drinking and relaxing while inside others were deep in prayer.
The Pont Neuf bridge in Paris. It's the oldest bridge- but the name is 'new bridge.' What's funny about this is the heads on the bridge. Henry V liked to party and after getting his friends wasted one night- he woke up all the artists and had sketches of his friends made. Then Henry instructed these artists to carve his friends' portraits on the unfinished bridge- the past's drunk photo.
Monmarte was my favorite area of Paris. The hill leading up the the Sacre Coeur was filled with artists, shops, cafes and bars. The atmosphere was pure fun and relaxation. Ryan and I spend several hours there Saturday night and Sunday day.
I loved this painting, but couldnt afford its 300 euro price.
We also saw Paris's red light district and the Moulin Rouge, the Bastille, Luxembourg Gardens, Museum D'Orsay, walked down the Champs Elysees, etc. What a weekend!!!
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