Monday, August 2, 2010
We rose at 7:15, got ready and did some things around the apartment, and made it out the door by 10:00am. We took a wrong turn, and ended up at the top of our hill at the Mt. Monmartre cathedral. Absolutely beautiful, and up on the highest hill overlooking the city of Paris. We wander down some streets, ate our favorite salad with the fried potato on top, and then caught the metro. We were trying to use our time seeing things until 2pm, which was when a guided tour in English of the Louvre would start, but we ended up getting off at the wrong metro spot, got back on, but ended up at La Defense. A beautiful but modern arch, we took pics and headed back to the metro, where we then just decided to get to the Louvre. The tour was booked for the day, but we walked in awe at the massive architecture, the beautiful pyramid entrance, and you wouldn’t ever believe, shopping stores. Even a Mac store, which was a great resting and research place to figure our next step. Making our way out the Louvre and through the Pyramid was one of awe and excitement, and then stepping onto the grounds of what once was Louis the XXIV palace is unbelievable. We entered the Louvre from the metro stop underground, so the palace grounds were a new scene for us.
What I love most about Paris, is that people stop. They sit. They visit and enjoy bread. They
are not in a rush all the time like us Americans, or at least like what I feel like.
We get what is now our most favorite ice cream that is Swiss, and meander to the gigantic Ferris Wheel, yes that’s right, a carnival lies on the side of the grounds of the Louvre. The ferris wheel is lit up at night and is beautiful, but we rode in mid-day, and it was very romantic! Oh the grounds are so massive, with ponds and fountains, and chairs everywhere to sit. After relaxing by a pond, dark skies roll in, and we start moving quickly, but not before rain starts falling heavily, and we hire a tuk-tuk instantly. They are new to Paris from India we are told. Salvadore our driver did a great job getting us to the Eiffel Tower, but rain came on again, and we quickly got ourselves to the nearest bistro, which wasn’t very good at all! We end up sitting next to a woman from DC of all places, whose on a five week European tour by herself, and we chatted throughout dinner. We then head through the city,catch the metro home, and stop by a cute market not far from our apartment, and got some chocolate and fruit to end our evening. We started a movie, ate some snacks, planned out our week, and dropped into bed exhausted. Guessing, we probably walked 5-7miles easy. It was a good anniversary.