Day 15
Paris
Bonjour again from Paris.
We have had mixed emotions regarding this city. We haven't had any problems with the language, my high school French has come flooding back. I guess it is just the busyness and craziness that initially left us a bit disappointed. Eiffel Tower was too busy so we couldn't go up- but we were not too disappointed about this as most reviews I had read said it was more interesting to look at than climb. Arc de Triumph was imposing and looking down the Champs Elysse was pretty amazing. We had lunch at the busiest Maccas in Europe just a stones throw from the Arc.
We then braved the metro again and headed to the Louvre. The metro is quite efficient and easy to negotiate, once you get the hang of it. We got out at the Louvre and walked into a massive courtyard of old buildings and the pyramid of the Louvre museum, surrounded by gardens and other monuments. This was the Paris we came to see and we are not disappointed. The Eiffel Tower rises above the trees and the Arc de Triumph sits at the end of a wide treelined street.
As the lines for everything are so long we decided to take a ride on the Wheel of Paris. A ferris wheel that gives us an excellent view of the entire city. We love this!
While we are on our way back to start home the police and what looks like the riot squad, zoom past us. Somethings happening!
After asking for directions in half French, half English from a bus driver, we head down a street to see the Opera de Paris, another imposing building. This time the line up is only short so we decide to have a look through. This is the most amazing architecture we have seen. Napoleon commissioned the building in 1669. The stair cases are all made of marble. There are marble columns everywhere. The bannisters are made of marble. Lots of photos.
We head back home on the metro once again and are now deciding what to do for dinner and later.
So Paris has been a success so far.