I woke up on Wednesday and ate a breakfast that included cereal and a croissant. I grabbed a few extra rolls for lunch and snacks in order to save some money. Actually, I had hoped to stop at a cheese store and purchase some cheese, but I found the selection daunting and the person who ran the shop was absolutely no help at all. It's not fair, but she definitely fit the mold of the unfriendly French person. Heck, just recommend a cheese. You are an expert, pick one out. Oh well. I went without cheese.
I planned on visiting the Louvre today and on attending a free guided tour at 11. But it was quite early when I headed out, so I had time on my hands. I went to the St. Michele Fountain so that I would know where to be when the tour started, but after that, I simply explored the corridors of the city. The lovely quiet and striking passageways are enough to make up for last night and the other section of the city. And, to top it off, a game store!
Sadly, the store never opened, but it had an amazing selection. Then I went to Notre Dame. I was glad to get a chance to go inside the church, as I knew that the tour would not provide the time for it.
It was so dark and beautiful inside of the cathedral. The ceilings were vaulted (is that the right word) and I was engrossed in the in way that the arches ran into each other.
Outside of the church, you could see the flying buttresses (I learned a new word) that support the structure.
By this time, it was nearly 11 and I had to be back at the fountain.
Oh, before I forget, here is one of the metro entrances that Paris is famous for.
We headed directly from the fountain to the Cathedral, where I had already been, but here is a picture of the tour guide in front of Notre Dame.
Near the cathedral is also the zero point for all of the cities roads. I figured, Dad, that you would be interested in this spot.
This picture is of the French Meridian.
Next was the Police Building. This was currently undergoing renovations, but that is not what is most interesting. What is interesting, is this rollerblading police officer. France does have everything.
We headed down to the Seine river and walked alongside it for some time until heading up onto a bridge that has the carved faces of a bunch of drunk party goers.
It seems that one of the kings hosted a huge party that culminated in a bunch of drunk individuals. He had some of the royal painters sketch everyone and then he carved their faces into this bridge. Hilarious.
The tour also included the Louvre, an Egyptian Odalisque, the Arc d' Triumph, and a few more palaces. It ended at about 3:30 and I headed back to the Louvre. In hindsight, this was a mistake. I was tired, my legs and back hurt, and I really was not ready for the sheer enormousness of the this art museum. It was so big. But like a good tourist, I paid to get in, and I saw the essentials.
The Mona Lisa, Michelangelo's sculptures (not the David, it's in Florence), Hammurabi's Code, the Venus, and Louis XIV's apartments.
I have tons of pictures, but I don't think I need to upload them now. Just wait. Hundreds and hundreds of pictures...
Afterwords, I headed back to the train station and then walked around the side streets looking for a good place to eat. I found a bakery that had sandwiches in the window and bought 1 and small hunk of raisin bread.
Dinner was good, but the border people were not. I was given a pretty tough time getting back into the UK. I had my passport, but didn't bring my plane schedules and tickets. I honestly didn't think I would need them, but without proof that I was every going to leave the UK, they didn't want to let me in. This would have been a major problem, since I left most of my belongings with Paul. They did let me in, but my passport has the nice stipulation that I can only be in the UK for 6 months and I cannot receive any public monies.
But, how about some more humorous pictures? Here are the plaster faces I promised.
And another Space Invaders picture.
Finally, I have been led to believe that women have only recently begun to play soccer or football. But, the statue gardens outside of the Louvre differ with this fact. Not only did women play the sport, but they did it in the nude. Take that male machismo.
This gal appears to be slide tackling someone.
And this player just performed a stupendous kick. Perhaps a bicycle kick?
Oh, and this statue looks rather silly with a bird on his head.
And this one is just plain silly.
Enjoy that one? It gave me a chuckle. That's it. I had a good time in Paris, though it is definitely not one of the best cities I have visited. It's a bit crowded and in many places dirty, for my tastes. I prefer London or Berlin. But hey, I didn't spend as much time in the city either, so it didn't get the same shot.
I do not have many plans today. In fact, I am going to be a bit of a dullard. There is a nice windmill up the street that Paul told me about, and I will check that out. I am also going to visit the market down by the train station. I have some packing to do, clothes to dry, and items to print out and ship home. My legs are tired, and I really think that I should rest some before Egypt. I've worn myself out walking so much and the rest will be helpful.
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