Paris

We have finally gotten around to the much anticipated Paris post! On a technical note, we have yet to totally master this whole blogging thing, so the pictures end up being out of order and somewhat random - oh well!

Paris was . . . well . . . incredible. The weather was spectacular, the company fantastic, the food (and wine) amazing and the sights indescribable. We LOVED it!!

It was a really fast weekend but we had a terrific time eating, drinking, exploring and butchering the French language, and we quickly fell in love with the city.

Our hotel was in the Latin Quarter and this is what the streets looked like on Sunday. There were people and food stands everywhere and tons of opportunities for terrific people watching. We picked up a delicious picnic with a baguette, cheese, meat, fruit and wine and then enjoyed it in the Luxembourg Gardens that were just down the street. I loved the fact that there were tons of other people doing exactly the same thing. The Parisians definitely know how to relax and enjoy life!



The Luxembourg Gardens . . .

When we say that there were a tonne of other people doing the exact same thing....I have noticed that Europeans enjoy McDonalds more than North Americans do. Everyone who was having a picnic was eating Micky D's.....it made me cry a little on the inside. sorry I have no photo as evidence. But the gardens were beautiful.

Out of order picture - but its identity speaks for itself!

The Pantheon . . .

Back to the Latin Quarter . . .

On Saturday night we took a boat cruise down the Seine and took in the beautiful lights of the city. It was a tad breezy - but so worth it!



The Eiffel Tower goes all sparkly on the hour. pretty neato!

More of our Saturday stroll . . . this is the Obelisque at the center of the Place de la Concorde.

L'Arc de Triomphe

The token 'must-have' Eiffel Tower picture

There was some kind of artistic installation in the grounds surrounding the Louvre, largely consisting of thousands of clay pots filled with wax - some sitting in arrangements on the ground while others were part of various sculptures like this one. We're not sure what it all meant, but it was very cool!

Ahhh . . . the Louvre. What to say other than 'wow'? (Except maybe that it was great to be there in October because there weren't any crazy crowds and we really could just relax and enjoy it all.)

A quick peek at Notre Dame . . .

One of the many beautiful bridges of Paris. Spots like this make me want to sit there for at least an hour with a coffee while thinking of absolutely nothing at all.

Le Centre Georges Pompidou . . .

Back the Louvre, courtesy of the picture order problem!

Sigh . . . it was a magical weekend and we are already trying to figure out when we'll go back. There are so many more things we have to see and do there - not to mention more time sitting in cafes, drinking red wine and enjoying the Parisian approach to life!