Two Americans in Paris! 7/13/09

Rick and I had to chance to go to the City of Light for a week, Paris. It was truly a remarkable city, unlike anything I have ever seen before. The whole city is one big piece of art and history. Every block and corner is worth a thousand words- but some pictures will have to do.

When we first arrived, we went straight down Champs Elysees to the Jardin Tuileries, right outside the Louvre. It is a huge park, that was originally part of the Royal Palace (the Louvre), and is now a beautiful area where Parisians come to relax.

The ever so French Cafe/Bistro/ whatever else you want to call it (there are like 5 different names for it)- either way, eating outside in the sunny park or on the city street- a French way of life.

The park is covered in these beautiful marble statues- like being in a museum.

Next we walked to the Musee de l'Orangeris where some of the best impressionist work is kept. The most famous- Monet's waterlillies. They were huge panels, taking up two designated rooms. Museums are going to be a running theme here- just to forewarn ;)

The Centre Pompidou- the modern art museum. Now, I am not the biggest proponent of modern art, but just looking at the outside of the building was worth the trip there.

View from the top of the museum

Original Picasso's - pretty cool.

Dinner at a cafe- it is very fun to sit in the outside, watching the people. The only drawback- more second hand smoke than you can imagine!

We were pretty tired our first afternoon, so ended the day with a nice trip down the Sienne. Passing through each of the bridges and watching the Paris skyline float by.

Notre Dame

Like I said, and I am sure that I will say 10-million more times- this city is unreal beautiful and breath-taking. Felt like being in a fairy tale.

Walking back to our hotel on the Champs-Elysees- the big main street in Paris ending with the Arc de Triomphe

Bastille Day 7/14/09

So, without realizing it upon initial planning, Rick and I ended up in Paris for Bastille Day. The equivalent of Frances Independence Day, Bastille Day is the day when the public stormed the Bastille (a large prison) and basically signaled the start of the French Revolution. Now, it is a 2 day party- and we were in the heart of it. I will let you get to the end to find out what is beneath those fireworks ;)

The day starts out with a huge parade down Champs-Elysees- the armed forces march down with bands, and the President even comes down the road. The parade goes all the way down the large road to La Concorde. Tons of people- not able to get very close.

So, since things were pretty crazy on the streets, we hit up Musee D'Orsay- a collection of 17th through 19th Century art. Built in an old train station- the display is beautiful.

We took literally hundreds of photos of famous and beautiful pieces of art. I just selected some of the really neat ones, and more well known to show. If you'd like a grand tour or the names of specific pieces- let me know- I could bore you for hours, haha.

Walking through the pieces of art that I have studied in all my art and history classes- absolutely unreal- I was giddy like a little kid. Every second- "look at that one! Oh my gosh, they have that one!"

Rick and Whistler's Mom gettin' along.

View from the roof- wonderful picture of the river

So, during the day the armed forces are out in the city to meet the public. I guess a nice time for the public to express their appreciation. It was a nice tradition. Although, looking at this naval officer's uniform cracked me up.

They had a whole bunch of tanks and humvies, etc. out too. Rick and I guessed this was the entire French military armemant- haha- just kidding.

This was all outside Hotel des Invalides- the old military hospital. In the back is Napoleon's tomb.

Here is Napoleon's coffin- no joke. It was about the 25 feet tall, and 15 feet long. I wikipedia'd it and he was 5'7''. And the whole shrine was absolutely huge. A whole lot of space for a little dude.

We then went to the Arc de Triomphe- built by Napoleon to celebrate his victories, seemed appropriate on Bastille Day.

View from the top.

There was a whole lot of fan-fare for the day

They had a huge French flag flying in the Arc- I thought it was beautiful.

At the end of the day the had a concert in the Champ de Mars, the park just East of the Eiffel Tower. The park was so crowded- packed body to body by dark (and this park is NOT small)- all for the amazing firework show at the end of the night. A 360-degree firework show off of the Eiffel Tower- it was beyond belief. And the people in the crowd were so proud, the guys in front of us were crying and hugging by the end. Proud to be French- pretty neat to see.