Paris

We spent a whole day traveling from Munich to Paris, we were in the bus from 7:30 am to 8:45 pm, with four stops, one every 2 1/2 hours. We didn't go anywhere once we got here, just went to bed. The next morning we met early and went to just walk around Paris to get our bearings. We took the tram, and metro into the heart of Paris and walked to Notre Dame (and went inside), by San Michelle, and through the Louvre complex.

Notre Dame

View of Notre Dame and the Seine 

Our first day was just an orientation day - so we will return to all of these places later this week. Although that might not be the case, since we heard that a 78 year old man shot himself (suicide) at the alter of Notre Dame, so we might not be able to go back and visit again while we are here - good thing we went today, eh?) Then we went to a museum about the history of Paris, it was really cool. Oh, and we got some authentic Falafel for lunch in the Jewish quarter!

It was SO GOOD! Then we had the rest of the day free - mostly so we could take the time to do our laundry - everyone's suitcase closets were running thin....or dirty. Both really! haha
    Tomorrow is a big day with San Michelle, Musee de Cluny, and the Louvre at night. It's going to be a long day! 

Famed stained glass from San Chapelle

Awesome retro Metro sign 

    So we are in Paris now, and have been since last Monday, and we leave Paris this coming Thursday to take the chunnel to London. We have been yo the Louvre twice, and will be going one more time. 

This is where we met inside the Louvre 

Mona Lisa

Nike of Samothrace

We have been to Notre Dame, attended evening mass there, ans climbed the North tower. 

View from the North tower of Notre Dame

We've been to San Denis, the Musee d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Eelesay, and the Pompidou. 

Inside the Musee D'Orsay

Eiffel Tower

20th century art in the Pompidou

Andy Warhol's Elizabeth Taylor in Pompidou

 We went to Chartres on Monday, and Versailles on Wednesday, followed  crepes and a river cruise paid for by the program. 

Chartres Cathedral

Candles inside Chatres Cathedral

The Palace at Versailles 

The Hall of Mirrors

The back of Versailles Palace

The Paris Opera House

Paris is Great?! The metro is a little harder than the London one, but we've figured it out by now. We love the food here as well, crossaints and macarons galore!

My French is terrible, but it hasn't been too bad. The only complaint from anyone I hear from anyone, including myself, is that their feet kill, or that it's too cold here! It's rained, or poured, almost everyday since we got to Paris.

 We were in Paris for 10 days. We went to the Musee de Cluny, Saint Chapelle, the Louvre (three different visits), Musee d'Orsay, Pompidou, Monet Museum, Rodin Museum, Chartres Cathedral, and Versailles Palace. I went to the Eiffel tower, but didn't go up this time, since I've been up before and I didn't want to pay to go up again. I went to Laduree, the birthplace of the French Macaron. 

Macarons from Laduree

The Thinker from the Rodin Museum