Paris, full of sights, sounds, and BORING MUSEUMS! We just HAD to buy the museum passes and we just HAD to go to as many museums as possible! It actually wasn't that bad. I'm just trying to sound like a moody teenager. All I wanted to see was the Mona Lisa, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and Napoleon's tomb. While Dad ran around the museums, Mom napped, and I read a lot of books!
I did have fun walking around the war museum (Musee de l' Armee) and looking at all the crazy swords that nobody ever used because they were outrageously enormous. There was also loads of flintolock weaponry. There was one gun that had three barrels pointing in different directions! It was great to see Napoleon again. He hasn't changed much.
I enjoyed walking along the streets of Paris because it felt so familiar. I especially liked going to the markets to see all the different things that were being sold in the stalls. The parks of Paris are very beautiful and my favourite was Jardin des Tuileries in front of the Louvre. It was nice to read by the ponds with all the ducks swimming around. By the way, when you are in a park in Paris and somebody comes up to you with a clipboard asking for your help, WALK AWAY! It is a SCAM. We saw lots of people getting tricked into signing the clipboard but most did not pay the money that was asked for. On the subway we were warned about pickpockets. Paris people are wonderful but you have to watch out for those who want your money.
A really nice place to go out to eat is at Montmartre beside the Sacre Coeur. We had supper there and watched all the artists painting and people going out for an evening walk. Then we went to the Eiffel Tower to see it lit up. During the daytime we did go up the tower and saw the incredible view of Paris. We also went to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame to see the city. I enjoyed visiting the gargoyles again.
I almost forgot about Shakespeare and Company which is a really neat English bookstore across from the Notre Dame. And I found a tiny used bookstore in an alley in the Latin Quarter.
I really enjoyed Paris especially going down the street to our local bakery and bringing home a baguette. I will miss it a lot but there is still a lot of France left to see including the Mediterranean island of Corsica. By the way, the French really like eating snails. What's up with that?
Thank you Marilyne for sharing your wonderful apartment and beautiful city with us!
