FRANCE

 

Paris

 

 The Eiffel Tower

 Arc de Triomphe

 Notre Dame

When asking directions, we were told by a local,

that we really should learn to speak French before we visit France.

 We actually found someone nice enough to take our picture.

 Georges Pompidou Center

 The Louvre 

11-28-2003

Kevin's Mona Lisa smile

When we went to the Louvre, the guards were on strike.

They opened with minimal staff and there was no admission fee that day.

It was a miracle that they did not have any theft or damage.

The next day they closed until further notice.

We were very fortunate to see as much as we did in one day.

 Very ornate ceiling

 Local artist..... not bad.

 The Louvre is so massive: one day is not enough.

 Champs-Élysées with the Arc de Triomphe in the background

 

 At lunch time, we were considering the Two Maggots restaurant... sound terrible.

National Assembly: the lower house of Parliament of France

Napoleon's Tomb

 Eiffel Tower again

 Seine River

Can-Can we go to the Moulin Rouge?

 Dinner.... Hmmm    Where are the French Restaurants? 

We ended up at  the best Chinese restaurant that we have ever eaten at.

 Why do they have a mirror in the Hotel Elevator?

At the end of a day of sightseeing, who wants to see their own tired face.

 

Our Hotel could not understand why we did not want to pay the outrageous fee

to have our clothes cleaned by them.

But we found a nice Fluff and Fold Laundromat around the corner,

and the lady actually finished folding our clothes...

I think she felt we were incompetent.

Our room was on the 3rd and a half floor....... Really!

Here we are in the middle of the stairs, going into our room. 

OK, maybe you guessed, we don't stay at the 4 star hotels.

 

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Versailles

11-27-03

Pretty bridge over the Seine on the way to Versailles. 

 It was a very rainy.....

and foggy day.

 

 The gardens were quite strange, but well manicured.Liberty - Equality - Fraternity
 

The Hall of Mirrors (built in 1686) is the most famous room at Versailles.
It has 17 large mirrors, lots of chandeliers, and too much opulence.

Note: There was a fee to enter the out-house restroom.

It was disgustingly filthy and they charged extra for toilet paper.

So if you go to Versailles, make sure you have a potty-stop beforehand.

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