Extravelganza!

Just off the Metro Station!

Walking along the Seine

Just testing out the Water

In front of the Louvre

Hanging out with the Mona Lisa

Inside the Louvre

Sunset behind the Eiffel Tower

Hil all smiles before our walk home down the Champs Elysee

So we have left the UK and touched down in beautiful Paris last night. We took a twenty minute metro ride from Charles de Gaulle airport to our friend's house, who we are staying with, in the city. Tired, hungry and eager to get to our new temporary home we walked out from the underground to an unforgetable sight. We were standing directly next to the Arc de Triumph with the Eiffel Tower shinning beautifully in the foreground. We quickly whipped out the camera and began capturing this breathtaking moment. (Like any good tourist would!)

We woke up this morning around nine to beautiful, crisp, blue skies and loads of excitment about what we would see and do in the coming day. Our friends apartment is right of the Champs Elysee so, with the Eiffel Tower looming over us, we decided that would be our first stop.

After a ten minute walk, a five minute line and a two minute elevator ride we were at the top of the Eiffel Tower with a complete 360 degree view of the city. The view was great, but the weather could have been better. It was like being on a cold, stopped ski lift with freezing wind howling up your jacket. Needless to say we got our few pictures and were back down at the bottom, where the winds were non-existant, after about half an hour. Hil was really cold and needed to thaw so we decided to get indoors and where better to do that then the Louvre!

We decided to walk from the tower to the Louvre and see the city. We dawdled along the Seine and crossed almost every bridge we saw along the way. I can't even tell you how many times I had to pick up my dropped draw and pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming. This city really is beautiful!

We spent the rest of the day in the Louvre being mezmorized by not just the thousands of incredible works of art, but also the overall opulence, grandiose and beauty of the Palace itself. We spent hours walking the halls and only saw a floor and a half out of four total. I guess we will just have to go back again on another trip...any takers?!

We completed our day with a casual slow-paced stroll home down the Champs Elysee where we cooked ourselves a nice traditional...Italian meal! But don't worry, we prefaced the meal with a selection of lovely cheeses and baguette. Oh and lets not forget the red wine as well :)

Au Revoir for now!