Autumn in Paris

Paris is amazing. I was last here in about 1982 as a newlywed. It had a profound effect on me then, and it does again.

People line the streets holding hands and kissing... I don't know why but couples getting photos in front of the Eiffel Tower LOVE to kiss! The streets are filled with little patisseries and chocolatiers and restaurants/cafes with outdoor tables. Couples are sharing crepes, laughing over coffees, and walking with their heads together whispering...

The Seine River is lined on both sides with people walking. Children are laughing, and teenaged girls walk arm and arm with a bounce to their step. The metro is packed with people standing jammed. No one seems in a hurry enough to push you aside, and it seems as if people just enjoy the simplier things of life here... like each other!

Walking down the Champs-Elysées is such an awesome experience. People are in and out of the stores. With the obelisk at one end, and the Arc de Triomph presiding other the other end, trees lining the avenue, and the stores and restaurants on both sides with their up to the minute fashion, you can see why Paris is known for some of the best shopping in the world!

The Eiffel Tower looms over the city and from time to time, wherever you are, you catch a glimpse of it. There are French flags flying here and there. Occasionally you run across several policemen or military, and we walked quickly past a growing demonstration about something or other that was getting unruly, but all in all the feeling here is of peace and simplicity.

Even walking around in the rain is amazing. Today was the perfect day: their typical (sparse) breakfast of yogurt and a few slices of turkey (Gary had the muesli), then off on the metro across town to see St. Michael's and Notre Dame. It was POURING RAIN, but with our umbrellas we just joined the crowds walking the streets!

After walking around Notre Dame and the square of beautiful buildings there, we stopped for a sidewalk Nutella crepe and coffee. More walking and sightseeing, and then a lunch of a chicken sandwich (everything is on French bread!) for Gary and a salad for me. We then hopped back on the Metro to make our way to Champs-Elysées and sightseeing there.

We walked the streets for several hours, walking by the Louvre and through center city, and then made it to our Paris in Lights nighttime tour. We discovered we were supposed to have eaten, so we quickly each grabbed a chicken sandwich on French bread, and we jumped onto the bus.

The bus took us to the Eiffel Tower, where we went to the second floor and took photos and had a quick sparkling water and some "sweet" popcorn (kettle corn!). We walked around the Eiffel Tower for an hour, and then met dockside at the Seine River for our boat tour. After the boat tour (which was awesome) we walked back to our hotel, stopping on the way home for a little fruit salad (and Gary got escargots and oysters!).

We were gone from 7:30 a.m. til 11:30 p.m. It was an amazing day in Paris!