Paris - day 1

On our first full day in Paris, we walked to the Eiffel Tower and spent the rest of the morning on a hop-on hop-off bus. We also learned how to use the subway system.

In the afternoon we caught the train to Sacre Coeur cathedral, then walked, caught some more trains again and then walked back to our room at 11:00 pm.

My first view of the Eiffel Tower

9:00 am and already the crowds are excessive.

When you get to the front of the queue and pay your money,

 it's still ½ an hour from there

We took a bus ride to get the lie of the land.

Huge crowds at the Notre Dame

We got off the bus at the Arch de Triumph . . .

. . . and walked back down the Champs Eleysees.

This is for you Alison.

Some years ago at this place, Jenni and Alison

had pure melted chocolate served as a drink

The entrance to the Grand Palais

A Green-line train

The elevated parts of the train system look like Chicago.

Inside a subway station.

Sacre Coeur Cathedral, high on a hill overlooking Paris

The sun going down behind the bronze figure visible in the next picture.

We walk downhill and catch a train to the Louvre

Dan Browne's pyramid at the Louvre

The sun is setting as we walk across one of the

many bridges that cross the Seine 

We catch a train to the Eiffel Tower station and

spend €13 (about A$20) for two capuccinos.

The crowds waiting to ride/climb the tower are

even longer than they were this morning.

A huge lawn area runs for about 7-800 metres

from the tower  to the old Military School.

Possibly because it was still very hot, the crowds

occupied the complete lawn space.

It was 10:00 pm and finally becoming dark.

If you're up to it, click here for more pictures.

Paris 101

Bring plenty of money: €8.70 for a 500 ml (0,5 litre) beer,  €13.00 for two regular size capuccinos.
Paris is huge. You have to use the metro system if you want to get anywhere.
Don't come to Paris when the temperature is 34° like it was today.
Don't come to Paris in July because the crowds are enormous and you won't see anything unless you're prepared to wait in 34° heat for hours.
You must see Paris at least once in your lifetime. It is huge, fantastic, beautiful, unique and has an incredibly interesting history.