In July we traveled to Paris on the TGV from Avignon. A quick van ride from the train station brought us to our apartment on Rue d' Aboukir. The apartment was wonderfully decorated and it was only 2 blocks from the Louvre. This allowed early morning walks along the Siene to watch the river boats. The apartment was spacious and allowed us to cook food that we collected on Rue Montorgueil and Rue Montmarte. In the evening I shopped for French cheese and wine for dinner. Hyasmine's French was handy and allowed us to visit the small stores and inquire about local cuisine. We gathered fresh bread for breakfast as well. Our kitchen was excellent and the dining room was perfect for family dinners. Each room in the apartment had magnificent paintings and the library was a surprise. Mike and Lisa had their own room and separate bathroom. The large windows opened to view the streets below. Some evenings were raucous when France was playing in the World Cup. The partying escalated as the French team continued to win.
On our first full day, we walked to the Louvre and then over the Siene to see the Notre Dame Cathedral. We ate lunch in a cafe on the Ile de la Cite'. Later that evening Hyasmine and I strolled through the Jardin du Palais Royal. Hyas posed at the black and white Colonnes de Buren. We listened to a cello player at the Louvre before watching the sun set over the Siene.
The next day we climbed the stairs to visit the Basilique Du Sacre Coeur de Montemartre. Lisa and I scaled the claustrophobic steps to the top of the cathedral to view Paris. Afterwards, we went shopping at the Galeries Lafayette. Michael wanted to visit Supreme but we couldn't get in without tickets so we took the metro home. Bummer! Next time we'll try Brooklyn.
On our final day we visited the Eiffel Tower in the morning. We were stopped right in front of the line when the elevator broke. Darn! We delayed our tour and traveled to the Pantheon to visit the memorial for Toussaint Louverture. A short walk brought us to the Luxembourg Gardens and Palace. After dinner, Lisa and I finally made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower and watched the fireworks and light show before closing at midnight.
© Mark Etter Underwater Photography
