Yesterday (Saturday), we donned our walking shoes, boarded a train, and headed for Paris for an all day adventure.  True to DJ & Michelle travel form, we walked 11+ miles through the city of Paris, seeing as much as we could of the city on foot and enjoying every minute of it.  By the time we boarded the train for the return journey our bodies were exhausted and I couldn't help but sleep through most the 2 hour train ride home.

We had to leave at 4:50 to catch the train.  No alternative but to have breakfast in Paris.  DJ had this yummy looking crepe and I had a french omelet.  I love the water pitcher and glasses!

After breakfast, our first point of destination was Arc du Triomphe.  This monument is familiar to DJ and me because the final stage of the tour de France is in Paris and takes a 7 lap route that passes this monument.  The arc stands 126 feet high and honors those who fought and died in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.  It was commissioned to be built in 1808, but wasn't completed until between 1833 and 1836.  Laying the foundation alone took 2 years! In 1840, Napoleon's remains were brought back to France from Saint Helena, passing under the arc on it's way to his final resting place. It is now the rallying point of French troops after military victory.

Triumphant at the arc du triomphe

Behind me is the Champs-Elysees.  The bikers in the tour ride up this street, around the arc, and back down again in the 7-lap course on the final day of the tour. This, apparently, is on of the most famous streets, and most expensive real estate, in the world. You can kind of tell from the pictures - the trees are all trimmed to be square.  Kind of interesting.

Walking from the arc, you approach this plaza that leads to the Eiffel Tower, the most iconic Paris landmark. It was erected in 1889 as the entrance arc to the 1889 World's Fair (the World's Fair was to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution). It is the tallest building in Paris, at 1,063 feet tall.

Yes, we were here :)

Parisian bridge spanning the Seine. 

The Louvre Museum.  Hopefully we'll make it back to Paris and actually go inside.  Today was for walking and seeing the sights, though.  This building was originally a fortress, built in the 12th century.  It became the royal residence in the 14th century and remained such until Louis XIV chose Versailles as the royal residence in 1682.  It is quite a magnificent structure with a huge park like area leading to the building full of statues and sculptures.  Quite impressive, can't wait to go in!

Notre Dame Cathedral. We took a river cruise up the Seine.  At one point you round the corner and there is the cathedral, quite an impressive sight from the river!  Construction began in 1163 and was completed in the mid 1240s. Much of the religious imagery was damaged or destroyed during the french revolution.  The lines were too long for us to have time to go inside, but we will be back and we will go in!

This is a picture of my very-good-sport-husband.  After sight-seeing all day we found a lovely french restaurant, looking forward to a delicious meal.  The menu was in french, but had english translation.  DJ found a dish that was translated as meat pie, sausage, and other tasty type meat dishes (so it sounded).  The picture above shows what they brought out.  The "meat pie" tasted like spam.  The sausage looked like it they used the pork intestine for the casing.  One of the meats tasted like un-cooked bacon (according to DJ; I never would have tasted it).  The only saving grace was the cheese and baguette that came with it.  I would have sent it back for something else, totally willing to pay for two dishes.  Not DJ.  He bravely tasted all of it and ate what he could choke down.  What a good sport!  We ate some yummy french pastries (crepes, macaroons, and cheese cake) to make up for it :)

Cleopatra's Needle, an Egyptian Obelisk dating back from 1450 BC.  Now that is old!  Where else would you find a ancient Egyptian treasure than in the heart of western Europe?  It's not really Cleopatra's needle, by the way.  That is just the popular name.  It dates back to 100 years before her time. It was erected by Thutmose III in 1450 BC.  It was inscribed upon by Ramesses II about 200 years later to commemorate military victory.  It was moved to a temple in Alexandria by Cleopatra. The ruler of Egypt gave this obelisk to France in 1826, and King Louis-Philippe had it placed near the spot where Louis and Marie Antoinette were guillotined in 1793.

At the train station ready to go back to London.  What a long, adventurous day! 

Our 11 mile trek through the city.