Paris May 26-31

2006-06-12T00:06:00.000-07:00

We arrive in Paris at 11.30am, catch a metro to our hotel, dump our bags as the room isnt ready yet and head out into the Paris streets. We only have 5 days here and want to make the most of them. We start to walk into town, past the Moulin Rouge, and realise after almost an hour that its too far. We catch a bus to the Arc de Triomphe - http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=arc+de+triomphe+paris - visit the tourist info centre and the Opera House - http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=opera+paris - head back to the hotel which has a kitchen guests can use, make dinner and slepp.

The 27th we visit the Place de la Concorde - http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=place+concorde+paris - with its huge square surrounded by large ornately decorated buildings, filled with fountains, statues and sculptures. Together with detours to the Bourbon Palace which is now the National Assembly, and the Eglise Madelaine, another amazing church art gallery, much of the day is gone. We visit the Petit Palais, which we werent expecting was a museum and gallaery so it is a delightful surprise. We walk the 3km along the Champs Elysee to the Arc de Triomphe, stopping to see the Da Vinci Code which we were both disappointed by. We were planning to go up the Arc, but we also wanted to buy a museum pass but we have left it oo late and walk through back streets towards the Eiffel Tower. Im sure you dont need a photo link to that one. We get to the viewing platform at 11pm and enjoy an hour looking at Paris lights. By the time we get back to the hotel we are exhausted and sleep deeply.

We have a late start on the 28th after our long day yesterday. We catch the metro to the Ille de la Cite which is an island in the middle of th Seine River that runs through Paris and was where Paris began. We buy our museum pass at St Chappelle which has the most amazing stained glass windows imaginable, showing in small detail the old testament, the new testament and the history of the French kings - http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=saint+chappelle+paris . From there it is to the Consergerie the prison where Marie Antoinette and thousands of other were held during the French Revolution. We then visit Notre Dame cathedral which has lots of unusual works of art for such a famous cathedral, lots of moderist stuff where almost every cathedral visited in Europe is very much conservative. We climb the towers for another amazing view of the Paris skyline. There are an overdressed French couple in the bell tower - suit and evening dress and heavily jewelled and made up. At first we think they might be French film stars. Then we see the couple with the big video camera and the movie star couple saying lines to each other while the woman exposes more cleavage, and we realise they are doing a movie, but its not going to be one you will see in any cinema. We leave laughing. Then we visit the site of some ancient Roman baths of which we have seen many in Asia and Europe, and walk to Rue Mouffetard, a part of town recommended for its old style streetscape and variety of restaurants. The street is one restaurant after another of every food style imaginable, all offering a 3 course meal for 12 to 25 Euro (about 20 to 40 oz dollars). We chose one that looks authentically French, hqve a lovely meal and head home.

The 29th is spent qt the Louvre. We get there at 1 and spend 5 hours walking through the lergest art gallery in the world, heading to the Mona Lisa first, and having time to stop at a few other pieces, and especially enjoy Napoleons apartment. It would take weeks to see everything in here, but after 5 hours our heads our full and the gallery is closing. Beck has had enough and heads back to the room, I go to the Pompidou Centre where the Gallery of Modern Art is. The theme was film, and though Im no modern art expert, it was all over my head, seeming pretentious and meaningless. The most enjoyable part was looking out the window at the Paris skyline in the rain rathr than anything in the gallery itself. Even then, I feel like I am missing the liveliness, colour and soul of Asia which except for a few times in Spain seems missing in Europe, as if being developed is done in exchange for its spirit. I go home to B"ck and we share what a great day we have had although all the walking and sightseeing is taking its toll.

The 3àth we visit some old theatres, the City Hall which has many wonderful sculptures on its outside walls, walk to the Picasso Museum which is closed, the Victor Hugo museum (he wrote the hunchback of notre dame and le miserable), the Bastille and a science museum like the Powerhouse in Sydney. Another sight packed day and we enjoy relaxing in our room as we leave the next day. In the morning we pack, visit the Picasso museum, finally go up the Arc de Triomphe, which was our first site visit in Paris, and now is our last. We have a quick lunch, catch the metro back to the hotel, get our bags and catch the metro to the bus station. Paris has been good for us. We are as close and connected as we have been on this trip. I can see the impact of my behaviour on Beck, and us, and feel transformed.

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