Interior shot of Notre Dame.
Point Zero, the official geogrphic center of France.
Sharon gave a local musical group a donation. They were very good.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Day 32, December 14, 2015
A few of the statues from the Rodin Museum, including "The Thinker".
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Day 30, December 12, 2015
Today we visited Napoleon's Tomb,
and the Paris sewer system. The big balls are used to clean debris from the pipes. Brad and I are doing our best Indiana Jones imitation.
This is one of only two had stations I have seen in Paris. Gas was about $6/gallon.
Day 29, December 11 , 2015
Sharon and Brad arrived yestrday at noon. We started the day with a walk up the Champs Elyses.
These costumes had something to do with the Climate Conference. Entertaining.
We walked around until dark and then took a ride on the ferris wheel at Concorde Place.
Day 28: December 10, 2015
The last two days I had some nice weather and some very long walks. Two highights shown below:
First, a view of an elevated rail line converted to a walking path on top, with shops installed in the archways. Bus stop shelter is reflective on the right.
Second, in one of the last two cemetaries in Paris city limits are the graves of many famous people, including Oscar Wilde. There is a long tadition of women planting freshly lipsticked kisses on his grave stone. Acids in the liptick were causing deteriration of the headstone, so the plexiglass barrier was installed (by the Irireland Government, which maintains the overeas gravestones offamous Irishmen).
Even with a map finding specific graves can be difficult. I need to go back.
None of these are my markings!!!!!!!!
First, a view of an elevated rail line converted to a walking path on top, with shops installed in the archways. Bus stop shelter is reflective on the right.
Second, in one of the last two cemetaries in Paris city limits are the graves of many famous people, including Oscar Wilde. There is a long tadition of women planting freshly lipsticked kisses on his grave stone. Acids in the liptick were causing deteriration of the headstone, so the plexiglass barrier was installed (by the Irireland Government, which maintains the overeas gravestones offamous Irishmen).
The last photo shows older lip marks from before the installation of the barrier.
Even with a map finding specific graves can be difficult. I need to go back.
None of these are my markings!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Day 26: The High Point of any Paris Visit (12/8/2015)
The Sacre Coeur basilica at sunset.
Lenticular rail to the top. Best $2 I ever spent!
Next three photos are of a building that was under construction the last time I was in Paris 8 years ago. Fancy mall, convention center, etc.
Night photos of the Louvre entrance and the Ferris wheel.
Approaching the Sacred Coeur at sunset.
Why do some street vendors display their water on a piece of rectangular cloth with a string on each corner? I'll give the answer when I have a photo to show why.
I continue to pose as a native Parisian. Last night a woman asked me how tto find Blvd Sevastapol, and I could actually help her. Amazing.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Day 23: Christmas is Coming (December 5, 2015
There is a 'black Friday' in Paris even though they have no Thanksgiving holiday here. It's amazing how much American culture shows up overseas, even in Franco centric Paris. Ttry to name a French food chain America (sorry, Au Bon Paine is an American chain). In Paris there are many McDonalds and KFCs, and a few BKs. And a lot of cafes advertise serving burgers. Its easy to find someone who speaks English as second language, but imagine the Frenchman who does not speak English looking for directions in America.
So Parisians have started their Christmas season. I see signs in shops that hours will be reduced before and between the holidays. Streets and shops are decorated, ad shown below. I'll post some pics of the big stores shop windows later, which attract crowds at all hours.
Temporary vendor stalls neat Toulerie Gardens, hundreds of them, only for Christmas. Very festive atmosphere, although they mostly sell ready to eat foods and cheap imported goods. There are a few specialty or regional food sellers, like shellfish from Normandy or holiday cheeses and chocolates.
So Parisians have started their Christmas season. I see signs in shops that hours will be reduced before and between the holidays. Streets and shops are decorated, ad shown below. I'll post some pics of the big stores shop windows later, which attract crowds at all hours.
Temporary vendor stalls neat Toulerie Gardens, hundreds of them, only for Christmas. Very festive atmosphere, although they mostly sell ready to eat foods and cheap imported goods. There are a few specialty or regional food sellers, like shellfish from Normandy or holiday cheeses and chocolates.
Shops across from the Louvre.
There was high security at this fancy hotel during the start of the Climate meetings. But they also had Christmas decorations.
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