Pictures of Paris

Saturday and Sunday we walked all over the city - and still didn't even go near the Eiffel Tower.  Since I've been to Paris before I was less interested in the major landmarks and instead wanted to wander around the city like a Parisian.  

Of course, Paris is so full of landmarks that we couldn't help but hit a few of them.  Like Place des Voges - the oldest planned square in Paris.

I'm glad I didn't wear MY banana suit on Saturday - that it would have been embarrassing!

Notre Dame - because everyone loves a flying buttress.

Sacre Coeur - lots of steps wracked up on this one.  The problem with being here in July is that places like this are mobbed.  You get into the flow of the hoard and then shuffle along with everyone to get in, walk the prescribed path and exit.  There were about 12 different people selling crap little statues of the Eiffel Tower spread out on a blanket - does anyone actually buy that stuff?  Enough to entice 12 different people to sit out in the blazing sun selling them?

I liked the narrow streets behind the church - I don't know how I got this shot as if the streets were deserted because there were plenty of tourists there as well.  

I loved this building covered in greenery.  

For once, my goal was not to shop but to just wander and absorb the scenery.  That felt great at the time but I was a little sad when I realized I was going home empty handed (except for one surprise for Bill). We all know how I like a good shop and what's better than unpacking souvies when you get home?   

The trip back to London was ten times more difficult and stressful than the trip to Paris - - despite getting to the Gare du Nord early, I wasn't allowed to go through customs until they opened it for my specific train, thereby starting a 2 hour activity of processing several hundred people 1 hour before the train is supposed to leave.  And since there was very little communication, I just had to hope that the fact that everyone in line (if you can call that mob scene a "line") with me was for the same train meant that the train wasn't pulling out of the station before I even reached the window.  I assume that means that every train leaving Paris that day was late because I don't see how they could recover from this debacle.  This is a system?  Score one for the Brits where you to get through customs 30 minutes before departure time, the train leaves the station on schedule, and the people know how to form a queue!!