Hotel du Louvre
Of course, we have to walk by the Louvre again. Hey, they have a hotel? Do the artists stay there?
SS filigree facade
If you're near the Louvre, you must be Art, I guess. New Stainless Steel filigree facade on an old building. Cool! After sunset, the city gets blue, and this building looks even cooler.
Paris flower shop
Many flower shops in Paris. We buy flowers for my hotel room (fresias) and for Emily's apartment (roses).
first visit to Eiffel
After Emily gets off of work, we meet her over at the Eiffel Tower, but it is too late to go up. Fun to hang out and get harrassed by the supposedly illegal street vendors, though.
first visit to Eiffel 2
Day three or four, I forget. We weren't as jet lagged as we appear here.
first visit to Eiffel 3
Sometimes a film camera captures the moment better. I only used one roll of film, most of them taken this night under the Eifel Tower, for some reason.
first visit to Eiffel 4
I guess I figured my digital camera wouldn't work at night. Ariel apparently didn't feel like taking any pictures this night. That didn't happen again.
Ariel's new shoes
After the Picasso Museum the other day, Ariel and I went shopping in the wholesale garmet district. She bought these cool tennis shoes, and I bought a jacket. We came to France with empty suitcases, figuring we'd buy new clothes. Nice plan, but expensive.
Steve's hair on the Metro
It's windy in Paris, and after a day mostly outside, my hair gets wild...
Metro station
Next evening, after Emily gets off of work. Tour Eiffel metro stop (above ground), on our way to the Boat Tour.
out the Metro window
Ariel sees something out the Metro window. Dunno what. Probably me in the reflection.
maybe boat wake
Boat tour. This might be the wake of the boat. Vicki liked the image, whatever it is.
boat tour of Paris
The boat tour we took was about 90 minutes long and we went with several hundred screaming Italian high school students. It was a big boat.
boat tour of Paris 2
Could be the Notre Dame, I dunno.
boat tour of Paris 3
Whatever it was Ariel photographed it from at least two angles, and Vicki picked these two. Must be the Notre Dame, which we never went to.
Gare de Nord automat
The train station / Metro stop near my hotel (Gare de Nord) has the biggest vending machine I've ever seen!
Louvre visit two or three
Back at the Louvre...We didn't bother with any of the other famous art museums (except the Picasso one that Emily wanted to see). The Louvre was overwhelming, and more than enough for us.
Louvre 3
Ariel's picture of Vermeer's, "The Lacemaker". Mine has her in the foreground, but A managed to focus hers.
large painting hall
The hall of big paintings. Another reason to move to Paris is emerging in Ariel's mind (besides the coffee). Going to the Louvre every day, it would take about a year to see it all properly.
Emily comes for lunch at the Louvre
Emily in the Metro. She comes over to the Louvre during her lunch break to eat with us and see some art.
lunch at the Louvre
She'll eat with us in one of the many coffee shops in the Louvre before she has to leave to pick her charges up at school/daycare in the late afternoon.
going up in the Eiffel Tower
Third time's the charm for us at the Eiffel tower. (We went the day before this but it was too windy and cold, today is better.) On our way up...
Paris from the 2nd level
The top level is closed, but we decide to go up anyway. Here is the view from the second level, just after sunset. More of that famous Paris light.
Steve on top
Kinda chilly up here. We decide to wait until the upper elevator is fixed, and we can go to the top. Finally, we go up! Top of the world, Ma!
Ariel at the top of Tour Eiffel
Ariel tries to keep her nose warm at the top of the Eiffel Tower. That lightning arrestor is not coming out of her head, really! Brrr...
Emily's Paris apartment
After the Eiffel tower, walking up six flights of stairs warms us up. I guess Emily is making tea for us? This is a deluxe apartment, as you can see from the combo toilet/shower/kitchen area.
back at the Louvre again
Next day, back at the Louvre again. My favorite animal, the Warthog.