We arrived in Paris at 8am and caught three trains into the city to our hotel. The subway stations are definitely not wheelchair, or wheeling luggage, friendly! We climbed a lot of stairs with our heavy luggage and realized quickly why people backpack Europe! We were on one train that we thought would take us several stops down the line but, at one of the main train hubs, it stopped and we sat as everyone started getting off. A nice French woman starting saying a whole bunch of stuff to us that we didn't understand, except for one word, "terminae." Ashley figured out she was telling us that we needed to get off the train unless we wanted to go back to the airport! It was nice of her to give the clueless American girls a heads up before we started going back the way we came!
Ashley on the subway into the city. She looks refreshed because she slept the whole way!
Amy looking not so refreshed...I didn't sleep a wink!
Amy's hands after hauling her luggage through three subway stops and a few blocks to the hotel. We figured out why people backpack in Europe!
We weren't able to check-in to our hotel early so, we dropped our luggage and set-off to the Rodin museum.
Ashley, on our way to the Rodin Museum
Amy, outside the Eglise du Dome (where Napoleon is entombed)
The Hotel Baron (the Rodin Museum), where Rodin lived.
The sculptures were dark and scary but the gardens were peaceful and beautiful
In the garden,you can see Rodin's most recognized work, "The Thinker," and the Eglise du Dome.
In the Gardens....
we were reminded of our Great Grandma Murray and her rose gardens that she so lovingly tended.
The gardens were the most beautiful part of the museum. The sculptures themselves were pretty scary!
Amy is a Thinker...
Rodin's signature in all of his works
Ashley, at the Gates of Hell. This piece includes smaller versions of all Rodin's works. Pretty disturbing if you ask me!
The view from the porch
Inside the Hotel Baron. Our faces were red because we were quickly learning that none of these historic buildings have air conditioning. Yikes!
Our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower near our hotel.
Our accommodations for the week. I highly recommend this hotel! It was lovely and in a great location!
I was surprised at how small the room was but, apparently this was pretty big for Paris!
After getting settled into our hotel room, taking a shower and a quick cat nap, we headed off on a long walking tour. We went to the Eiffel Tower, walked along the Seine to the Pont Alexander bridge, and down Churchill avenue to the Champs Elysees. While walking up the Champs Elysees, a nice French guy tried to pick-up Ashley, being very complimentary and asking her to have coffee. She politely declined and we continued on our way to the Arc de Triomphe (Ashley, walking a little taller along the way :-) Although, thinking now, it reminds us of the movie "Taken" Hmmm...). We climbed the 234 winding stairs to the top of the Arc and watch the sunset over Paris. It was very beautiful and a great way to see the city.
We thought of our Dad a lot...He was named after Winston Churchill and we found several statues and restaurants with his name!
Looking down the Champs Elysees towards the Louvre.
Looking the other direction, down the Champs Elysees towards the Arc de Triomphe
A cute little park along the Champs Elysees where we took a little rest.
The Arc de Triomphe and the crazy circular road that surrounds it. Twelve roads feed into the circle with no lanes...crazy!
Sacre Couer from the top of the Arc
The Champs Elysees, from the top of the Arc. You can see the Louvre at the end.
Eiffel Tower from the top of the Arc.
Two of the twelve roads that lead to the Arc.
Moon rising over the city.
The sun setting over La Defense
We finished our first day by walking back to the Eiffel Tower to get a delicious ham and cheese crepe and watch the tower sparkle in the Trocadero park. A great end to our first day in Paris!
