Paris Day 2

So day 2 started with a round of about trip to Versailles.  Our visit there was another downside to Paris.  The were swarms of people and we were all herded through the palace like cattle.  It was neat to see but it didn't seem that much more impressive than other places we saw during this trip.  The upside was definitely the gardens.  We wandered around and could get away from the crowds a bit.  We also had a nice picnic while we were there.

When we headed back to the city we went to Les Invalides, a museum where they have mainly armor and war things as well as the tombs of the 3 Napoleons.  The armor in France was much "froo frooier" than what we saw at the Tower of London and it was a bit difficult to take seriously but they did have an impressive number of things.

We made is over to the Musee de Orsay for about an hour and a half before they closed.  It was a very neat place with tons of beautiful sculptures and a whole wing of impressionist works.  There was also a place where you could access the roof and see amazing views of the city.  It was also our only glimpse of the Sacre Coeur because we never made it up there.

Once they closed we walked back toward our flat.  This time we walked along the river again but went down off the street level and walked right next to the river.  It was a nice way to get away from the chaos a bit.  It also turned sunny and a bit warmer so it was beautiful.  We got to walk by Notre Dame (we went there the next day) and Centre Georges Pompidou which we also never made it to.

That night we ended up going to the Hard Rock Cafe - seriously.  It is not something we would typically do but we were desperate for some English speakers and regular food that we knew how to order.  We also got a free dessert with our Paris Pass that we used while we were there so it was an added bonus.  It was a nice treat to get nachos and guacamole and we got to see a part of town that we wouldn't have made it to otherwise.

An interesting thing on this trip was how in London things close early (pretty much every restaurant is closed by 10 or 10:30) and in Paris it's the complete opposite.  We never sat down for dinner before 8:30 or 9:00 and usually weren't heading home until 11.  It also stays light much longer than here in Austin so it was only just getting dark at 10:00 each night.

The French mini-statue of liberty from the train to Versailles

And the crowds begin

Finally through the first line - one to get in, one for security, one for maps, and one for the audio tour - all separate and all disorganized

Chapel at Versailles after we waited to get to the front of the doorway

Hall of Mirrors

The king's bedchamber

Queen's bedchamber - redone like it was when Marie Antoinette was there

Outside in the gardens

Not even halfway into the gardens looking back at the palace

Les Invalides

Interesting mustache

Chapel at Les Invalides

Napoleon III tomb - so massive for such a tiny man

View of the Eiffel Tour from the lawn in front of Les Invalides

Musee de Orsay - used to be a train station

Upstairs clock looking out over the city

Sacre-Couer in the distance

There was a carnival going on - I don't think the ferris wheel and things are typically there

Walking along the Seine

So many bridges

Notre Dame from the river

Front of Notre Dame

Huge concert going on at Place de Hotel de Ville - we stayed for a few songs and came back the next night

Street performers around Centre Georges Pompidou - I loved this father son team of course

Front of the controversial Centre Georges Pompidou