Paris!

I finally made it to Paris!  It has been on the list for a long time, but just didn't work out.  So far, I love it!  I was a little worried at first as I encountered horrific B.O. on the jetway while boarding the flight to Paris.  Could it be true that most French people smell bad?!  Luckily, no.  Somebody certainly smelled bad, but he/she/they were not seated near me and I have yet to encounter another stinker.  Phew!

The highlight of day 1 was my inability to see any US news for most of the day.  I didn't activate my wifi until I got to the hotel and the hotel wouldn't let me into my room until after 3, so I was happily Trump-free for a long time.  I didn't do a whole lot.  I was exhausted after the overnight flight (no sleep, of course) and my tummy didn't feel right, so I just wandered around Luxembourg Gardens and the general area around my hotel.  I had a yummy croque monsieur at a nearby brasserie and then hit the hotel!  Upon settling in, I embarked on one of the longest sleep sessions (not involving the flu) of my life.  I was beat!  I took a "nap" at 4, didn't wake up till 10, and went right back  to sleep at 1.  I finally got out of bed at 10 the next morning because I wanted to hit the town, but I think I could have slept longer. 

First meal in France - croque monsieur!

Today was a wandering day.  I started at the Pantheon, a few blocks from the hotel.  To get in, I had to open my bag and my coat, to show that I was not a suicide bomber.  Hmmm.  Lots of info about dead French guys who made France what it is today.  It was an impressive building, but it just made me realize that I know almost nothing about French history.  Oops.  I'll work on that.

The Pantheon's Christmas trees!

Sweet dome on first floor of Pantheon

The crypt was a cool space

Important dead French guy

Next, I wandered toward Notre Dame, eyeballing every brasserie, café, and other types of restaurants along the way.  I had chosen more sleep over breakfast.  I just checked out the outside of Notre Dame today because there was a pretty big line to get in and I know I'll be back there many times this week - it's close and on the route for the hop on/hop off bus I plan to take tomorrow or the next day.  It's a pretty impressive place and the site of my first encounter with the Paris "State of Emergency" boys - cops/soldiers with huge assault rifles.  It's a bit disconcerting when one is (casually, not intentionally - I'm not who they're worried about) pointed toward you, but for the most part, I feel like they're a good deterrent. 

The SoE boys coming for me while I pretend I am not taking their pic.  Smooth.

Then it was lunch time.  Hooray!  A lot of the restaurants here have "formule" menus, so I got a 3-course formule:  cheese ravioli in, of course, a cheesy cream sauce, beef bourguignon, and crepes Suzette.  All were delicious.  Also had a glass of le vin du maison, of course.  Food pics posted on facebook.  Lunch is often my big meal of the day on these trips and it was today.  It's a nice mid-day break and fuel for an afternoon of more strolling.

I had no particular destination for the afternoon, but headed generally toward the Louvre along the river.  I didn't really know how far it was, but I knew I was close when I saw a "Musee du Louvre" on a building.  But it didn't look like any view I've seen - I had to walk BLOCKS to get to the entrance I have seen (ya know, the glass pyramid).  That building went on forever.  The Louvre is ginormous!!  Again, I didn't go in today - too late in the day.  I'll go in later. 

The pyramid is smaller and the Louvre much bigger than anticipated!

I continued on from the Louvre through some gardens, past a mini Arc de Triomphe and some North Africans selling selfie sticks and Eiffel Tower keychains (sweet), and to one of those big city Ferris wheels.  This one didn't seem too popular.  Also enjoyed some views (throughout the day, really) of the Tower itself (much bigger than on the keychains).  At that point, I thought, my feet are getting sore, maybe time to head back to the hotel to recharge my phone battery and my feet so I checked the map on my phone.  Just 2 miles away.  Ouch.  Oh well, more to see along the way!

Mini Arc!

Gardens with distant view of Eiffel Tower and big wheel

Another distant view of Eiffel

After a break, I re-did the morning part of my circuit to see how the Pantheon and Notre Dame looked at night.  The Pantheon isn't really lit up, but the lights on the row of Christmas trees in front were on.  There are Christmas trees all over the place - I don't want to hear any more snide comments about how long I leave up my Christmas decorations.  It's very French!  That means classy in America.  :p 

Nothing special for dinner, then back to the hotel to plug everything in and get started on this.  Bonsoir!