Paris Day 3 - Bedtime!

 I have so many pictures and stories from today, but it's 9:30pm and I have a tour tomorrow that starts at 8:15am, so they'll have to wait until tomorrow. For now, I'll tell today by the numbers: 

Minutes of exercise: 134 

Total steps taken: 15,549

Total distance: 7.58 miles 

Flights climbed: 29

 

Update: new pics and stories! Here's what happened today: 

• The Arc de Triumph - you can go to the top and take pictures. The most beautiful views! Going up to the top of the Eiffel Tower is fun, but its main drawback is the Eiffel Tower won't be in any of your pics. You can walk all the way around the top of the Arc, and there's helpful maps to let you know about the different landmarks. Along the way I got to talk with people from Canada and Australia. The Australia couples were leaving tomorrow for England - they wanted to see to coronation. Can you imagine being in the room where it happens? Or at least the country where it happens? 

When I first got off the Metro I wondered - how difficult a time will I have finding the Arc? Um.....didn't have to worry about that. This was the first thing I saw.  :) 

Yeah.....so I gotta have some selfies. First one is on the ground, second is from the top. 

I love how there's so much use of greenery as part of buildings here. You may be in a large city, but there's still a lot of effort for green space. 

Champs-Elysses. Now full of chain restaurants and cheaper shops, but everyone knows the name. The most famous shopping street in the world. 

More usage of greenery. 

• Stop #2: AXS Design. I found this place through Google search and Instagram. It's a beast to actually locate (it's in a small courtyard off a side street), but it's worth it for the vintage shopper. It's owned by a couple who live about the shop, and their "drama queen" (his words, not mine) of a dog, LuLu. They sell during the day, but also provide objects for everything from restaurant openings to movie sets. I can't post any pictures of what I bought (the owner wrapped it in multiple layers of bubble wrap) but I'll show once I get home. A fun place to visit - I may still have to go back for all the milk glass (pink, white and blue).......

LuLu the drama queen. The shop owner and I were chatting, when LuLu decided to make her presence known.....and make a run out the open shop door. Afterwards it was just too much energy to stay awake. 

• Stop #3: Seine river cruise with champagne tasting: This was something most locals recommended as a great way to see the sights. Fun, but you have to break the rules a little if you want better pictures. They expected us to sit quietly in our chairs behind the glass partition, and you know your girl was NOT having that. I got permission and spent most of the cruise out on the front of the boat. I'm in Paris, I am not sitting quietly!  :) 

Champagne while passing the Louvre

This is why I paid a little extra for the champagne cruise - you're packed like sardines for a general admission ticket! 

Musee de Orangerie - home of the impressionists. I've had to shift around the schedule a bit, so I may end up here on Friday. Still deciding. 

Notre Dame. You can still see the scaffolding on the back side, they're hoping to have it finished by the Olympics next year. 

View from the Seine. 

Since the Seine isn't just confined to Paris, many people will take longer trips throughout France. When they dock, they may need a car, so they take it with them! 

Coming up over the next few days: 

• Women of Paris - Women in Fashion tour 
• Opera Garnier - After hours tour (this is nicknamed the Phantom of the Opera tour) 
• St Ouen flea market

Since my schedule was rearranged (one of my tours only had openings on Saturday, not Friday like I planned), I suddenly have Thursday afternoon and most of Friday free. Debating what to do.....