Tour Eiffel at night

The Eiffel Tower is my favorite sight in Paris. I just love it, as do lots and lots of other people, you should see the crowds at all times. Last night, we went to take pictures of it. We stayed until 10 p.m. to see it sparkle with strobe lights. I was happy to get these nice photos even though I didn't have a tripod. We took the metro and got off at Trocadero so I was able to get the long shot with the beacon. We walked towards the Champs de Mars and caught the sparkling tower, as we walked (a bit of a trek) to take the metro back from the Bir Hakeim stop. We rode above ground for awhile and were able to glimpse the tower between the buildings. So awesome. Always so awesome.

Wine degustation

Yesterday, we went off in the rain and chill, me with TWO wool sweaters on, to a wine tasting on a boat on the Seine, by the Eiffel tower. We rode 3 different metro lines and on the third, we ended up on the same train as our friends, whom we were meeting. How fun is that? Quel surprise!! The boat was docked a little ways from the Metro Bir Hakeim, with a view of the Tower looming over us, we walked in the rain down the Quai Suffren and up the gangplank. The boat was lovely inside, a dinner boat actually. It was very crowded with the wine sellers booths lining each side, as well as sellers of chocolate, honey products, foie gras, escargots, all in a narrow space. The views were nice and the gentle rocking reminded us that we WERE on a boat. We are such novices with wine, (or debutantes, don't you love that word?) but we tried wines suggested by our friends and are beginning to discover what we like and why. We bought three bottles of wine from Château Eugénie, a 2003 Cahors. Very tasty. They have three importers in the U.S. so the wines are available there, as well as in Europe (and Japan.) They're located near Toulouse, which we visited in 2006. Maybe someday, we'll take a trip back to that area, stay in a Gite (B & B) and tour the vineyard. Could happen! Meanwhile, we'll enjoy some nice wine. (sorry the one photo with the sign has a person blocking the view, but I wanted to show you how
one stands at the counter to taste and has a view of the river.)

Tour Eiffel, Friday

These images were taken yesterday when we went to Musee du Quai Branly. From the Cafe, where I was standing in the entry waiting to be seated, from the steps outside the cafe, from the bus as we pulled away from the Champs de Mar bus stop on the #69 which goes from there, winding through the city, all the way to Gambetta near Pere Lachaise cemetery. We get off 2 blocks from the Cite when we take this bus. It's a tour in itself. I highly recommend it (as does Rick Steves, for you fans of his.) Did I ever mention that this is my favorite Paris sight? We can see it peeking over roof tops in the distance from our windows, about 3/4" or 2 cm. At night, there is a beacon going around from the top, it is lit up blue, and on the hour for 4 minutes or so, it totally sparkles with light. I love it!

A very long walk.

Yesterday, we decided to walk to the Tour Eiffel. It's a very long walk, but it was sunny and seemed a good day to do this. There is a photo exhibit on the Quai Branly that we wanted to see, right by the Tower, so off we went. Here are some images from our walk. Play equipment in the little Square Jean XXIII behind Notre Dame is so different, and the surface beneath it is soft and spongy. Chuck took these photos of the Stained glass window of Notre Dame, the Gold Dome of Les Invalides, and a view of the tower from rue Bosquet. On the way, we wound through lots of streets, stopping into a Monoprix, a Muji by Saint Sulpice, a Mariage Freres tea store, a boulangerie, and Bon Marché.

It turned out that it was chilly in the shade, and windy, and Chuck hadn't dressed with enough layers. Since we weren't in a hurry, it was a nice way to take a long walk.