June 24, 2007
This morning Mikell and set off through the town of Paris. We were a little bit intimidated as we started off, in a strange city where people speak a strange gibberish. We did not want to take the metro because we could not figure out where we wanted to go. So we mapped out a course and found our way. We knew that we wanted to head to the Catacombs to meet up with some more people from the group at 1:00. On our way we stopped at a interesting cemetery.
I thought it was cool that none of the graves were under ground.
We got to the Catacombs a little early so we decided to get our first crepe. So we both got a natella and banana crepe and enjoyed it in the park. It was delicious!!!
After our crepes we waited outside the Catacombs til about 1:45 and the other group never came so we finally decided to go through. A brief history of the Paris Catacombs is that in the 1700’s there were mass deaths in Paris due to a plague. They could not dig graves fast enough for all the dead bodies and also ran out of room to bury their loved ones so they dug up the bodies already resting and threw them into the old mines. They did not go back and organize the remains of the old deceased til quite a few years later. And now it is a well organized 17km long walk through museum of bones.
You are not allowed to take pictures with a flash so we tried to capture some pics in the dark that did not come out so well.
A little ways in we ran into a security guy that seemed to be very intrigued with Mikell and I and began to give us a personal guided tour allowing us to take pictures with a flash. It was really cool we felt special, cause we were. Others were asking “Why are you allowed to take pictures with a flash?” He took pictures for us in front of this small engraving which we did not know what it said.
This was a great pic as he explained many things about the Catacombs. There are over six million bodies scrambled through the Catacombs.
He showed us like a skull that still has it’s teeth. It was so funny because when he showed us he said he didn’t eat chocolate and then pointed out the skull.
He also took us under the ropes where no one else was allowed to go. It was the coolest thing.
He took us back to see this arrangement of skulls into a cross. It was funny because after he took the picture of us he asked to take pictures with us on his camera. So we took turns and took pictures with the nice French man. After we did another guard flashed his light at us and told us “No Flash” but he was like oh no it’s me it’s ok.
When we had to continue on and leave him behind he told us that if through the rest we wanted to use a flash it was okay because he said so.
So it ended up being a blessing that we did not meet up with the others from our group. We would not have had the same experience and VIP treatment.
We decided to make our way to the Paris Opera House which is on the North side of the city. Along our walk we saw many designer shops.
There are so many building built in the Art Nouveau style it is great.
We made it to a central part of Paris and saw the Assemble National.
As we crossed the bridge we had a great view of the Eiffel tower.
We saw the monument Napoleon stole from Egypt.
Finally after a two hour walk we made it to the Paris Opera House.
So we has to head back to the hotel to meet the group at the hotel by 6 to go to the river or a boat tour and to see the Eiffel Tower. So we booked it to the hotel and made it in about an hour and half. Along the way we saw the Crystal Palace. This is now a museum with the entire roof as glass.
Across from this was this building with beautiful gold and glass doors.
We had great views of many beautiful things as we walked along the riverand back to the hotel.
We made it to the base of the Eiffel Tower. It was like a dream I can’t believe I’m in Paris.
Before we went on the river boat ride
we were sitting along the bank and we could not believe that there was a palm tree in the sight of the Eiffel Tower.
We took the river boat tour which was nice,
it gives a brief history of the building and bridges as we pass. Holly Jessica and I sat at the very back next to the cute little French flag.
The tour provided great views of Notre Dame.
The sky was a beautiful back drop.
And going under the bridges provided a great perspective of homeless life in Paris.
This was a great picture of the Eiffel tower and the National Gate Way.
This is the bridge that Princess Diana’s car crashed.
On the way back to the dock it was just getting dark which made the sky such an appealing blue.
This is one of my favorite pictures of the early moon and the Eiffel Tower lit up.
Every hour on the hour the tower sparkles.
We were there under the Tower til about 11:00 at night and it was great fun. 
There was a group there singing praises in French so we hung out there for a while and joined in as they sang Glory Glory Hallelujah. Most singing in French as our group sang in English. It was an amazing experience.
As we left the Tower sparkled again and I csught a phot from under the trees.
It was so big with so much to see. This is the chapel that is named God's Chapel because King Louis 14th was tired of having churches named after saints that he thought it should be named after God. What a concept.
This was my favorite window treatment. White silk!
Baba I got you the miniature of this chair from her study. I hope you like it. I was going to get a pair but I got their last one. I will continue to look for something better as well.
This is the bed that Napolean slept in when he took over.
So our last night and we finally made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower!!! 
Here is the great view. We could see everything!!!
This is how far I am from home.
