We Might Come Home: Paris

Our excellent hotel on Ile de la Cite. Cheap, even by Paris standards, and complete with private rooms and showers. Thanks again, Mrs. Jones.

A little park directly across from out hotel. At least 10 restaurants surround the park, so it's always filled with people talking, drinking and playing Bocce ball.

Trying to figure out the massive metro map.

Metro Bunny!!

Taken from Pont Neuf, or old bridge in English. The bridge spans the Seine, connecting Ile de la Cite to both banks.

The Seine at night.

Dutch pancakes were excellent, but they hardly hold a candle to the majestic crepe. You can find a creperie on every street, each serving up a variety of crepes filled with ham, cheese, or, my personal favorite, Nutella.

Tony was in no hurry to cross the street.

The Louvre. Like many European museums the building was once a palace. You enter the museum through the glass pyramid and take an escalator ride into the heart of the museum.

I'm pretty sure this is a young Hercules beating up another animal, but I can't say I blame him. For four years I contemplated doing the same to every Canada Goose on UNF campus.

Mona Susie, or something like that.

Notice the woman standing in front of the mural. The sheer scale of the work is amazing, but the detail remains as precise and intricate as many of the smaller paintings. I also like it because it's like 'Where's Waldo?' but instead of Waldo, you have to find Jesus.

In many of the big museums, art students would set up canvas next to a work and try to recreate it. While their efforts far exceed my poorly-scrawled stick figures, one can't help but look from the original to the replica with a little disappointment.

Chantal, playing hostess at her apartment in the city. She basically held our collective hands during our three days in Paris, and I'm still thankful for it. Not only does she know the city and the people who inhabit it, she speaks French fluently.

The gang, looking good before dinner.

Spencer talked about this restaurant with increased regularity and vigor as we drew closer to Paris. It was only after dinner that we could fully appreciate his love for l' Entrecote. I'll be back in Paris someday, if for no reason other than the gastronomical love affair that is l' Entrecote.

The restaurant takes no reservations, and after the initial seating customers are let in only after full and satisfied customers waddle out. When it's time to order, all one must do is say how they want their steak cooked, because Steak Frite is the only main course on the menu. The picture here is one serving. If you're able to fit it all in, there is a second serving of equal size on its way.

Out to see the Paris nightlife after dinner.

Arc de Triomphe. Construction of the Arc was started by Napoleon to honor those who fought and died for his French Empire. Beneath the arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWI.

Napoleon's column, modeled after the columns of Marcus Aurelius and Trajan.

Sacre-Coeur, or Sacred Heart, located on the top of butte Montmarte, the highest point in Paris.

Tony decided to skip the cathedral and took a trip to Versailles.

Inside Sacre-Coeur. Signs posted at the entrance discouraged photography, but I couldn't help myself.

Eiffel Tower from Sacre-Coeur. Even if cathedrals don't enthrall you, the view of Paris from Sacre-Coeur is still worth the hike.

An entrance to Pere Lachaise, the largest cemetery in the city at more than 110 acres.

Even though the cemetery is huge, the individual plots are very, very close to one another. Over time, empty space has become scarce, and plots from the 18th century sit next to 21st century plots.

Oscar Wilde's tomb, covered in lipstick kisses and graffiti.

The Lizard King's grave. The plot was blocked off and there was a guard watching the visitors. Also, the grave was incredibly hard to find. We had to team up with another group of lost Americans before we found our nation's greatest gift to the French since we saved them from the Germans, twice.