Paris Streets

We walked the other half of Paris today! Started out on the Champs Elysees, which is already decked out for the Tour de France with grandstands and French flags lining the street. It was fun window shopping, but we have found that even though it was okay to take photos in the Louvre, if you take your camera out in a store, you are immediately approached by security. In McDonalds we were stopped from taking a picture of the pastry display and the Disney Store wouldn't let me photograph the huge chandelier with Mickey & friends. (We are not just shopping at American stores - in fact, I'm a bit horrified at the abundance of them!) Another strange security feature in France is the armed guards in the Metro (subway) and near the monuments. They are usually dressed in fatigues and carry machine guns. It is really creepy.

Anyway, we walked the Champs Elysees from the Concorde

(looks like the Washington Memorial with hieroglyphics) to the Arc de Triomphe. We then rode the Metro to the Latin Quarter near the Sorbonne University. We ate lunch at a street cafe (French onion soup) and looked in a couple of bookstores. We then walked through the Jardin du Luxembourg (beautiful flowers and green grass) - in the center is a fountain where people were sailing toy boats. We walked back towards the river Seine and crossed to the Ile de la Cite. It is an island in the middle of the river where Paris originated. On this island are the remarkable churches, Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle.

Continued walking to the right bank and down to the Marais area, the old Jewish section of town. I didn't find any bagels, but we walked past a few seamstress shops. We had an ice cream break before walking back to the Bastille monument near our hotel. We decided after all that walking to take it easy for dinner. We ordered Pizza Hut for dinner and had it delivered to our room. Thanks to Stephanie for navigating the French online menu! It was delivered super quick by moped. I think we have now walked by all the major Parisian landmarks. It has been easy to get around and everyone has been extremely friendly. Most people speak English and are happy to assist. I usually try a little French first, but they tend to reply in English. So far all pleasant experiences.