The Metro arriving into Voltaire,
the location of our hotel.

New Candide Hotel in Voltaire District, walking distance to the Marais District, very central to the nightlife and great restaurants. Accommodation, Breakfast, and Transportation from London Waterloo to Paris Gare de Nord to Voltaire was all included. Thanks to Council.

Friday Night dinner at Bistrot Les Sans Culottes. Our dinner was delicious and well spent over two hours. Each of us loved the entire dinner starting with the Escargot to tasty desserts.

Place de la Bastille. In this landmark located directly in the middle
of a large turnabout is a memorial commemorating Bastille, the war
and the soldiers lost during one of
the battles during the French
Revolution. It is said that the bodies
are barried under this area.

In front of the Opera Bastille there was a demonstration led by the working class. Basically the protest was fighting the regiment law that was going to be enacted or already was, concerning the treatment of sick people in the workplace. In essence, the people argued that the law forces hospitalization and takes away from the rights of the individual.

During our walking tour we were escorted to Place des Vosges, a square in which many of the kings and queens lived once upon a time and where the more important visitors of France stayed.

Place Des Vosges, with a view of the Mansion of Victor Hugo (author) and Deborah Chock.

Hotel de Bethune-Sully.

Side view of the Hotel de
Bethune-Sully

Sasha and I in the courtyard of
Hotel de Bethune-Sully.

Sasha, Kit, and Silvia in the courtyard of Hotel de Bethune-Sully.

Musee de Picasso and the
King Henry statue located near
the entrance of the museum.

On Rue Des Archives there is a Jewish school in which the French-Jewish children were evacuated during World War II and placed into internment camps. This plaque on the school commemorates and describes the dedication and events that took place.

On Rue Payenne looking
down the street to Rue Mahler
with St. Paul's in the far distance.

This is a picture of the institute
in which many French-Jewish
children were taken from during
World War II.

Time to Rest?, Andy waits
by the road before crossing
over to the Centre Pompidou.

Some may praise the modern architecture of this building and some may be a critic. Apparently, the red lines are a symbol of communication with our society and illustrate some sort of flow of that communication.

The Centre Pompidou is apparently one of Paris' visited and popular museums. Due to time constraints I was unable to enter the Centre Pompidou and see the art that is appreciated inside this magnificent piece of architecture.

Me in front of St. Eustache and Les Halles.

Les Halles with St. Eustache in the distant. Les Halles is a shopping center in which I had been previously told about before visiting Paris. Unfortunately, I was unable to realize that this was a shopping center because it doesn't look like one.

St. Eustache from the distant

The 'Survivors' of the tour make it to Seine. The last time before we all split up and do our own things.

Naima, Nancy, Andy, and Anna looking at the long line at the Louvre.

Another view of what you can see while be inside the main atrium of the Louvre.

So Naima comes up with
a great idea to get inside "VIP"
from the metro. It seemed to work
although we got taxed 8.30 francs.
This picture is what it looks like
inside the atrium of the Louvre.

(Actual Size)
Why we came here... MONA!
She took all our energy just getting to her, it was the largest magnificent underrated piece of artwork I have ever seen in my entire life. If you have been to Louvre you known what I am taking about. Its really hard to understand... who dictates art and why do people find certain pieces more attractive than the others.....

Naima and Andy discover themselves in the painting and find out that life wasn't realistic after all. They study art at Goldsmiths and have a thorough understanding and appreciate art in a better sense than ordinary visitors such as Nancy and I.

Although, this artist seems to
have a really good imitation.
Artists try to imitate the artwork
on the walls in the Danon section.
As you can see there is nothing
like the original.

Naima studies the art with finesse and gives her synopsis on the portrait. She is studying art history at Goldsmiths in New Cross, London and has a greater understanding of the art than we all do

Nancy in Danon, patiently await the most exciting painting of the journey..... Mona!

Danon and the hall with the most incredible pieces of religious works.

Jesus carrying his cross and
other religious paintings are
quite common in the Danon tier.

In the upper section of Danon, we entered the ancient civilization (stolen) artifacts mainly from Asia.

The paintings and stories of the bible illuminate the halls of Danon in the Louvre.

Located before entering the core of Danon you will find a marble walkway in which sculptures and famous historical artifacts are located.

The Place du Carrousel, outside the Musee de Louvre.

One thing we will all remember about the Louvre was the great tasting International food. For a museum it was quite comparable and not overpriced. But it was damn delicious especially this gelato I had following my entree.

Me, Naima, Andy, and Nancy having a good old stroll in Jardin du Carrousel.

So, Naima makes the decision
that we should go on Tuileries.

Tuileries taken from
Jardin du Carrousel.

So we get in Tuileries, but at this point I couldn't find my ticket in my clothing so the attendant let me on after making a one franc scalp offer before he let me on.

And Naima starts freaking out. Tuileries was rocking back and forth and she finally admits she is scared and we wondered why she wanted to go on this in the first place.

Grand Palias taken from the
peak of Tuileries

Tuileries was a great time. Naima had calmed down (and so did I cause I was freaking out also) and we all got our moment of enjoyment.

Avenue Des Champs Elysees
taken from the peak of Tuileries.

Arc de Triomphe at the end
of Avenue Des Champs Elysees

Me and Arc de Triomphe

Tour Eiffel taken from the
walkway into Palias de Chaillot.

After Tour Eiffel, I met up for my birthday with John and Colin, friends from Sydney who I met a year ago. They took me out to an Italian Restaurant and then out to Paris' nightclub on Champs Elysees.

The crepes these two made were fast and good. I think it was because I was so tired from walking to the Tour Eiffel both times that finding a place to eat, especially on a Sunday, made it even better. The guy wanted to retake the picture holding the French bread in his hands, (trying to use it as weapon towards her???....not sure) and so I thought it was cute and took it.

On Sunday, Tour Eiffel had a different appearance, but still looked great. It added more emotion to the tower when you looked at it under a cloud.

Tour Eiffel as if you were
looking up when being close

The transportation and elevator located inside Tour Eiffel that takes you to the second level. This rope operated cab takes you up the leg and into the 2nd Floor where you take a regular elevator up to the top.

Tour Eiffel in an artistic taste.

Tour Eiffel taken from underneath
the arches looking upward.

Tour Eiffel, can you figure what
part of the tower this belongs to.

Sometimes you just want to jump!
The people look like ants and the busses look like maggots. This picture was difficult enough to maneuver and if I had dropped my camera, I would never hear the end of it.

Another picture of Tour Eiffel taken using the same technique of risking my camera. Tour Eiffel taken sticking the camera outside the safety bars over the ledge and downward. What I discovered is the best photograph of Tour Eiffel.

Colin taking a break on top
of Tour Eiffel.

Being myself on Tour Eiffel.
Obviously it was so cloudy you
couldn't see anything.

Here is my tour guide John, he is leading us and giving his historical reference on everything.

But I did manage to get a nice picture of Tour Eiffel Parc du Champ de Mars which is in between Ecole Militaire and Tour Eiffel.

A view of the Seine from the
top of the Eiffel

Palias de Chaillot and Siene
take from the the top of Tour Eiffel

Tour Eiffel behind the memorial, La Motte Picquet. The memorial includes the names of people who fought in World War II.

Tour Eiffel sitting on the grass
in Parc du Champ de Mars
and looking up.

Ecole Militaire, the former facility
for the French military.

Inside Hotel Des Invalides, Napoleon Bonaparte is displayed in the center inside his casket. France honors him with this excessive memorial and also many other heroic figures inside this building.

The actual battle weapons and cannons that were used during the French Revolution. The canons were artistically created itself with a detailed sculpture of designs on the sides. I guess the war was more than just a battle, it was an artistic revolution.

These Frenchmen are mascots, wearing the clothing Napoleon and other men wore during the time of the French Revolution.

The casket of another heroic
figure of France.

This is what Napoleon looks up to inside Hotel Des Invalides a sign of heaven and the clouds looking upward into the sky painting.

How Open-minded Are You????
Tarte Tarte the very delicious and healthy plate. It is raw meat with some some spices and a raw egg. It was damn good and I am having it everytime I go to France. Including, Foie Grais and Fromaghree, wine , bread, pastries, all of it.... etc.
Its all damn good!

On the Eurostar Anna was tired.

Paris was a great time for the
Council kids to get to know each
other.

Carol was dreaming of eating Tarte Tarte.... She was tired. She had a busy weekend herself and rests for another busy week in London.