Paris, July 2005

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All photographs and text © Copyright 2000-2005 by Jessica and/or Sharon Bussert.



Arriving at our Hostel

Ever since we were first married, Sharon and I have stayed in youth hostels when we travelled. At first this was due to the fact that we were poor and couldn't afford anything fancier! Later, it was by choice.

Hostels usually will give you a nice venue in an interesting location, filled with all types of unusual characters and goings on! If you have a sense of adventure, visit a hostel...

This was Heather's first experience with our unconventional form of lodging. She seemed to be enjoying herself as she sat in the window of our room.

















The Musee du Louvre

Our first tourist stop in Paris was the famous Musee du Louvre. The museum is housed in a wonderfully designed, gigantic building just chock full of some of the world's greatest art. So why did they have to go and make the entrance those dang hideous glass pyramids?










Who is the most famous woman in the museum? Well, after I left... ;)

Of course, it's Mona! She was famous before that *ahem* certain book made her part of a giant conspiracy theory. Old well, maybe the old broad is enjoying her current notoriety!

A few years ago Sharon read a historical novelization of her life and she told me all kinds of interesting facts about Mona and her family. Unfortunately, I can't remember any of them now!




















This was one of the many rooms where the staff performs restoration work on the various items of the collection.

I loved how all of this priceless art was just sitting around in what amounts to a workroom!

We could have taken thousands more pictures within the walls of the Louvre, but why take photos of someone else's art? Go there yourself... Photos just don't do the place justice!






















The Chocolate Shop

We visited a French chocolatier while in the city. The prices were enormous! Well, they didn't charge me to take this photo, which I quite like. As we hung around setting up the tripod and getting the camera ready, the wonderful smells gave us a great sales pitch and we ended up buying some anyway!










Notre Dame Cathedral

This is a photo of the famous Notre Dame Cathedral taken from the far side of the river Seine.

Just around the corner from the Cathedral was the Quasimodo pub. Something about the name of that pub rings a bell... *groan*










As you might know, the church is full of holy martyrs. But this guy just lost his head over the prospect of being on the entrance of Notre Dame!

Ok, ok... I shouldn't make fun! But I'm really *not* making fun of the martyr. I'm making fun at the architect's obsession with the macabre. Don't believe me? Well check out the next picture!
























Alright, I can understand the need to diet, but this guy was on something a little more extreme than the Adkins program!

This photo was taken of a crypt in one of the many side alters of the cathedral. I wish I could name the occupant, but I spent too much time taking the picture and not enough taking notes.











Time for something a bit more uplifting. This is one of the exquisite rose windows in the church. The light streaming through was simply magical.
























Devotional candles for the faithful.


















At the Pub

After all of that holy stuff, we really needed a drink!

We headed off to the pub for a little liquid refreshment. We knew what was waiting for us... The granddaddy of all Parisian tourist sites... You know it, you love it... It's the Eiffel Tower!!!!! *wild cheering in the background!*

























The Eiffel Tower

What photo spread of Paris would be complete without a few pictures of the Eiffel Tower? I love how the trees frame the tower as it stretches up into the summer sky!

While the three of us stood at the base, a young Frenchman came up to Heather and asked if he could draw her picture. Not being used to the ways of buskers, Heather gladly complied. Well, as the chap got about half done, he mentioned that if she liked the picture, she was welcome to buy it... for 80 euros!!!

Of course, Heather declined. Well, the price started to drop more and more until it finally hit 5 euros. We took a look at the picture, and I'm sorry to say it wasn't even worth that! I hope that poor guy uses his future profits to pay for art school!





















As we were waiting in line to take the elevator to the top, I looked up and saw this image. I really like how the sun is filtering down through the superstructure of the tower.

Just to give you a better idea of the scale at play here, I would guess that you could fit two football fields under this crazy thing!











Once at the top, we were ready to do some sightseeing.

Well, so was this nice older Frenchman! He caught sight of Sharon and Heather and was by their side in a flash! He hung around until I agreed to take this picture. He wasn't gone all that long, and a few minutes later he was back again with more corny lines to try and charm us with!






















This is just one of the beautiful views of the Paris city skyline as seen from the top of the Eiffel Tower.






























This is the view of the Musee du Louvre from the top of the tower. At first, I kind of hated those dang pyramids, but I havta admit that they kind of grow on you.















This is the famous Arc de Triomphe . Thank goodness for telephoto lenses cuz we wouldn't have seen it otherwise!
















I decided to climb down the tower via the steps, leaving the much more intelligent Sharon and Heather to take the elevator. On the way down I saw a huge amount of the internal superstructure of the tower. I think I took about 80 pictures while standing on the steps and shooting up. This is one of my favorites.

On an interesting side note, I happened to be wearing a short-tiered skirt at the time. Oh yes, and the stairs were made to steel grates. It was only after I turned to walk down the rest of the way that I realized I had collected a couple of teen-aged admirers who were standing the next flight down. Let me tell you, I have a *lot* to learn about all this girl stuff!



Great Endings?

So, we've travelled tens of thousands of miles during our various trips... So where do we end up? The Indiana Bar and Grill!

While we were there the French server asked us if the restaurant was anything like the real Indiana. Nope... It was totally tex-mex, with a klutzy Native American theme! Ah, but the food and margaritas were good. What more could you ask?