Tuesday April 18th.

Today is our first full day in Paris.  Another excellent breakfast, double espresso, croissant and fresh squeezed OJ for me, the girls jump into the fresh fruit, pain au chocolate, and fresh OJ as well.  I think we may have created a monster with Danielle and the pain-au-chocolate.  For those who've never experienced it, basically, take light buttery and flakey croissant dough, roll it with 2 sticks of chocolate in the middle and bake.  Yup, she's hooked...  Cindy (G) is also amazed by the flavor and texture of the bakery bread in France.

   
Cindy (G) REALLY loves the   Girls and their shopping...          A private piece of modern art
baguette here!                                                                    at Caisse des Depots

    
The girls in the Tuilerie Gardens   The Tuilerie Gardens continue.   Grant's girls take in all the sights.
(Jardins des Tuileries) with my
favorite art museum in the background,
Musée d'Orsay.  A converted train
station turned art museum, with one
of the largest collections of 19th century art.

   
We started our wanderings         The Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel),     Cindy (G) with a camera in
near the Musée du Louvre, but    from the Tuileries Gardens,          her hands.
it being Tuesday, it was closed.   off in the distance
We then wandered by the Musée
D'Orsay, which had insanely
long lines.  This prompted us
to go to the Eiffel Tower.

   
Different points of view of the Musée du Louvre.  It really is a massive building, or in reality,
 a series of additions to what was originally the French Royal Palace.
   

   
Danielle sports her new red        Cindy (G) was discussing with us her difficulties with the French language
Beret that I found and bought     at this restaurant, Castel Café.  When the waiter arrived, he took our
for her.                                    drink order and Cindy (G) asked for 'agua' instead of l'eau.  The server took
                                                it all in and in a mock serious tone stated 'I am not SPANISH' and took away
                                               her water.  He then came back and taught her how to correctly ask
                                               for water in French.  It was hilarious!  The food was very good there, too!

   
The view of the Eiffel Tower    What kind of Mom makes      Danielle watches the waiter
from Castel Café.                      her daughter stand in the     teach her Mom French phrases...
                                               street for a photo?!?

   
The small gardens between the Castel Café and the Eiffel Tower were quite impressive!
 

Below are some different views from the second level of the Eiffel Tower.  We decided to not go to the third
level due to the VERY long wait time, over 2 hours.  It was also quite windy and a bit chilly.

   
Above:
Parc du Champ du Mars and the    Seine River and Sacre Cœur     Seine River and at the tip of the
military school (École Militaire)                                                 Ile de Grenelle is the model of the
                                                                                              American Statue of Liberty.
Below:
I can't remember the name of              Palais de Chaillot                L'arc de Triomphe
this awesome church, yet...
   
 

Below are the obligatory shots of us at the Eiffel Tower.
 
   
   

   
Looking directly up the        The actual structure.             I just really liked this shot.
center from the ground.

The shots from Palais de Chaillot.                                                                                I love the statues at night
                                                                                                                                 more than during the day.

   
Above and below are photos of The Church of the Sacred Heart (Sacre Cœur)
   

     
The steps leading up to...         ... and down from Sacre Cœur.  There is a tram, but that's for wimps <G>...

Three angels in front of the shop of angels.
Too bad Cathy wasn't with them!
(She LOVES angels)

   
From Angels to Pigalle.  Pigalle is definitely the more 'adult' part of town, but still quite clean.
Just a lot of more 'adult' entertainment, and LOTS of theatres, like Moulin Rouge, etc...
We did find an AWESOME restaurant in the area, though!  Danielle had a Shepherd's Pie
that Cindy almost stole from her, and we really enjoyed the atmosphere there.

   
After dinner, on our way back to the Palais de Chaillot for some night shots of the Eiffel Tower,
 and then on our way back to the hotel, L'Arc de Triomphe.  My girl has attitude in the center photo!

   
Above are some night shots of the Eiffel tower.
I must have taken 3 dozen shots to get the twin beams, I liked the effect.

   
               École Militaire                Les Invalides in the foreground    Palais de Chaillot statues at night
and in the background, the Panthéon.

   
Night shots of L'Arc.  Yep, Cindy (G) took a lot of low angle shots...