On the train heading into Paris. It was about an hour to get to the stop that we wanted, but we had fun on the way as always!
Mom looking at the map, planning the day. She was also here 40 years ago and was excited to see some of the places again and see how they changed.
This is the Place de la Concorde which is the largest square in Paris. During the French Revolution this was a place of many executions. During the Reign of Terror, in the summer of 1794, more than 1300 people were executed in one month.
They had these on many corners all ready for Christmas!!!
The Arc de Triumph is the most monumental of all triumphal arches. It was built between 1806-1836 and went through many modifications from the original plans, reflecting political changes and power struggles. It was built in honor of those who fought for France, in particular, those who fought during the Napoleonic Wars. It is 162 feet tall and 150 feet wide.
The boys messing around on the chains around the Arch - always being monkeys!
To show you a little of the size - the boys are standing at the base and I couldn't get it all in the picture.
This is France's tomb of the unknown soldier. Every evening at 6:30, the flame is rekindled by one of the nine hundred associations of former combatants. The flame was ignited on November 11, 1923 and has never been extinguished.
We found it interesting to have a forest growing on top of the buildings. I guess they needed a little more oxygen in Paris and didn't have any parks to plant them in.
This is the Grand Palace - it is a large historic site and museum complex that began in construction 1897. It served as a military hospital during WWI, employing local artists that had not deployed to the front to decorate hospital rooms or to make molds for prosthetic limbs. There is also a major police station in the basement which helps protect the exhibits on show.
This is the statue on part of the Grand Palace - it looks a lot like the one on top of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
There was a Christmas market so of course I had to take them there!! We were able to have lunch here instead of at McDonald's! YEAH!!!!
The boys showing Grandma and Grandpa a few things at the market.
Michael and his cotton candy, if you can believe it, this was the small
This is the Pont Alexandre III bridge. It is widely regarded as the most ornate, extravagant bridge in Paris. It was built between 1896-1900 and located on the Seine river.
This is the L'Hotel national des Invalides (The National Residence of Invalids) is a complex of buildings that contains many things relating to the military history of France as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building's original purpose.
It also is a burial site for some of France's war heroes, most notably Napoleon Bonaparte.
This is a statue of George Washington. It is amazing how many of notable Americans have statues in the European countries. This one was built in 1900.
This was our first sight of the Eiffel Tower!
The family at the Eiffel Tower!!! It was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, who designed and built the tower in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair. It stands at 1,063 feet tall. It was the tallest building until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930. But in 1957 they added an antenna to the top and it is now taller. Gustave Eiffel had a permit for the tower to stand 20 years, it was to be dismantled in 1909 when its ownership would revert to the City of Paris. They had planned to tear it down, but it was allowed to remain.
The four of us on the 2nd level. We didn't go all the way up to the top, but even here it was a beautiful view!!! I forgot to mention, while we were waiting in line for our tickets, Dad had his Cougar coat on and somebody asked him if he went there. We found out they were from Colfax WA. What a small world!! We couldn't believe it!! For those of you who aren't from Washington it is a really, really, really small town right next to Washington State University where my parents went to college.
You can see the Arch de Triumph from up here!
There are over 20,000 lights on the Eiffel Tower that gets lit up every hour on the hour from 5 pm 'til 9 pm. Unfortunately, with the timing, we weren't able to see it.
They had their military paroling around the tower.
These are the lifts that take you up and down the tower. You can see the stairs also to the left of the lift. Michael decided he wanted some exercise, so he and I walked down the steps from the second level.
A view from a little farther away. During WWI, powerful radio transmitters were fitted to the tower in order to jam German communications. This seriously hindered their advance on Paris and contributed to the Allied victory at the First Battle of the Marne.
Grandma, Grandpa, AJ and Michael in front of Notre Dame de Paris. The original one was demolished in 1160 and this one started being built in 1163. It was completed in 1345.
One of the most famous stained glass in the world, south rose window.
I do have to say that is was beautiful inside and huge!!
Though when Mom, Dad and I talked about it later we all agreed it didn't feel like a place of worship. Other cathedrals felt more of the presence of God and a holy place, but not as much here. But again, it was beautiful and huge!
AJ was messing around with the camera on our trip home from Paris. I thought it was too cute! We had a great first day in Paris. The only problem was finding the right subway station to get us back to Disneyland and our car. But after looking at a few maps and Mom working on her French we made it!
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