Leaving the ship at 9:30 we strolled to the Amsterdam staton and caught the fast train to Paris. I was surprised to feel the pressure in my ears when we entered tunnels. Much to the surprise of the APT guide from the ship who travelled with us, we had first class tickets so morning tea and lunch was served to us.
Staying close to the Arc de Triomph, we made this famous fop gateway to Paris, built by Napoleon, the first stop on our self guided tour.
The ceiling of the Arc, and the statues, are amazing.
Looking from the Arc de Triomph down the Champs
Élysées, you can see all the way to the Louvre (if there were no tourists, buses or cars).
There are 4 large statues, one on each corner.
On a Sunday, the traffic was fairly quiet. I wouldn't like to try this mid week!
The obelisk is in a straight line down the Champs Élysées with the Arc. This square is the site of the infamous French guillotine from the days of the revolution, when King Louis XV1 and his wife, Queen Marie Antoinette, were beheaded.
There are two of these fountains, one each side of the obelisk.
The pantheon of Paris.
Jardin des Tuileries . There used to be a palace here but it burnt down. The gardens are very popular with locals and tourists and your shoes turn white from the gravel dust.
The Louvre, home to Mona Lisa and other amazing art works.
In the Egyprian area. You could take photos of everything, including Mona Lisa. My battery went flat though so Mona is locked on Peter's phone.
The beautiful ceiling of the Louvre, which used to be a palace.
The evening was spent in a street cafe where I finally ate my first escargot. We were surprised at the size of them.
Being Parisian, we faced the street, as is the custom!
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