Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Catacombs, Notre Dame, Pantheon, Alexander bridge
The weather perfect so we had a great full on day seeing the rest of Paris. We started early and managed to fit in all the best sights for a really fun day.
We walked 1.6km of winding tunnels stacked from floor to ceiling with the bones and skulls of Paristians. These catacombs are all over Paris. There was a problem with dead bodies from graveyards smelling and making people sick so they created these catacombs from old quarries where they dug up the dead and threw their remains underground.
Going to the top of the tower was well worth it. The Eiffel tower was built because France wanted to show the world they could build the biggest tower in the world. It had no use to anyone so it was almost destroyed by the military during the world war until they put a radio mask at the top which saved it.
We had mixed feelings about visiting the Louvre but we are so glad we did. What an incredible huge museum not just for the treasures that it holds but just the buildings and architecture within it.
Catacombs
The catacombs were really cool and creepy and we were a little shocked by all the bones and skulls. They were completely different from Rome. This is when the rocks were laid in place.
All the bones were right there in touching distance which was a little freaky. A lot of visitors get past the guards and steal skulls and bones.
It was only when they had visitors exploring some of the catacombs that they stacked all the bones and skulls into perfect piles.
The Notre Dame cathedral. We were going to do an english tour of the church but couldn't understand the lady
One of the famous stained window roses
The Pantheon
First signs of winter coming
A crepe (pancake) a day keeps the doctor away.......or thats what Karen thinks as she tried a new crepe everyday without fail.
Eiffel Tower
We wanted to walk up the tower to feel like we earned the view
Queue's developing to get up the lift
The views from the first and second levels were great but the views from the top were THE BEST EVER. I guess that is because at 300m high you can see a lot. this is looking out towards the Arc de Triomphe.
Looking over towards the Louvre
At 300m it was a long way down
Palais de Chaillot where we watched the tower sparkle at night. I love the defined lines the streets make with the high apartments.
No trip to Paris is complete without the tourist Eiffel Tower shot
Alexander 3 bridge
Louvre
The reverse pyramid under the louvre is meant to be where the Holy Grail is found. But instead we find a small shopping centre with a subway a souvenir shop
This is one of the most fascinating things about the museum. This shows a model of the Chateau du Louvre which once stood in this exact spot.
In 1989 archeologists dug up the ground to find uncover the footings of some of the old castle which is now part of the museum.
Excavations in 1989
They had the biggest and coolest collection of Egyptian statues, mummies, tombs and art I have ever seen
Inside the Louvre
St Mary Magdalene
Captive (the dieing slave) - a statue by Michelangelo
There were so many different designs in every hall, passageway, entrance, room and they were all really different and impressive.
Pyramids in line
Ground Floor hall
Aprodite known as the "Venus of Milo"
Seated Scribe
First Floor Halls
The famous 'Mona Lisa'. We almost had it all to ourselves as not many people were around this evening
Napoleans dining hall
The pyramids were really cool all lit up at night
Eiffel Tower by night
Every hour at night the Eiffel Tower twinkles which is really spectacular.
We stayed with Madjid & Aurélie for two days
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