Erin McElvaney

Photo Gallery for Day 2 - Paris

     Today we did a 'walking tour' by la Seine from Nate's guidebook. It was a long day! We reserved one more night at le Village hostel, in a triple (Sat night) and hit the metro downtown at 11 am.

     We walked along Ile St.-Louis, which is the island in la Seine. There we looked in shops, strolling the small town. I saw this sugar bowl I wanted but it was very expensive. We stopped so I could get a cola bc I wasn't feeling well after all that wine last night. We sat in a bar by the door and I had a coke in a glass bottle for 3є50 and we got 2 scoops of fraise ice cream (strawberry). MMM! They had a photo of Bill Clinton on the wall, from one time he was there at that bar. I used the public toilet in the bar--my first squatter!

     Then we cris-crossed the island and saw Notre Dame--heavilly trafficked yet very impressive-stained glass & architectural masterpiece!

Thru the flower markets-how quaint! Where we passed Sainte Chappelle. We grabbed a sandwich: 4є20 for tomate & chevre panini (goat cheese)! Not bad, really. Coulda used more tomato though. Ate by the Seine. Ah, Paris! Strolled to Pont Neuf at the point (Place Dauphine?) to see stoned, smoking drinking 15-yr-olds playing instruments by the water. Drole! Beautiful.

     Went to the Louvre for a long while. Lots of scuplture & paintings and Napoleon's apartment things. They tried to evacuate us but no one listened. So many stairs, feet in pain! Beautiful but huge. 8.50є entrance. Walked by fountains & gardens when leaving. Beautiful day turned blustery. Headed down Champs-Elysees towards Arc de Triomphe, saw the Obelisque where Marie-Antoinette and others were publicly executed, but turned off to catch the metro back. Back @ 6 or 6:30 for a shower and then off to get food.

     Wanted tomatoes and mozzarella sandwiches but went to two grocery stores--all out! Got to use French to ask girls for help finding the cheese or something similar. No luck. Bought Brie, bread, 2 nectarines, 5 tomatoes, bottle wine: about 6.50є if that. Not bad. Didn't drink though. Nectarines = :). Headed out to Eiffel Tower @ dusk. Mad rush time. It was so beautiful! Lights on, then flashing blue ones! Cool. Waited in line forever: 7.50є for 2^nd floor (3 floors total). Tope floor closed :(. Very nice view. Took many pics. Could see Notre Dame, Seine, Sacre-Coeur, etc. from there. Headed back @ midnight.

**How often do they sparkle the Eiffel?**

     Stopped at a local bar for a pint of beer-Belgian-mmm-'Affligem'- and chocolate mousee :):). Total bill 2 beers & bousse: 21є. MMM. Came back & hopped in bed. Bon nuit! Good night's sleep approx 7:30 hrs.