La Vie Un Rose

Here is the front of Notre Dame. It is very tall!
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I knew the moment I got off the plane and could read the destinations of the metro stops that I was going to like Paris.  I have been here before, but only for a weekend and with a large group, so I didn't get to truly appreciate Paris for all that it is.  I am in love with this city.

For one, it is beautiful.  The Seine runs right through the middle of the metropolis, and you can walk along its banks and see artists, vendors, and couples just enjoying the city-life.  The main attractions are easy to get to thanks to the Metro.  I have seen all the big stuff, Lourve (outside only for now), Eiffel Tower, Champes de Elysses, Arch de Triumph, the parks, Notre Dame, Sante Chappelle and Musee de Orsay.

A row of gargoyles on Notre Dame.
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I spent today walking around the Ile de Cite at first.  I saw the Notre Dame Cathedral.  The gargoyles are incredible.  I have photos to share.  I can picture the rain gushing out of them on a stormy day.  I then walked through the flower market and onto see Sante Chappelle, one of the best stained-glass windows ever, which is saying a lot.  I walked along the Seine, saw the Pyramids at the Lourve, and then went into the Musee de Orsay.  The main attraction at this museum are the Impressionists: Chagall, Monet, Manet, Pisarro.  I was draw to Van Gogh again though.  It seems that I like his work the most in the museums I go to.  I think I am drawn to the vibrant colors.  The haystacks painting was here, if anyone has seen the Thomas Crowne Affair.  It is amazingly detailed!  I also liked the pastels of the ballerinas done by Degas.  Overall, the museum was a nice place.  The building itself was an old train station, so it is enormous and all in glass and iron.

How scary are these?!
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After the museum I walked through the parks from the Lourve to the Champs de Elysses.  There are still flowers here, which were pretty.  Once on the Champs de Elysses, it was crowded.  There were throngs of people on the sidewalks and in all the stores and cafes.  It was fun to shop, and I drooled over all the fashion stuff that cannot fit in my suitcase (or in my budget for that matter!).  I had a coffee in a cafe to relax, and then took the Metro to an English bookstore.  I have read all my books already, so needed a new one.  That brings me to now.

An art noveau designed sign for the Metro.
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As you can probably tell from my upbeat tone, I am much happier in Paris than my last location.  I can feel safe here, and Val is coming to meet me on Friday!  I am sure I will have more tales of this French city.  For now that's all.