Paris! Notre Dame, St. Louis, Musee de Orsay, Champs-Elysee, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel freaking tower

Ahh Paris. I'm really glad I was going to Paris from London. Because it made it easier, a little easier to leave London. Paris did not dissapoint. It was amazing. BUT take a look at matt and i's first look at Paris. Yes this graffiti covered wall was our FIRST look. Note to Paris, not a great first sight people.

This is the outside of our hotel. It look like a beautiful area doesn't it. Do not be deceived my young friends. This is the red light district for Paris. We had a brothel on each side of us. But they were very nice and didnt step outside their doorways at all. Matt just kept his eyes forward while I led the way. It was nice during the day though. And the hotel was nice and clean and not a fortune. :) PLUS we were RIGHT by a metro station. So it was a perfect location for us.

This is my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. We were walking across the bridge to Notre Dame and as I looked across the Seine saw this lovely beauty.

Lovely Notre Dame, I really enjoyed my time at this place. When we got there, it started to rain rain rain. Which lucky us was the one ONE time we DIDNT bring our raingear and the ONE time we needed it. lol SO Matthew ran back to our hotel (he was gone for like an hour) and got our jackets and umbrellas. I was spoiled and got to sit back and relax in this beautiful building. Listening to the organ and the choir occasionally. And really take it all in. It was wonderful. Very peaceful. Much more peaceful than the English Cathedrals..which were more "showy." Like in England the cathedral has these huge tombs EVERYWHERE of all their rich patrons. In France it wasnt like that. Very simple and lovely.

This delicious concoction was a crepe with chocolate and bananas, and my lovely chantilly (whipped cream) on top. This was really really yummy. Matt had strawberries instead of bananas in his. His was SO GOOD. So i got that from then on whenever we had dessert anywhere. I REALLY need to learn to make crepes.

This is after our lovely lunch at a cafe on St. Louis. I loved the cafe because it was a definate tourist stop and very quaint. The manager/owner was so friendly and was great at explaining everything to us. VERY helpful. lol

So afterwards we walked the isle in the rain. Looking at the beautiful shops lining the small streets (MATT LOVED the small street size hahaha)

the lovely backside of Notre Dame, you can kind of make out the flying buttresses. Notre Dame was one of the first buildings to use these buttresses to support the massive weight of the roof.

This was a picture we took from the Musee De Orsay's balcony. So so beautiful. Its the Basilica in Paris. (more to come on this place later)

This was our favorite Museum. It was not overwhelming, it had beautiful pieces, and a great variety. Plus matthew LOVED the building :)

us being all lovey outside the Museum :) Isnt he adorable.

Matt got very picture happy in Paris. Like insanely picture happy. I was not thrilled about being the main subject of the pictures, but luckily he has some gorgeous buildings to distract him...most of the time. lol

This was in the Tuilleries. A very popular HUGE garden in the middle of Paris. I was suprised that there wasnt much too it. A TON of very well kept up trees..hardly a leaf on the ground to be seen. And some nice fountains. But very different than the colorful gardens i'm used to at home.

we walked down the Champs-Elysee to get to the Arc de Triomphe, and what do ya know. Sephora was there :) HAD to go inside of course and man ALIVE the biggest makeup store i've ever seen! It just kept GOING, and it even curved at the end, so you arent seeing all of it in this picture. PLUS you arent seeing all the perfume section either since i had already walked through it when I took this picture. You can see me in the pink shirt...I was a bit overwhelmed.. lol

The lovely Arch of Triumph. All those bumps are the top are peoples heads. Yep I didnt know you could actually go to the top but yessiree you can. Over 200 steps. And those that went to Yosemite with me in Junior High and did the Mist trail with me...yeah you can imagine the pain i was in. I havent gotten very much more endurance since Junior High. Matthew was a good sport though. :)

At the top! And a little closer to the Eiffel Tower. It was perfect timing for us. We got there just as the sun was setting. it was so so beautiful. Then after the sun had set the lit up the tower. It was gorgeous and sparkling. My girls love watching the video we took of it.

Matt and I went to the Eiffel tower to get a closer look. We settled at the end of one of the massive reflection pools. It was so romantic and beautiful. And I really got a kick out of this naked woman statue watching it. lol