Sh's Adventures Continue...: In Paris Playing with Friends: The Middle

One thing about playing with friends in a different city is that you get to see it through their eyes. What a gift, especially with people who are interested in what's around them. Kevin wanted to swallow the city whole and see everything. So much fun. Evie has been here before, so was open to Kev leading the charge.

On the boat we saw a couple of things you don't always see together...

this is the view at the end of the Île aux Cygnes in the Seine, which has one of two smaller models of the Statue of Liberty. It may have been a gift for the people of New York and America, but France isn't about to let anyone forget that a Frenchman (Frédéric Bartholdi) designed it. Oh, and for true fanatics, there is a life-sized symbol of her flame at the Pont de Alma - the tunnel under the river at the same point is where Princess Diana died.

Montmartre
We made a few brief stops in Montmartre, principally so Kevin could visit the Moulin Rouge.

We made a few brief stops in Montmartre, including those great street-side brasseries.

And there is always that touch of the bizarre in this area...

The statues outside the Musèe de Érotisme were looking rather the worse for wear. Tough life on the streets of Pigalle.

This was in a window in Pigalle and I just want to say that I am not sure what it is for, or does, but if you recognize it, please don't tell me because I am pretty sure that would be too much information about anyone I know! It has peddles and wheely thing that turns. Don't go there.

On a more, ahem, straight-laced note, we dropped by Sacré Cour and admired the view, as well as the church

It's good that I have planner friends in my life, because the last thing Dennis and i would do on holiday (or pretty much any day) if left to our own devices, is set an alarm. Evie, however, has a strategy that says if you really want to see something, get there really early - preferably before they open, so you can be part of the first attraction-loading of the day. Given we were in this together - and a little guilt because we still owed them for being late to the Orsay - we set alarms and set out en masse the next morning for the Eiffel Tower.

The Tower opens at 9:00 am and by 8:00 am, this was our view.

Soon we were close to the ticket kiosk.

Gustave Eiffel, the man himself.

The view from the second and third level was wonderful, but Evie, our fearless leader drove us to the lines for the top.

The glass topped building is the Grand Palace ( now an exhibition hall).

Sacre Cour in Montmartre.

Champs de Mars with Tour Montparnasse in the distance.

Les Invalides.

Here we go...

Breathtaking!

Can you see my houseboat barge tied up with a full view of the Tower. Ownership will be mine moments after the lottery win, then you're all invited.

As if we needed a sign!

Les Invalides.

Gustave kept himself a little apartment at the top of the tower. Now that's thinking! How many engineers/designers would do that today? The wax figure is a tad creepy though.