Day 10 – To Paris

 9/20/2006 – Day 10 – To Paris

Leaving Lucerne, we are on our way to Paris.  Carmen and I are relaxing during this 5-hour drive section of the trip.  We crossed the border into France and travel past vineyards and villages along the way.  Many looking like this village. 

Hey, look!  We could have gone to Disneyland.  As we get close to Paris, we pass road directions to Disneyland-Paris.  It is about 27 miles west of Paris.   

We arrive in Paris and after checking into our hotel, we drive to tonight’s restaurant.  As we drive around Paris, Carmen and I get some pictures, not sure what we will see tomorrow.  Here we are several streets away from the Eiffel Tower.  Tomorrow we have a tour of the Eiffel Tower where we get to go up to the second level walkway.

We are able to get a decent picture of the Academie Nationale de Musique or the National Music Academy; later renamed simply the Paris Opera.  What a magnificent building.  The Palais Garnier or Opéra Garnier, was built for the Paris Opera from 1861 to 1875 at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III.

We are at dinner, and there are six at our table.  Notice I am having the escargot for my appetizer.  I will say they were great!  We also have plenty of wine for those at the table drinking wine. 

After dinner we travel around Paris in the dark.  Many of the landmarks are brightly lit and I must say impressive.  Here we see the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel a triumphal arch in Paris, located in the Place du Carrousel.  It is an example of Neoclassical architecture in the Corinthian order.  It was built between 1806 and 1808 to commemorate Napoleon's military victories of the previous year. 

Across from the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel is the Louvre with its distinctive pyramid.  It is interesting, although not the reason for Paris having "The City of Light", there are around 300 illuminated sites around Paris.

We continue to drive around Paris at night seeing all of the sites lit up, and eventually end up on Avenue d’Lena facing the Arc de Triomphe. 

Before getting back to the hotel, we pass by a good viewing area for the Eiffel Tower.  While we were there watching, the white twinkling lights begin to flash, very neat.  Tomorrow we have entrance tickets to the Eiffel Tower.  Entry time is early to avoid the crowds.