Sacre Couer and Moulin Rouge quite the experience...

So today the roommate and I decide to go check out Sacre Couer and I convinced her to check out Moulin Rouge. Well when I told my instructor we were headed that way she gave us a look of concern. I thought nothing of it and decided to go check it out. When we arrived at the chateau rogue metro stop we had no idea what direction to go.  It with a little know how we found out way and found this to be a pretty genuine Parisian experience. Although the trip up to Sacre Couer was long and not too pleasant. However, the church itself was beautiful. Huge stained glass windows, beautiful sculptures.  However, they asked that we did not take photos and I respected that. Then I went and checked out the crypts and the dome.  The crypt was extremely eerie.  However, with no one around it made for some good photography.

After getting through the crypts I ventured the 300 steps to the top of the dome to get some spectacular views. Although I must say with all of this climbing I'm gonna have buns of steel!! I will say this if you're coming to Paris dress nice but wear sneakers. I've gotten away with it so far and thank god! I swear I've walked 20 miles a day and I've easily climbed 1000 stairs just this weekend!  But here is the view I earned at the top of the dome!

Finally, I went to see the Moulin Rouge which was a fun trip because of the interesting street markets I had to go through to get there. However, once I arrived I was disappointed to find that the shows cost 150 euro, which I was not willing to pay. So I took some shots of the exterior and was on my merry way back home. 

However, before heading back home I found this little treasure tucked in the back of a shop.  I haven't tried it yet and I'm a little afraid to try it.  If I do I'll let everyone know how awesome/terrible it turns out to be!

Au revoir!

Twinkle, twinkle, Eiffel Tower...

Ok before I got ranting about my Eiffel Tower experience I really need to start with the first adventure of the day. Which was climbing to the top of Notre Dame. The trip up became frighteningly claustrophobic as the spiral staircase slowly but surely got narrower and narrower. And once I reached the top most of the walkways required some squeezing to make it through!  But the views were amazing and getting to literally feel the bell toll, amazing and scary all in one.  I made sure to take a bunch of pictures of all the decorative gargoyles like the one above.

Next, I originally planned to go back to Musee D'Orsay.  However, after waiting in an hour long line

 and climbing I don't know how many stairs. I decided I didn't want to wait in another 1-2 hour long 

line. So, instead I went to Invalides.

And Invalides there is Napoleons grave site.  You know something totally tasteful and appropriate...or just ridiculously over the top. The picture above is the alter above his tomb. His tomb is surrounded by marble statues and his actual tomb...

So, last but not least I made the adventure to the top go the Eiffel Tower. 2.5 hours standing in line to buy a ticket. Followed by 45 minutes of line to go from the middle deck to the top deck. Earned me this view...

I cannot even begin to explain the awesomeness of this view!  It most certainly was worth all the waiting! Then after much grumbling of the roommate we got to see the Eiffel Tower twinkle!

And so ended my adventure filled day!

huh can I just live in the Louvre???

Well, before I get into the. Louvre there are a few things we did before getting to the Louve. First we visited the L'Orangerie. Well, what so special about that place, you ask?  They had some of Picassos work and most importantly they had Monets Serie des Nympheas.  And those where his full sized murals of Giverny.  Absolutely beautiful and amazing!! Unfortunately, no photos allowed!

 

Next, while we waited for our reservations at the Louvre we went to seen the Arc du Triomphe.

Where we decided to climb the stairs to get to the top and the views were absolutely breathtaking!

finally, last but not least we made it to the Louvre!  There are a couple of things I would like to cover before delving into the Louvre. One, I have not had one cigarette since arriving here 6 days ago!  Two, the McDonalds in Paris, not like the McDonalds in the USA!  The food is actually tasty and not greasy, and Coca-cola here freakin delicious.  You wanna know why? Because they use real sugar here. Not high fructose corn syrup!  Ok, so now, the Louvre is GINORMOUS!  I think I barely got through one wing and I thing it has something like 5+ wings and like 3 floors!  Needless to say I'll need to go back. But, this time I was able to see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. And I will say that the paintings I say tonight were incredible! They made you feel what they were trying to express. Joy, fear, and sadness each piece was able to share a story. Well, tomorrow is a day to do art in the gallery so a little time to relax. Then it will be the first weekend on my own!!