So how does one have a surprise day in Paris? Well mes amis, it goes like this: I wanted more time in Paris so we made it happen. The end.
Thanks for the update!
Wait... there appears to be more.
It looked like a great alternative to Versailles, which we wanted to avoid since we were still on the tail end of the tourist season in Paris.
Avoid... Versailles...
The
one place I didn't get to and regret not going.
Like this shot.
He came back out and said, “Uh, I don’t think we’ve been locking our hotel room door…”
Whoops!!
Turns out to lock the door you actually have to…lock the door.
I guess that’s the norm when you essentially have dessert for breakfast every day.
Man... that looks unreal!
In l’Orangerie (which is the only art museum we visited *insert disgusted gasps here*)
Well you have me beat. We went to exactly... zero.
They have lots of Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, etc.
What? French artists? In France?
You don’t realize how massive these paintings are until you see them like this!
Wow! They're huge! I had no idea. I'm not really an art person either, but I would've liked to have seen that.
I also wanted to go back to Pont Alexander III to get some photos so we headed that direction. When we got there my camera battery gave its last flicker of life, but never fear for I always carry a spare! However, when I inserted said spare my camera refused to acknowledge it as the source of life that it is. So we walked all that way and I could only use my phone for photos. Womp womp.
Well... poop! Did that battery ever work? Or was it just a paperweight now?
Do you ever stop to think about how heavy all that is? A horse had to wear its own armor (probably close to 100lbs), carry a dude (probably 150-200 lbs minimum) who is wearing his armor (100 lbs again). How did they not all just drop from exhaustion??
I have thought of that.
I believe I read that if a knight fell off his horse, he had servants run out on the field of battle (when it was semi-safe) to help him stand up.
The architect, who understood physics, knew that wasn’t an option. So what did they do? They built a dome inside the dome. So when you look up you aren’t seeing the true top of the dome, just the 2nd one they put in to please the Sun King.
Are you kidding me. Holy crap.
I've never heard Napoleon referred to in quite that way before
And now I can tell you from experience that the croque monsieur at Be Our Guest is nowhere NEAR authentic (but it’s still yummy).
Correct.
Paris croque monsieur = yum!
BOG croque monsieur = garbage.
(I would just like to note that this was the first time I think I’ve ever spelled medieval right on the first try)
I think you have me beat!
And... every time I see or hear that word, it always makes me think of a pair of radio DJ's that I used to listen to.
If the word ever came up (and it did from time to time) one of them would say in a low voice "midi-evil"
is built on top of the ruins of an old abbey which was built on top of the ruins of an even older Roman bath. So yeah, it was like really old.
Oh yes. I was there when it was being built. The bath, I mean.
the Unicorn Tapestries from the middle ages
Before they went extinct.
And guess what two things weren’t available when we were there.
They even had some decorative columns that were carved over 2000 years ago.
Cool!
If you like old stuff, go to the Cluny Museum.
Or have a DISmeet with me.
Our Old Stuff in Paris Tour continued with a stop at the oldest street sign in Paris, at 42 rue Galande.
Really! Cool!
This tree was planted in 1601
Yes, but it was much smaller then.
Once at the river we took some time to browse the Bouquinistes, which are those little green huts along the river that sell books, art, and other novelties.
Familiar with them of course, but had no idea that's what they're called!
We also saw a stall with a magazine announcing Walt Disney’s death. I considered buying it, but at €45 it was a bit out of my price range.
Meh. That's old news.
Next we wandered north to the Ile de Saint-Louis,
I went there. Best ice cream in Paris... and it was closed when we were there. Because... one always closes an ice cream shop in summer.
But guys, did you know that the Louvre is freaking huge?
I did. One reason why we didn't visit it (inside I mean.) We didn't have the time.
Me and the lifeless stumps attached to the end of my legs weren’t too happy about that.
Oh dear...
[We didn't eat here but isn't it so pretty?]
though it does suck to miss out on something else you actually paid for 
I will forevermore think of baguettes as wands!
