Arc de Triomphe

I love Joni Mitchell don't you?

I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
Nobody calling me up for favours
No one's future to decide.

I loved the Arc de Triomphe.  Seriously.

I look so happy.

I never thought all that much about it until I saw all the history recorded there.  It honours all those who fought and died for France in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.

Here's a view from the top.  I didn't go up on this one but Mr LC did.

Guess who's peeking over there.

I just love the architecture.  The white stone kills me.

My son-in-law's grandfather fought in the Resistance.  Then he married a German girl, had two kids, and moved to Canada.

It's much bigger than it looks.  It's such a busy spot, being in the center of a roundabout, traffic whizzing by constantly.

I would love to be free in Paris.

Seriously.

The Eiffel Tour.

The main thing I wanted to see in Paris was the Eiffel Tower.

So, I saw it.

The day was pretty hot and also a Sunday so the spot was crowded.

It's a long way up there.  Don't let this picture fool you.  Mr LC said he was going up.  I said I'll see you later.  He said You're coming with me.  Gulp. We walked up.  Oh yes, we did.  I thought I would die.  I had to let people pass me on the stairs.  I thought I would never make it.  This was just the first level.

 Proof that I made it.

I'm so glad I did.  The views were amazing even with the haze.

They were filming a commercial or something way over there.  You could hear the music and the director say "yell and jump".  I know French.

I was never so glad to pay three euros for a bottle of water before.

fini.

A Change is as Good as a Rest.

I've been home from my cheapskatetwocountry European vacation for a week today.  It seems so long ago now. 

Well, I've come back with a new man.  Yes indeedy.  Remember Mr LC?

How could you forget that face?

I went to France and came back with a new and improved Mr LC.

How about that scarf?  The baret?  The tight(ish) pants! He even got a haircut there!

I think H&M gave him stock options or something.  The whole outfit came from that shop. One French city per item of clothing. Watch out guys.  Next year you'll be wearing coral pants.  Oh yes you will.