Paris

Our first day, Hotel Minerve Welcome to Paris, the city of Lights. Michelle found hotels for us in Paris, Bordeaux, and Lyon, while we stayed with families in Angers and Mont Pellier.	Fancy key holder for the MH Paris V refers to the Cinquiemme Arrondisement, roughly translated Fifth District. One gets around this huge old city by noting which district one is in and needs to get to. The phone book puts simply 5e, etc. The Cinquiemme is a favorite of many locals and travellers because of the sights, sounds, and places.	Our 3-star balcony Narrow and old describes the buildings and the people.
Posting a Letter What are you doing, Michelle? - she's posting a letter	Lunch in the Park We enjoyed Michelle's favorite thing to do - grab a sandwich on french bread and eat in a picturesque place with a view.	Our View So this was our view from that humble park bench
Notre Dame Paris Recall that we were on a high-speed tour of France, so I didn't have time to take long, loving photos of this grand landmark. Michelle and Phyllis graciously posed for this photo, and 498 others.	Tourists Don't you just loathe tourists who want to see every little thing? Oh wait, we were tourists, too.	Notre Dame face This is what those zany tourists were looking at.
Notre Dame An artistic shot, n'est ce pas?	The centre Point John has placed his hand at the centre of Paris, where all points are measured from. This star is directly in front of Notre Dame Cathedral.	Checking the map Phyllis and Michelle determing our next move
Sarbonne I tried to caputre the length of Sarbonne University along this street, but it was just too much.	Luxemborg Gardens These are wonderful gardens during the Spring. But as you can see, it is the dead of winter. Still, it was a place like no other on earth. The Eiffel tower is in the background.	Luxemborg Palace
John and Michelle	John looks over the Smart Car This is the car that can park sideways - all four tires can turn 90 degrees so it can slide into a tight spot.	University Note the observatory
Another Tribute or Memorial	Building Sometimes we took so many pictures so fast, we don't know what we captured. This was an interesting building. perhaps Michelle will write and tell us what it is all about.	Reverse view See, we are on the steps of the building, looking back towards the University.
University of Paris Faculte de droit	Checking the map	Metro Sign Travellers look for the sign of the Metro to take the underground train. This one had a special character to it.
Seine Along the Seine. The weather began to deteriorate soon after this.	Choppy waters	Crystal Palace The Opera house?
River Scene	A bit of a walk	Place de la Concorde
Champs Elysees Michelle was very anxious for us to take a stroll down the Champ Elysees, which we did. It was an interesting walk as we approached the Arc in front.	Paris scene This was quite the retail market area	Arc approaching I would guess that with this many people in the dead of winter, the place would have been incredibly busy in the spring/fall.
The reverse view Phyllis and Michelle discuss matters.	The Arc John risked life and limb to capture the Arc de Triomphe. Michelle says the circle of cars zooming around the Arc need a special permit to drive there - nine lanes of craziness.	What the Arc looks out upon