Paris- Day Three

Our day begins with a Metro ride to the Louvre, which at one time was the palace of the king and queen before Louis the XIV, not the world’s largest museum.  To understand the magnitude of the Louvre, if one were to spend only three seconds viewing each artwork, it would take over 3 months, day and night, to see all of the art housed within the museum.  We have 1 ½ hours. 

So our first mission is to seek out the Mona Lisa.  And along the way, we find another woman, Aphrodite aka: Venus de Milo. One floor later, we and about a hundred others, view her and take selfies.  Wandering into another gallery, we see the original painting depicting the coronation of Napoleon’s wife, Josephine.  A day earlier, we had seen the replica of this exact painting in the palace at Versailles. 

More wandering….Egyptian room…..French impressionists…..Flanders masterpieces….Roman statues….medieval frescoes…..Byzantine gold leaf Christian paintings…..and the gift shop.

We cross over “The Locks of Love” bridge again, with some of the group adding to the easy million locks attached to the bridge.  It is at this moment when three girls from our group witness a marriage proposal. The young American couple throw the key into the river to seal their love forever.  Onward to the Latin Quarter where much shopping and eating will be taking place.  I enjoy a fabulous three course lunch of escargots, poulett de coco and crème brulee.

After lunch, we all head over to the Eifel Tower, passing by the little green painted stalls called bouquinistes, that flank the Seine River walkway.  Originally these stands sold banned books, but now they sell used books, magazines and comics, prints, postcards and tasteful souvenirs.

At the Eifel Tower, some of us (me) walk up to the first and second floor to the middle observation platform, while others wait for the elevator to lift them up and over the 660 steps to the middle platform.  For some that is far enough, while others take the elevator to the tippy top some 1000 feet above Paris.  Whatever platform, the view….spectacular!

Getting near dinner time, we take the metro to Rue de Layfayette for a few more moments of shopping until our dinner reservations.  Tonight we try a traditional Alsace region food called flammekueche which is combination of cheese and toppings on a thin crispy bread…much like a pizza.  Even dessert of chocolate and apples and cinnamon is served up hot on this Alsace traditional food.

After dinner, about half of us decide to go back to the hotel and the other half press on for a evening Seine River cruise.  We board the boat at 10:00pm, sun setting and full moon rising for a one-hour boat cruise.  Our guide, speaking in both French and English, points out landmarks on both the Right and Left Bank.  We notice people on several bridges dining in white attire.  Our guide explains that it is the White Dinner.  With no further explanation, I have yet to check the internet for further details.

It is almost midnight when we make our way back to the hotel, another full day ending, happy and exhausted in Paris.