FRANCE, Biarritz

August 19-22, 2015

After arriving in Paris, I caught a connecting flight to Biarritz which is on the Atlantic Ocean for a little rest before the Camino de Santiago (484 miles). I leave Saturday to go to St. Jean Pied du Port to begin the hopefully 30 day trek. Just found out the train from Bayonne to St. Jean is not running so as happens frequently, go to plan B, the bus. Biarritz is very beautiful and the hostel is next to a lake. The Beach, however, is over 30 minutes each way. Had to be careful taking pics at beach, as we are in France, and topless is more than a option.

FRANCE, Cannes, Nice

The 1st two pictures are of Cannes, home of the world famous Cannes Film Festival. The rest of the pictues were taken in Nice.

FRANCE, Paris, Versailles

September 7, 2006

The Chateau De Versailles was home of one of the most flamboyant courts and opulent palaces since the fall of the Roman Empire. It was constructed mostly by Louis XIV between 1661 to his death in 1715. Its most memorable room is the 236 foot long Hall of Mirrors. The renovations of the 800 hectare Gardens began in 1661 and lasted over 40 years. After visiting Versailles I spent the day walking along the Seine River and had a glass of wine on a "barge restaurant". Later that evening I visited the Latin Quarter and listened to some great jazz. (Felt like I was in New Orleans) 

FRANCE, Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral

September 6, 2006

Notre Dame Cathedral is the 3rd largest Gothic cathedral after Rome's St. Peter's and Canterbury Cathedreal and the first to use flying buttresses. It is known for its unrivaled stained-glass windows and sculptures. The beautiful stained glass windows were removed piece by piece during both world wars and put in a safe place. I paid the 7.50 euro to climb the 376 steps to the bell tower (No Quasimodo) for an amazing  view of Paris and up close view of  its famous gargoyles.  Later that evening I took the METRO back to the Eiffel Tower to see it lit up. The 1st 10 minutes every hour after 10 pm it blinks. 

FRANCE, Paris, The Louvre

September 6, 2006

After visiting the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, I walked down the Champs-Elysees to the Louvre.  Once the largest palace in the world and now the largest museum in the world, it is the home of the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. It contains over 400,000 works of art, 35,000 of which are on permanent display. I spent several hours in the Louvre and then it was only a 15 minute walk along the Seine River to Notre Dame Cathedral.

FRANCE, Paris

September 6, 2006

After arriving in Paris from the train ride from Amsterdam, I checked into my room and went out to explore Paris. I took the subway to the Arc de Triomphe. It was erected in 1806 by Napolean to celebrate his armies victories. The Arc de Triomphe is also connected to the Champs-Elysees which is one of the main highways in Paris. The Eiffel Tower is probably the most recognized monument in the world. It was originally built as a temporary, decorative centerpiece for the 1889 Universal Exhibition but was saved as a radio tower because it was the tallest structure in Europe. Today, it is the very symbol of Paris.

" If one of us dies, " the husband told his wife, "I shall move to Paris. "

Sigmund Freud