PARIS WITH BRIAN, JANUARY 2014

TOOK A DAY TRIP TO PARIS WITH BRIAN.  IT WAS AN EXHAUSTING DAY BUT TOTALLY WORTH IT.   I BROUGHT MY PEDOMETER AND WE WALKED ABOUT 10 MILES.   THE SUN WAS OUT AND IT WAS IN THE MID-50s.  WE SURE GOT LUCKY!  

VIEW FROM MY FAVORITE SPOT - 9TH FLOOR OF PRINTEMPS DEPARTMENT STORE

FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP TO THE TOP OF THE ARC

AS WE WERE WALKING ACROSS THIS BRIDGE BRIAN STOPPED AND SAID "I  KNOW THIS BRIDGE.   IT WAS IN THE  MOVIE INCEPTION."   WE LOOKED IT UP ON YOUTUBE AND SURE ENOUGH - SHORT SCENE BUT ACTUALLY A PRETTY COOL ONE.

NAPOLEON'S TOMB AT THE HOTEL D'INVALIDES

FRENCH GENERAL LYAUTEY (WWI)

I TRIED TO GET SOME SCALE IN THIS PHOTO WITH BRIAN IN THE BACKGROUND BUT IT'S HARD TO GET A FEEL FOR THE SIZE OF THIS TOMB.  I GUESS IT MATCHED HIS PERSONALITY MORE THAN HIS STATURE.  

NAPOLEON'S TOMB

ANCIENT WEAPONS AT THE ARMY MUSEUM LOCATED AT THE HOTEL D'INVALIDES

LOOKS LIKE THIS MIGHT BE WHERE THE "CREATURE OF THE BLACK LAGOON" IDEA CAME FROM

THE POOR HORSES!!

INTERIOR COURTYARD

THE EMPEROR KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE

THERE WAS A GREAT EXHIBIT OF LARGE RELIEFS REPRESENTING MANY OF THE MIDEVIL FORTRESSES THROUGHOUT FRANCE.  VERY DARK SETTING SO HARD TO GET A GOOD PHOTO REPRESENTING THEM.

CHURCH of ST. LOUIS AT NAPOLEON'S TOMB.  COMPLETED 1679

BACK OUTSIDE TO THE COURTYARD - IT WAS 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.  CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE SUN

GRANDPARENTS SPENDING WHAT WAS PROBABLY AN EXHAUSTING DAY AT THE ARMY MUSEUM WITH THEIR YOUNG GRANDSON.

HOTEL DES INVALIDES IN PARIS WAS BUILT IN 1670 AS A PLACE FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS TO LIVE.  AT ONE TIME THERE WERE 4,000 VETERANS LIVING AT THE FACILITY.  TODAY THERE IS STILL A SMALL PORTION OF THE BUILDING USED FOR IT'S ORIGINAL PURPOSE.  I READ SOMEPLACE THAT THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN SOLDIERS IN RESIDENCE.

NOTRE DAME

THE CHANCEL CARPET IS ON DISPLAY FOR A FEW WEEKS THIS JANUARY.  IT HAS BEEN IN STORAGE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.  IT WAS WOVEN IN 1830 IN FRANCE IN THE "TURKISH-STYLE".   IT IS 200 SQUARE METRES.