Anyway, just to confirm a myth. The Parisians are very proud of their language. Use English, and they will be polite at best. Use French, and they quickly warm up to you like how butter melts on toast. It made me happy that I'd learnt French, because language can be a real icebreaker, especially when you are unlucky enough like me to be stranded in a small town outside Paris looking for your hostel. They are never any less surprised that someone as foreign looking as I am can understand their language.
The Musee du Louvre
The Louvre with the glass pyramid made famous by the Da Vinci Code.
One of the 3 wings of the Louvre. This is not just a museum, it is also the most atas museum in the world. Every caption in French, and only French. It ensures that if you don't speak their language, you will not understand a single thing.
The most famous painting in the world - The Mona Lisa. I have to admit that I was disappointed when I saw it, because it's so small, and it's kept in a glass case cordoned off from you by a barrier and ravenous hordes of camera-happy tourists. It is true though what they say about it. No matter which direction you look at the Mona Lisa from, she looks like she is looking directly at you. Da Vinci is a genius.The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower from the parapet of the Trocadero across it.
At the tower base. The tower is quite massive indeed, especially when you are right under it.
Climbing the tower. It has over 600 steps, and you have to pay to climb them. Slimming centre, French style.
Barcelona fans still hungover on that victory in Rome. Am I glad I'm not a Man Utd fan.
Crazy queues for the summit. You pay 3.50 euros to reach here, and another 3.50 to go up to the top. But the summit is not to be missed because it is easily twice as high, and nobody scales the Eiffel Tower halfway.
Here's why. This is a view of Paris from the halfway point.
And here's looking back at the Trocadero from the summit. You can see the difference in height. What a difference a lift (and 3.50) makes.
Another of the awesome views from the summit. It was very cold and the wind was trying its best to kill me so I didn't stay long. I couldn't get enough of the view though.
Eh, why so dark? The sun la.
The tower at night. Every hour from 10pm, the tower has a special lightup for 5 minutes, so look out for it. It is quite worth the wait.Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe
The Champs Elysees, with the Arc at the far end.
The Champs Elysees shopping arcade. Strictly window shopping only.
I wanted to buy this but I don't have enough moolah because my good friend Toto owes me money.
LV flagship store. Go in for a walk if you want to feel important being served by well dressed people, if your name ends with Vuitton, or if you're a Chinese pirate looking to knock off the latest LV designs.
Chanel is so atas they don't even bother to open their store, although the sun is still up. It has transcended atas, even amongst the French.
Eh, why so dark? What, don't be racist la.
Looking back at the Champs Elysees from the Arc.Cathedral of Notre Dame
I have seen many cathedrals, but this has to be one of the most unique and beautiful ones.
The inside of the cathedral. There was a hidden choir singing which only served to add to the "aura of holiness" of the place.
The other interesting religious monument in Paris, the Basilique Sacre-Couer. Do not EVER visit it alone though, because there are groups of black guys waiting around to fleece your money, and they will not hesitate to target you. I was unfortunate enough to find out, so don't be the next victim. If you're alone, please avoid this place.Pigalle, Paris' red light district
Moulin Rouge. When I saw this the line "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir" kept playing in my head. I half expected Nicole Kidman to appear around the corner or something. By the way, do not ever sing that line in this area or you will get more than what you bargained for. Unless that is why you're here in the first place.
This area was quite dodgy. We got solicited by a polite old lady asking us if we wanted young French girls, and another young pudgy girl was more blunt, asking us outright if we wanted French pussies. Sorry, but I don't really like cats.Another tout was even more persistent, chasing us and insisting on giving us the cards to his establishment. "No sex? No boom boom?" He proceeded to do this really disgusting action with his hands accompanied with a sick noise he made with his lips.
Yeah, no boom boom. Don't want to pay to get fungus on my balls thanks.