Sunday - Paris Day 2

John and I decided we would do like he did years ago and tour the city by running and running and running. We only ended up running about 6 miles but it wasn't as easy as he remembered it being. Maybe because he was in primo shape then, having just followed the Tour de France for 12 days.
Anyway though we are old and out of shape, running was a good way to get in a lot of sightseeing fast.
We started at the Palace Gardens right near our hotel. It was a Sunday morning and lots of people were out and about. Renting these sailboats was very popular

as was Tai Chi in the park or soccer or just hanging out as the French do so well. the atmosphere in the park was great, John and I were jealous that there is nothing like it where we live.


we ran through some of the less touristy sections, quaint little neighborhoods with lots of markets.

Fruit markets. ....

seafood markets.....

the butcher.....

and next door my personal favorite the chocolate shop. no one stop shopping over there! very cool.

we ran past lots of big beautiful historic buildings, you start to take them for granted by the second day as they are everywhere

heard some great musicians all over the city. i especially loved the violinists i should have stuck with it, maybe i could be making a living playing in the streets of Paris too. it just wasn't cool though in highschool to carry around a violin. peer pressure got to me! bummer.

saw lots of my favorite, possibly future dogs, the French Bulldog

ran by the Louvre, not as breathtaking without all the lights. But still an amazing sight. The first Sunday of each month is free admission to all the museums. I can not begin to tell you how long the line was. People will waste their lives standing in long lines to save a buck or two, I don't get it.

all the people getting their photos taken around the Louvre were standing with their arm outstretched like that. I'm not much of an art historian so I don't know the story behind that but if someone does let me know.

ran to the Arch de Triomphe at the end of the Champs Elysees(the most beautiful avenue in the World or so they say). Lots of fancy specialty stores, overpriced restaurants and people everywhere. I must admit this was the tail end of our run and I was getting a little crabby so I don't think I really took it all in.

We were also looking quite sweaty and nasty by this point so we photographed this pretty girl in front of the Arch instead of one of us : ) thank you lady whoever you are.

famished from our run we stopped at an outdoor cafe right near the arch. missing my Anna's pizzeria (where I work) I ordered a pizza. It was so good, suprisingly good. It may even have been the best pizza I've ever eaten.


we also discovered a love for 1664 beer that day. very tasty! but not cheap! in France stick with the wine, it is good and much cheaper. but the beer was definitely worth every penny.

post lunch

nap zzzzzzzzz

and then John decided he really wanted to pack a picnic and sit on the bridge leading to the Lourve where all the French hang out. the spot to be to watch the sunset and the city light up. we ddint end up with much of a picnic just some Heineken, a small bottle of wine, and some potato chips : ) but....

John was in heaven!

After we froze our butts off on the bridge we found a Canadian bar and had some beer and watched hockey. Not exactly Parisian but we felt right at home : ) We then walked around the Latin Quarter and discovered some yummy looking restaurants. It was almost midnight so our only option was Middle Eastern, a falafel pita to go but it was really good.

Back to our dinky, but modern/clean little hotel room for the night. We sure were tired.