Into the City

And then we took the metro into Paris. Forty-five minutes of wondering if my on-a-whim trip was really worth it. Forty-five minutes of telling myself that "Paris will indeed be great." Forty-five minutes of doubting that Paris could live up to my expectations--I had gotten my hopes too high; surely it will be great but not amazing...and then we stepped off the metro at le Trocadero. I was apprehensive. We walked out into daylight, tourists all around us, and I still doubted. We walked up the steps and there, there it was:

la Tour Eiffel

looking back at our metro stop and the landing of Place de Trocadero

On our way...

We're there! But first a quick phone call to D. (We had scheduled phone times so that we could talk each day even with the time change...and it could not have been more appropriate that my first call of the day came from underneath the Eiffel Tower.)

On the 2nd level. We walked the stairs all the way until the 3rd level which requires an elevator ride. It was great exercise, especially after our complimentary breakfast and whole milk lattes.

Ah, beautiful.

I'm not a good photographer, and the professional photography of the Eiffel Tower is amazing, but I do like a few of the snap shots I got.

About 6 blocks away from the Eiffel Tower, we found this bakery--it was great, but we soon learned that really, they all are great in Paris. We enjoyed our first of many ham and cheese sandwiches with BUTTER on fresh baked bread. Fantastic.

The bakery is on the left...a view of the street. It was vastly different from the area directly surrounding the Eiffel Tower and it was fun to attempt communicating with my high school French language skills. I was mostly successful, although I forgot how to conjugate and spoke only in the present tense.

A picture to convince Dad that Paris is a worthwhile destination. Produce stands like this were everywhere and that's all he needs (in addition to a comfortable bed) to enjoy a vacation.

After enjoying our sandwiches and wandering a Parisian neighborhood, we hopped back on the metro and stepped off at Charles de Gaulle - Etoile to find ourselves staring at l'Arc de Triomphe. In fact, we had arrived just before 6pm and the procession to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Across the way, also on the Champs-Elysees, we window-shopped at Cartier. Had Dad been there, he could have participated in yet another of his favorite vacation activities: shopping. Mom will just have to bring him there next time.

After stopping at another cafe/bakery for yet another ham and cheese sandwich (seriously, I had never had one until Paris and on my first day I ate two!) we headed back to the metro and passed by the Arc one more time.

And I was able to convince Mom to stop yet again at the Trocadero for a photo of the Tower all lit up. My love of the Eiffel Tower is now stronger than ever. I am such a tourist.

Tomorrow: Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame and Pantheon