Paris - part deux

Sigh ... I sit here @ 9a in front of my large flat window (see view below), the sun is shining, my feet are propped up in the sunshine, my espresso is on the windowsill along with my yogurt, it is quiet and peaceful - and I am in Prague!!!

View from my flat window - straight ahead.

View from my flat window - to the right.

So then, back to Paris (see Mom - I didn't forget!).

I was walking down the Champs-Elysees after my most refreshing Parisian lunch (and it WAS refreshing too ... I hadn't realized how rundown I was from the flight, and after my lunch my footsteps were literally lighter & bouncing - and my running monologue was much sillier! - - - YES! I do talk to myself along the way, by doing that it feels like I'm sharing it with someone else - maybe my HP, maybe the universe ... who knows, and it doesn't matter - I like it!), and gawking at everything in site. Like this ...

This must be THE flagship store ... it is enormous! It is hard to make out, but the window on the right is a stack of bright multi-colored leather ... really cool looking.

And yes, people actually wait in line just to get in!

A church courtyard garden ... just lovely.

Wow, was it cool to be an American and stand next to this! Recognize it anyone? A famous 'lady' in NYC has one in her right hand.

I don't know what that huge glass structure is in the left background ... but I want to BE INSIDE OF IT!

These are real LIVE plants covering this building ... so gorgeous!

And so, I finally made my way to the Eiffel Tower ... and was overwhelmed with emotion - as I am now writing this. To stand in the shadow of this great great thing of metal and beauty is just powerful and humbling and serene (even with ALL the people and hawkers around you). The sheer size of it is ... I have run out of adjectives! Overpoweringly enormous ... that's the best I got right now! I walked around in a daze, gaping at this amazing structure & unable to believe that I was actually HERE seeing it. As my mother said in her email to me the morning she awoke to read my email that said I was in Paris ... "you will not be the same after this Ami" ... and she is right. I must break from writing ... to gather myself ... I am so very grateful to have this opportunity, and am crying in joy right now. So ... look at some pics while I compose myself!

;-}

From the bridge over the River Seine.

This shot is just divine to me ... as in a Higher Power that is. Although, the shot is also gorgeous!

The elevator going up one of the legs.

The South tower leg ... with Le Jules Verne - awesome!

The tower that Eiffel built ... magnificent!

Love this parting shot through the trees ... sigh.

So, I had to leave to catch my bus back to Charles de Gaulle airport (and off to Prague!) ... what an experience Paris was ... all 3.5 hours of it! Life altering, as I mentioned before. Here are some more wonderful things I saw on the way back to the bus stop ...

What a cool, and kind of scary, looking church! Love the door!!

My final shot of Paris ... from the plane, already in the air, you can see the Eiffel Tower on the ride side. Au revoir sweet Paree!

Ladies and gentleman, that concludes our Paris visit ... please see below for some shots of Europe as we travel to Prague.

European quilt ... excellent!

I just LOVE this shot ... mini Euro quilts interspersed by forestry ... just gorgeous!

I love how this Euro town peeks through the clouds.

Praha ... I have arrived!!!

I read about this in the guidebook ... the old communist housing section of Prague ... whoa!

My cute kitchen ...

My even cuter bathroom!

Here is a link to the day's pictures on my Picasa page ... Ami's Paris Pics

And that concludes my Monday, June 7th ... stay tuned for Tuesday - my first full day in Praha! Thanks for coming along ...