A little more about Paris

Paris at night, we discovered, is just as stunning as they claim.

Since our hotel was fairly easy to get *home*to (for a little rest) , we then made it back out in the evening a few times. We felt perfectly safe, which seemed surprising to us. ( probably safer than in most American cities.) The first day after finally getting settled in and resting, we went out for what we thought was going to be a short walk just to the Eiffel, for our first close up veiw~ wow~It is so much more astounding and grand in actuallity than can be described! A thousand feet tall, with a base larger than I imagined.

But then... we just kept walking... and got totally carried away as we reached the Seine at dusk, ( Oh, the pictures you can get as the sun goes down !). We walked across the Pont-Alexandre and found ourselves all the way to the Champs-Elysees. It was Saturday night and the cafes and streets were thronged with people and cars. We discovered that you can get out into the middle of that huge avenue and there is a small island where one can take photos towards the Arc de Triomphe. As you stand there, the grandeur of this single arch, blurs the sight and sound of the noisy, featureless buses and cars as they stream past on either side.

The river Seine sparkles with reflected lights from the marvelous bridges, and fabulous buildings all along it's banks. And the Eiffel tower radiates with a light show, on the hour, all night long.