Day 1.....Part 2

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Thanks to those who have left messages, we enjoy hearing from you!

So...after leaving our refuge from the storm, we decided to head to the Arc de Triumph. But before we leave the Eiffel Tower, there are a few more pictures you have to see...
This first one shows how fast the weather changes. Here we are moments after the rain stopped...





Windy, but sunny! They said the weather changes fast in Cincinnati - ha!

This picture we took because I am weird and I made Guy take it...



It is smaller than you thought, huh?

OK - so then we walked to the next stop - Arc de Triomph. Along the way we took in the pretty scenery and unique architecture....










We finally arrive at the Arc de Triomph. Things are a lot further than it appears on the map! But we make it. For those of you who never have been to Paris, the Arc de Triumph sits in the middle of a giant roundabout. So, we stand and look for a way to get to it. I suggested a method similar to Frogger, but Guy nixed that. Cars were going all over the place (we see NO lines on their roads, by the way - how do they know what lane they are in???) We finally asked someone and the showed us the path that takes us underground to the Arch. Cool! This is where we ran into the illegal street vendors...or they ran into me! We were approaching the steps that take us into the tunnel. There were many vendors there, selling little trinkets, etc. We hear a police siren in the distance and someone yells. The vendors, scoop up their wares and start running. One picked up his goods and ran right into me, banging his loot right against my knee. I was a little angry. He did not say sorry, did not look back, just took off. Rude French criminal!

Anyway, we made it to the Arch and decided to pay the 7 euros each to go up.





From underneath....




By far the coolest thing I have seen yet and now for the view...

The Champs Elysees:






The Eiffel Tower:





Guy....









Then, back down the stairs we went. Caution, these stairs are NOT for those who get dizzy or are afraid of heights....






Now, here is something you don't see every day. A Mexican bullfighter with his bike (those are bulls horns instead of handlebars) talking to the police.....

Here is the Arch, looking back from the other end of the Champs Elysees:

Cold, tired and hungry, we looked for dinner and called it a day.


Now, I promise to tell you all a few things:

1)How to spot a Parisian from non-Parisian:

You can always tell who they are by a few hints: they smoke A LOT, they are always holding hands (even girls will link arms or hold hands), they are Japanese (there are a ton of French speaking Japanese people!) and their style (their motto: if wearing what is trendy is good, then wearing ALL the trends MUST be better! We are talking plaids and stripes and layers and hats and necklaces and lace - all at once!)

2) What surprised me most about this city

It is very dirty. It reminds me of New York. With the high winds, there was a lot of debris blowing around. And people can take their dogs into stores and restaurants - how cool is that? And not all public toilets are single sex, everyone goes in the same room! And they are not always free.....But I guess that leads to the part about it being dirty....

3)Are the French as rude as you hear??

Yes, but it is not just to Americans, it is to everyone. Waiters are snobs, people on the street are snobs, but it is not on purpose, it is who they are....

Wait til you hear about Day 2!!!!