Paris at Last

Though it's unclear if it stems from my love of crepes, the allure of the Eiffel Tour, or the lackluster Disney adaptation of Victor Hugo's Hunchback, I've always wanted to go to Paris.  That wish was fulfilled with an extended weekend trip last week - that's the best thing about not daily responsibilities, as long as I deliver, they're very flexible on work location and duration.  I met up with a friend who's working in Spain.  He had also never been to Paris and we must have walked a marathon during the trip just exploring the city.

Paris was as beautiful of a city as I always dreamed it would be.  I loved the history, the architecture, the food, and the general air of sophistication.  See gratuitous tourist shot below.

It's hard to pick one favorite spot or activity.  We visited all the major tourist sites, the Eiffel Tour, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, & the Cathedral of Notre Dame.  We sampled the cuisine and wine, went on a cruise of the Seine, watched street performers, rode a ferris wheel on the lawn of the Louvre, and spent hours people watching at a cafe on the Champs Elysees.  If I had to pick, my favorite part is the hours we spent in the Louvre, audio guides in our ears, wandering around listening to the stories behind some of the world's most famous paintings.

Maybe my boss will let me work from Paris a week a month :)