Today we decided to visit the Louvre, but we didn't know where to get tickets before we got there. We thought we didn't mind lining up even though we knew the queues would be huge. Again, we decided to walk because it was only about 25 minutes. On the way we passed the Palais Bourbon. Unfortunatley it is the seat of the French National Assembly, and not the a palace where they make bourbon much to Terry's disappointment. We also passed the Ministry for Diplomatic Affairs but I wasn't game to take a photo of that because they had soldiers with guns patrolling out the front. Not game to cause a diplomatic incident today.
We arrived there and there were people everwhere. We realised that today was the one day should not have slept late. Anyway we took the plunge and got in line. We had been waiting about 10 minutes when I offerred to take a photo for a family. They were so grateful and we started chatting. They were a couple from New Mexico about our age with their son. They were a really lovely family. Then a young woman from Portland, Oregon joined in the conversation. She had a service dog because she has epilepsy. It was really interesting chatting to her as she was very well travelled. Our two (yes two) hour wait went fairly quickly thanks to these people. I think Terry is happy now that I will chat to anyone who will listen.
We finally got inside the Louvre we have to line up again! The first line was only for security. Forty five minutes later with tickets in hand we set off to find the Mona Lisa. We had no idea how big the Louvre is and how busy it would be. We found the audio devices you can hire a bit confusing and in the end Terry just gave up. We eventually found the room where the Mona Lisa is displayed and what chaos. The were tour groups and dozens of other people vying for a position take a decent photo. We couldn't get any closer than about 10 deep. We held to camera up snapped and hoped for the best. Neither of us had the will to fight our way to the front.
After that we gave up because it was just too hot and stuffy and overcrowded. In hindsight we would have been much better to go with a guided tour. Never mind you live and learn.Walking out to fresh air has never felt so good. We found a restaurant for lunch and then headed for the Champs Elysee to check out the Arc D'Triomphe. The Champs Elysee is an amazing shopping precinct with all those famous french fashion labels. The stores all had sales but I still don't think I could afford to go in many of them.
At the top of the boulevarde stands the Arc D'Triomphe an impressive memorial to those who have served to defend France. This one I did decide to climb. What's another few hundred steps! The climb was worth because even though it was wet and windy, the views from the top were amazing. The Arc D'Triomphe is the central point of the city and it has twelve boulevards radiating out from it. It's in the centre of a huge roundbout that would be about four or five lanes...if they were marked. To watch it from the top is chaotic but we didn't see any accidents while we were in Paris, although I'm surprised. 
Another day over and we were both so tired we could not even be bothered going out to eat.
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