Sights and Sounds Eighty-Nine

Just got back from another hectic day out. I will start by finishing off yesterdays excursion. Perhaps my most favorite photos were taken on this day. The one below of the bride was just one of those "right place at right time" moments but nevertheless i really love it.

In the evening we ventured out to get some long exposure and night shots. We thought it would be dark by 8:30 but we waited for ages for the sun to go down. However, we were fortunate to experience rather a spectacular sunset. This shot of the fountains at Place de la Concorde really came out well.

As the sun went down it just got so amazingly beautiful.

The sunset couldn't be justified in photos.

After the sun went down we headed over to the Louvre to get a couple of night time shots there.

After a quick bite to eat we continued our evening tour back to Notre Dame.

We headed back on the Metro after the Notre Dame shots and hit the sack pretty hard. Another day of miles walked and sights seen.
This morning I really wanted to take the Notre Dame towers tour. We headed over to the cathedral at 9:45 am and joined the already massive line. We had to walk up 400 odd steps to get the view but it was well worth it. I had to get my gargoyle shot!

 After our the Notre Dame work out we got some breakfast at a cafe where we ordered delicious omelettes. We then walked down Rue de Mouffetard one of the oldest streets in Paris. It was quite a sight with all sorts of delicacies to choose from. One guy was cooking chickens on a rotisserie and had potatoes at bottom whoch were cooking in the fat from the chickens. You might be able to get the idea from the photo.

As much as i wanted more fatty greasy tasty food we had just had our omelettes so we opted for an chocolate eclair instead.

We shared the eclair and headed towards the Jardin des Luxembourg via the Pantheon. They were built for Marie de Medici by Louis XV. Impressive to say the least.

We spent a while wandering the gardens before heading to the catacombs which to our despair had a monster line waiting for entry. We decided we would try to go again later in the week. Instead we had some beer and wine!
We caught the Metro back to Republique, the closest staion to our temporary home and stopped off at the Marche des Rouges Enfants for some Lebanese dinner. It was delicious. I couldn't tell you what we ate (Dusti ordered it all) but it really hit the spot including the Lebanese beer.

It started to rain on our walk back and the weather may put a damper on our plans to photograph the Arc de Triumph and the Eiffel Tower tonight so we nay have to wait until later in the week.

Sights and Sounds Eighty-Eight

So i am in a bit of a rush this morning to post about the yesterday as we are trying to get to Notre Dame early to go up in the towers. Sunday night we did in fact go bar hopping around our neighborhood. Our favourite spot was Cafe Charlot. Dusti even dared to eat the escargot. Below are the remnanats.

We had a couple of beers and glasses of wine but still found ourselves in bed by 10. The next morning we took the Metro to Montmartre. We wandered the streets and walked up to the Sacred Heart Basilica. The weather was fantastic in the morning so we really lucked out.

We sat and had a drink in the Place de Tetre and chatted with a man from Australia who was about to go on a river tour. We enjoyed sitting watching countless people and and the art that the locals were creating and showing.

After our refreshing beverges we walked back down the twisting streets the photo ops were abundant. Here's just a couple.

I'll post more pictures later today including the ones we took last night at the Louvre and Notre Dame.

Sights and Sounds Eighty-Seven

We made it to Paris. It's Sunday afternoon and we just got back from walking around for about 6 hours so i thought i would update the blog real quick before we head out again.

The train from York to London was a breeze and the Eurostar to Paris was incredible. It really was like sitting on a cloud. It was so smooth and fast. The service was awesome and the whole experience was simply fantastic. I was amazed how easy the whole process was from printing out out tickets at the station. to checking in, passport control and boarding. I highly recommend this as a mode of transportation if you are thinking about heading over the channel to France or Belgium.

We arrived on time at 5:30 and were at our apartment in 15 minutes after a pretty short taxi ride. Our contact was a little late meeting us but we were all settled and ready to wander around our neighborhood by 7pm. We are staying in the 3rd Arrondissment on a street called Rue de Saintonge.
 It's an awesome location (special thanks to my friend Kee for recommending this area). We took a quick walk around and to our delight the area is full of small bistros, shops, bakeries, cheese shops etc. Dusti is in heaven. There is even a market called Marche des Enfants Rouges which specializes in ethnic foods from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The smell of the food is delightful.
We ate at a restaurant, Chez Jenny, that specialized in food from the Alsace Lorraine region of France, but we ended up ordering steak and fries (steak frites)! 

After picking up some milk from the supermarche we headed back to the flat and to go to bed. We were woken up by quite a noisy party/night club (not sure which) which carried on until 3am. They were having a great time but it kind of sucked for us.

This morning we decided just to walk as far as we could to get our bearings. We will go back to most of these places to see them in more detail later this week. Here's a few shots from the day so far.

Place Igor Stravinsky

                                            Hotel de Ville, which is, essentially, City Hall

In the square in front of the Hotel de Ville

Notre Dame Cathedral, the "heart" of Paris. Our guidebook says that Paris landmark distances are measured from the cathedral.

Looking across the Seine at Notre Dame

Statues in the Jardin des Tuileries

One of the Louvre facades, one bookend of the Jardin des Tuileries

Jarden des Tuileries, looking back at the Louvre

The Seine

Jonathan under a tree in the Jardin des Tuileries. You can see the black chalkboard over J's shoulder that announced the menu of one of the Tuileries cafes. The trees made a wide avenue for walking.

View of the Eiffel tower from one of the roads leading down that way. Along the way, we stopped and bought single meringue swaddle in cream rolled in chocolate shavings. Jonathan nearly died.

Our first view of the Eiffel tower from the gardens.

These pictures make the weather seem nice and warm. It wasn't. Low 50s, and the blue sky you see in some pics lasted only for about an hour!

So we saw all that on our a 5.5 mile walk and that was just our first few hours exploring. Tonight we are going to bar hop and eat in our hood. Possible pictures to follow...

Sights and Sounds Eighty-Six

So after a couple of pretty quiet days we decided we would get out again today and see some more of the Yorkshire Dales. One of the most visited sites in the area is called Brimham Rocks. They are a number of rock formations that dot across an area of the Dales near Pateley Bridge. The weather was pretty cold but with the sun out it didn't feel to bad.

After exploring the area for an hour or so we decided to head for some lunch. We ended up at the Cow and Calf pub above Ilkley. We ate here before a couple of years ago when the whole area was covered in snow. It looked a good bit different today. I enjoyed the best pie i have had on this trip so far. Along with pint of Black Sheep ale it was simply delicious.

After lunch we headed towards Skipton and to Bolton Abbey. It was built around 1154. It sat by the River Wharf. It was a beautiful area.

As you can see it was a pretty awesome place. Part of the church was still being used.

After our visit to Bolton Abbey we drove home as the weather started getting pretty dodgy. It was the coldest its been since we have been here and it even snowed not far away from here.
We're off to Paris tomorrow so n doubt the next post will be about our train journey south to London and the Eurostar under  the English Channel.

Sights and Sounds Eighty-Five

It's Friday morning and the week has flown by as it always does. We took time on Wednesday to relax a little and get some rest. It was market day in Knaresborough so we wandered in to town and had some lunch and took in the culture of a small market town in full swing. Dusti easily located the local cheese merchant and was spoiled for choice.
We had fish and chips for dinner from a place called Drakes. They were so good and so bad att he same time. Apparently they fry the fish and chips in beef drippings! Needless to say it's a guilty pleasure one should only partake in once a year.
Thursday we took the train to Leeds. Over the past several years city has undergone several transformations with the most recent the Trinity Center (shopping center) opening just a couple of weeks ago. Now a large portion of the city shopping area is covered with a roof. It's pretty spectacular. You can see in the picture below the contrast in modern architecture with the old church steeple in the background.

We also visited one of my favorites, the Queens Arcade. It has amazing detail and some very posh shops!

The Corn Exchange has been renovated too. Last time we were in Leeds they were working on it and there were only one or two shops in now it is rather spectacular.

We also went by to see my cousin Rosey at Laynes Expresso. She made Dusti a Cappuccino and Dusti also had some mushroom, pearl barley and leak stew! 
The weather started to turn a little and we experienced our first rainfall but luckily it only lasted a short while. We made our way through the busy streets stopping off at some of our favorite shops. Eventually we made our way back to the train station as we got tired and we headed back to my parents.
We plan on getting out today as the weather is beautiful. Although cold the sun is shinning brightly.
Perhaps a trip out in the Dales and then it's off to Paris tomorrow.