Paris: Our first stop was the Sacre-Coeur Basilica in the Montmarte District. |
Katie and Linda at the Sacre-Coeur. |
From the upper levels of the Sacre-Coeur Basilica. |
From the Montmarte heights. |
Linda after an endless climb to the top of Sacre-Coeur. |
The crowded Rue de Steinkerque in the shadow of the Sacre-Coeur. |
Why we liberated Paris in '44. |
The "Cafe du Theatre" and the "8aHuit" (8toEight) Supermarche around the corner from our hotel. |
One of the earliest metro entrances is this art nouveau example in the Pigalle district. |
The Arc de Triomphe was the starting point for our walk to the Eiffel Tower. |
Architecture along our walk. Our first day I was shooting anything that stayed still long enough. |
Our walk to the Eiffel Tower took us along Avenue Marceau. |
Taking a breather before the final push on our walk to the Eiffel Tower. |
Katie under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. |
Food stand near the Eiffel Tower. |
Still in Paris. |
Katie on the Passerelle Leopold-Sedar-Senghor with our padlock. |
Attaching our padlock to the footbridge. |
After walking all morning, we realized that the water taxi was a better option. |
The ornate Pont Alexandre III (1900). |
"Nymphs of the Seine" relief on the Pont Alexandre III. |
The Louvre and Pont Royal as seen from the water taxi. |
Looking downriver from the water taxi. |
The Cathedrale de Notre Dame. |
Kiosk along the Seine. |
Enjoying a bowl of latte at the "Coquelicot" boulangerie & patisserie on rue des Abbesses |
The essentials: "Vins - Bieres - Cocktails" |
Paris: Sunset wasn't until 10:30 PM so we tended to eat much later in the evening. |
The specials board at the cafe where we ate our second night. |
Pegged pants and pointed shoes are standard men's business attire in Paris. |
I finally figured out that this meant "don't walk." |
Lunch in the Montmarte district. |
Scooters are plentiful and are parked anywhere their drivers can find a spot. |
Finding your way around town requires an understanding of the excellent Metro system. |
Gare du Nord Paris: From this track you can take the Eurostar directly to London. Very tempting. |
Versailles: The RER station in Versailles. We took the train with our bicycle group from Paris to Versailles. |
Versailles: Our bicycle group assembles in the courtyard of a church (Eglise de Notre Dame de Versailles). |
Versailles: Katie in the market with our bikes from Fat Tire. Please note the fresh baguettes in the basket on my bike. |
Versailles: Linda giving English lessons to one of the vendors at the farmer's market. |
Versailles: Detail of vendor stall at the market. |
Versailles: We pedaled down this beautiful path on the palace grounds. |
Versailles: Marie Antoinette's "Maison de la Reine" at her hamlet. |
Versailles: "The Tour de Marlborough" at Marie Antoinette's "Hameu de la Reine." |
Versailles: A group of typical "touristes Americains" pose for a snapshot. |
Versailles: The palace grounds from the rear. |
Why starving French citizens revolted. |
Ste Mere-Eglise: The historic Norman church in the center of town. |
The real story of the paratrooper on the steeple (see caption). |
Detail from the stained-glass window commemorating the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the town by the 82nd Airborne. |
Ste Mere-Eglise: A US Sherman tank on display at the Airborne Museum |
Ste Mere-Eglise: This C47 was an actual veteran of D-Day, having hauled paratroopers and towed a Horsa glider. |
Near Utah Beach. Fans of "Band of Brothers" will recognize some of these names. |
The approach to Utah Beach. The English Channel is on the other side of the dune. |
Utah Beach: Our superb guide, Ellwood von Siebold, explains the tactics. |
Pointe du Hoc looking east towards Utah Beach. |
The surface of Point du Hoc is cratered from pre-invasion bombardment by Allied planes. |
Rusting German barbed wire is a reminder that this picturesque spot was once the most dangerous place on Earth. |
Pointe du Hoc: Empty German gun emplacement. |
Where we paid the price. |
Omaha Beach |
Omaha Beach Dog Green Sector: These heights were infested with German machine gunners on D-Day. |
Omaha Beach: This gun emplacement defended the Vierville exit road. |
What it cost. A small section of the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-mer. |
Looking down on the right flank of Omaha Beach from the German perspective. |
Ste Mere Eglise: Even the window of this Pharmacie pays homage to the liberators. |
Carentan: The WWI monument in the town square. GIs from Omaha and Utah beaches linked up in this town. |
Mont Saint-Michel abbey. |
Mont Saint-Michel |
Mont Saint-Michel: The narrow streets of the abbey are filled with shops (and tourists). |
Mont Saint-Michel |
Katie overlooking the vast plain surrounding the abbey. |
St Malo on the English Channel |
On the beach at St. Malo |
Buildings along the channel-front. |
St Malo: Rooftops of the old city. |
St. Malo: In search of a Guinness. |
St Malo: Sunset over the Fort National. |
A "refueling mishap" on the road from St. Malo to Amboise. |
Amboise: "Old world charm" sometimes means hauling luggage up a staircase like this one. |
Katie in our room in Amboise. |
Amboise: Linda giving directions to our excellent guide, Nicolas, of Freemove Segway Centre. |
Katie and our tour guide Nicolas of Freemove Segway Centre. |
Rolling thunder: cruising along the Loire River. |
The destination of our Segway wine tour was the "Caves Duhard" a winery inside a cave created by quarried stone . |
Our tour took us deep into the wine storage caves. Each bin held a different year's vintage. |
So, here I am. Tasting wine. In a cave. In France. |
A completely unique wine-tasting experience at the "Caves Duhard". |
The narrow streets of Amboise. |
The Loire River approaches the town of Amboise. |
The cliffside houses of Amboise. |
In case you still have any Euros left, the duty-free mall at CDG has Dior, Prada, Gucci, and this champagne and caviar bar. |