Versailles, first negative experience. The place is a madhouse – long lines, heat, people pushing and shoving. Generally a bad experience, sadly. Opulent and beautiful, and full of history; the crowds made it impossible to look at or experience. c’est la vie.

I’d love to come back sometime when I could actually see it and not the back of someones head shoved in my face, or their cell phone thrust in front of my eyes every 10 seconds. The crowds were like the Metro at rush hour.

Afternoon at the Louvre and even walk on the Seine, much better.

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We had to go check this out more closely, definitely worth it. Stayed for 20 or 30 minutes. The best!

Stopped on the Pont Neuf to watch the Eiffel Tower light show and got distracted by this:

Visited Notre-Dame de Paris again, and this time climber to the top of the bell tower. Tiny claustrophobic winding staircases that go on forever, both up AND down. Visited the Louvre again.

view from atop Notre-Dame de Paris

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Is this a pattern, an obsession, a SIGN?

Spent another day among the dead at Cimetière du Montparnasse in the 14th. Met many luminaries, who quietly aquiesced to our attention. They even allowed photos! Celebrity paparazzi at its finest. Ended the day at the Jardin du Luxembourg. After dinner enjoyed the light show at dusk curtsey of the Eiffel Tower.

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The main thing we did today was visit Père-Lachaise cemetery . Among the guest there we found were: Eidth Piaf, Jim Morrision, Chopin, Collete, Molière. As usual, ate great food, and walked a ton.

I’m getting a tan, who knew that an essential item for Paris is sunscreen.

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We met an American ex-pat named Robert who took us on a walking tour of the Latin Quarter, which includes the Sorbonne. Glorious day, sunny and warm, and too many sights to catalogue here. Had a long and lovely lunch at Kitchen Ter(re) and ended up at Le Bon Marché.

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The first night we went out, that is after dark, was to a small night club nearby called BAISER SALÉ. Listened to very nice Jazz, and got home late.

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Today we spent wanding around, 1st the Champs-Élysées, then the general area around Hôtel National des Invalides. Had no agenda, motive or direction. A very good day.

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Another day of museum crawling, with little or no photographs.

First went to the Musée d’Orsay, which is huge and spraling, though not as big as the Louvre. Then went to the much smaller Musée Rodin, which is surrounded by a beautiful garden that contains many sculptures.

Lunch in the garden of Rodin

Gates of Hell ala Dante