Juste un autre jour à Paris

Without ever feeling rushed we managed to pack in a very full day in Paris with the help of Rens driving us everywhere.  Sacre Couer, Notre Dame, Le Louvre, the Latin Quarter, the Pantheon, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and the Eiffel Tower! 

In front of the main entrance to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

A little birdy decides St. Denis' headless neck makes a good resting place.  St. Denis is an early Christian martyr who, after being decapitated by the Romans, picked his head up and walked away.

In the Louvre our excellent guide explains the significance of the Venus de Milo.

This Parisian street performer had a great time entertaining the people in the tour buses near Sacre Couer. 

Kids.  They have fun.

Fred snaps a shot of Kyler on the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Lots of pictures taken up here.

Early morning in front of Sacre Couer.

When we went in the nuns were singing.

Madi - highly excited to be on the Eiffel Tower elevator.

Bradley got a brand new hat!

Ready for our ascent of the tower.  Only 1700 steps!

In front of the Pantheon.

Rent a Ferrari for 20 minutes - only 89 euros!

Watch for pick pockets.

Rachel demanding I put this photo on the blog.  Done.

St. Denis lost his head to the Roman axe.  Bradley too.

I don't think Luc realizes lady liberty is a lady.

My former student teacher Mr. Wilson joined us for the day.

Skating and hockey, Parisian style - in front of the Hotel de Ville (city hall).

Our Louvre guide explains some French Romatic paintings.

Contemplating the Winged Victory statue.

In Louis XIV's special gallery in the Louvre, his former palace before he built Versailles.

Notre Dame - Gothic enormity, medieval beauty. 

The mathematical precision of Greek sculpture is described in great detail.

Mr. J. told me to put this picture on the blog.  He thinks it is funny.

Mary and baby Jesus?  No.  This Roman statue predates Jesus by more than a century.

Gothic cathedrals like Notre Dame were built as high as medieval engineers could manage - in order to allow for enormous windows that would flood the church with light.

At the back of the Notre Dame Cathedral, behind the pieta.