Ah Paris.....it's beautiful anytime!

Paris - doesn't really matter if you've been there or not, it congers up images in your mind regardless.  The City of Lights, Paris in the Spring Time, The City of Love - whatever your image is it probably has a bit of a dream effect to it.  Personally, I could stare of the picture of the Eiffel Tower for hours, dreaming of a different time. 

When I stop to think about all of these places that Nicole & Darren have visited I am constantly reminded of how "young" we are in the US.  As a person who loves history, art & architecture, I am constantly awed at the thought of how OLD everything in Europe is.  How they were able to create such magnificent things in a time before computers, before industry, before big machines and automation.  It boggles my mind.

They arrived in Paris fairly early on Tuesday and were going to spend the day hitting the "must see" spots.  Hopefully they didn't run into any problems due to the travel warnings.  They have a lot to cram into a short visit to Paris.  I am hoping for another report on the exact sites and (hopefully) another food experience!!

Wednesday was going to be spent touring The Louvre.  Although Italy has always been my dream destination, I have to say this is probably the single thing I'm most envious of.  Wednesday is the only whole day they get in Paris and I'm sure that a great majority will be spent inside this amazing structure.   I would have no problem spending huge amounts of time staring at one piece of art. Good thing it's open late on Wednesdays! The Louvre houses 35,000 pieces of art.  The building its self was originally a royal fortress, then a palace and eventually a museum. It has been around since 1180 (1180!).
It has only been a museum though since 1793.....I'm not sure if they really have it all down yet - it being so new and all. (The link to the website is pretty cool - a bit time consuming but check it out some rainy day!)