(2014 Note: These pages are transfers from my original site so I can better view the many pictures I have from that trip and so it’s searchable within WordPress Search. Here’s a link to the original page!)
The night before I didn’t get back till pretty late, and it had been a very tiring day. So that resulted in me passing the hell out…and when we woke up, and it was 1 April, I told Jeff and Susan I had no interest in going to the Louvre. Jeff thought I was playing my April Fool’s Joke – I wasn’t. I just was exhausted and didn’t really care to see the Louvre. I’d been there twice before and while part of me would have liked to see it, especially since the release of the DaVinci Code, my tiredness overrode all that. So the whole gang went on without me. In fact, many of the pictures from today are primarily Jeff’s. So with no more further ado, here are the pics from the Louvre. It was a Sunday, so it was Free Museum day in Paris, and accordingly much more crowded. But it is such a huge place that even with a ton of people in it, you can’t really feel overwhelmed (except at the Mona Lisa, of course).

I really don’t have too much to write about for this portion of the page. I was resting peacefully back at the hotel. But as you can see below, they made it to the main sights to see in the Louvre, including the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothraces, and the Mona Lisa (which you can’t take a picture of anymore). This visit also started a bit of an unofficial DaVinci Code tour, as you’ll see that Jeff went to where the two pyramids meet (see or read the DaVinci Code to understand the significance!). By the way, Jeff takes some fantastic pictures – especially the ones of the Eiffel Tower at the bottom of the page. He actually knows how to use his camera’s night features!
April 1, 2007: In and Out of the Louvre

The interior courtyard of the Louvre
01-Apr-2007 01:05, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

I.M. Pei's controversial yet beautiful pyramids
01-Apr-2007 01:06, SONY DSC-W100, 4.5, 18.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 01:08, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

A great, shadowed portrait of the pyramid
01-Apr-2007 01:14, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

See through the pyramid to the main Louvre building
01-Apr-2007 01:16, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

Jeff at the corner inside the Pyramid
01-Apr-2007 01:21, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125

The Venus de Milo
01-Apr-2007 01:45, SONY DSC-W100, 3.2, 10.7mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 400

Jeff and Venus
01-Apr-2007 01:47, SONY DSC-W100, 3.2, 9.2mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 125

Hallway of Antiquities in the Louvre
01-Apr-2007 02:10, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 125

More Hallway goodness
01-Apr-2007 02:12, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 02:13, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

The Winged Victory of Samothraces - it's such an impressive sight; also the basis of Nike
01-Apr-2007 02:15, SONY DSC-W100, 3.2, 9.2mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400

01-Apr-2007 02:16, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 400

a model of the Louvre castle wayyy back in the day
01-Apr-2007 03:17, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 200

01-Apr-2007 03:17, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 200

Ancient Louvre section
01-Apr-2007 03:18, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 400

01-Apr-2007 03:19, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 400

01-Apr-2007 03:19, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 400

01-Apr-2007 03:19, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 400

01-Apr-2007 03:22, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 400

01-Apr-2007 03:22, SONY DSC-W100, 4.0, 15.1mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 400

01-Apr-2007 03:23, SONY DSC-W100, 4.0, 15.1mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 400

A very cool shot looking outside through the pyramid
01-Apr-2007 03:29, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

More looking-out pics
01-Apr-2007 03:29, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

Where the two pyramids meet
01-Apr-2007 03:33, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 125

The Holy Grail is surrounded by a mini-mall????
01-Apr-2007 03:33, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 125

No, Jeff is not the Holy Grail
01-Apr-2007 03:34, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 125

The little Arc at the edge of the Louvre grounds; it signals the beginning of the Tuileries gardens
01-Apr-2007 03:36, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125

Looking back to the Louvre megastructure
01-Apr-2007 03:37, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 03:37, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 03:38, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

Jeff!
01-Apr-2007 03:40, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

After they visited the Louvre, they came back to the hotel to get me (awww….they care). Shannon, Brian and Mike were all leaving from Paris this afternoon, so instead of trying to cram in more sights, we all thought it would be nice to actually relax. What better way to relax in Paris than letting a Sunday morning/afternoon roll on by while you’re sitting at a sidewalk cafe? Even better? It was a beautiful day, the temperature was amazing, and we were at a cafe situated right on the Seine. Truly, it was awesome. We all got some delicious food and top it all off, we had chocolate mousse!!!!!! I LOVE Chocolate Mousse.
April 1, 2007: Enjoying a Sunday Afternoon in Paris at a Sidewalk Cafe

Walking on the Ile de Cite to the Seine
01-Apr-2007 12:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

The view to Notre Dame from our cafe
01-Apr-2007 12:48, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

Panning to the right, with French lady as a bonus
01-Apr-2007 12:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

Further panning to the right
01-Apr-2007 12:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

Hey there, who's this dashingly handsome guy?
01-Apr-2007 12:57, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Brian and Shannon
01-Apr-2007 12:57, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

01-Apr-2007 12:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Jeff, Susan, and Mike
01-Apr-2007 13:27, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

I love this pic of all 6 of us. Taken by a precocious British girl
01-Apr-2007 13:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

Notre Dame from our cafe
01-Apr-2007 14:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.001 sec

Cosmopolitan Susan and Mike
01-Apr-2007 14:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

Susan and Jeff
01-Apr-2007 14:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 12.523mm, 0.003 sec

Brian and Shannon
01-Apr-2007 14:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 12.523mm, 0.002 sec

Shannon and Me
01-Apr-2007 14:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.2, 9.028mm, 0.002 sec

Me with the girls
01-Apr-2007 14:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 9.028mm, 0.008 sec

Enjoying the cuisine
01-Apr-2007 14:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.003 sec

Me contemplating Fry
01-Apr-2007 14:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

The enjoyment of the mousse begins
01-Apr-2007 14:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

Brian and Shannon like it too
01-Apr-2007 14:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

A pic of our cafe from across the street (by the Seine)
01-Apr-2007 14:52, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

We said our goodbyes to Brian, Shannon and Mike after our 3-hour lunch was over. They had been great travelfriends but they had to go back to work the next day (Monday). We didn’t though, so after goodbyes, we strolled across the Seine and began our quest to look for the St. Sulpice church, which continued our unofficial DaVinci Code tour, as that is the chapel which in the book is the place that houses the Rose Line and also where Silas did a bad thing to a nun. Of course when you go to the church, they disavow all the speculation that Dan Brown put in his book and illuminate exactly what the purpose of the Rose Line was (I honestly don’t remember it’s purpose, alleged or real – that’s what waiting 3 months to write this page up will do to ya).
After going through the church, we Metro’d back to the Pont Neuf area, which is where the Seine River cruises originate (you can also pick them up at the Eiffel Tower, but we weren’t there, obviously). We got there with enough time to spare so that we could both get a good seat and also spend some time on the point of the Ile de Cite where there’s a little park. It’s awesome there. Anyways, we ended up getting great seats on the top deck of the boat at the front row, which while cold when going upwind, it was nice when going downwind. Anyways, on the boat ride you head up the Seine to the Eiffel Tower, passing under all the famous and beautiful bridges along the Seine. Here’s a Wikipedia entry on the Seine River. Read all about it.
April 1, 2007: Checking out the St. Sulpice Church and Taking the Seine River Boat Cruise

01-Apr-2007 05:42, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

Great shot of the Metro structures
01-Apr-2007 05:43, SONY DSC-W100, 9.0, 18.7mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

Notre Dame
01-Apr-2007 05:46, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

The Seine
01-Apr-2007 14:53, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

A stoic Seine shot
01-Apr-2007 04:36, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125

Susan and Jeff on the Seine
01-Apr-2007 06:56, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125

Me and the Seine
01-Apr-2007 14:54, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

Widescreen version
01-Apr-2007 15:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

01-Apr-2007 05:38, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

Sad Selfie
01-Apr-2007 15:30, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 107

Me in my Paris
01-Apr-2007 15:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

Susan looks so French here!
01-Apr-2007 15:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

And here
01-Apr-2007 15:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

Me
01-Apr-2007 15:36, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

Again
01-Apr-2007 15:36, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

Here's the St. Sulpice Church from the side
01-Apr-2007 15:50, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

And here's the actual Rose Line inside the church
01-Apr-2007 07:56, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 400

The Pont Neuf (although it's definitely not the 'New' Bridge)
01-Apr-2007 09:26, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

Jeff, me and Susan at our front-row seats on the river boat
01-Apr-2007 09:26, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 125

View down the Seine - that's the Pope Alexander bridge ahead
01-Apr-2007 17:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 10.0, 12.523mm, 0.002 sec

The Eiffel Tower
01-Apr-2007 17:42, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

01-Apr-2007 17:43, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

Again
01-Apr-2007 17:44, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

So cool
01-Apr-2007 17:44, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

01-Apr-2007 17:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

01-Apr-2007 17:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

01-Apr-2007 09:46, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 09:48, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125

Bridges over the Seine
01-Apr-2007 09:57, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 09:57, SONY DSC-W100, 10.0, 23.7mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 09:57, SONY DSC-W100, 10.0, 23.7mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 125

There's a closeup of one of the ornamentations on the Pope Alexander bridge
01-Apr-2007 09:58, SONY DSC-W100, 5.2, 23.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 09:58, SONY DSC-W100, 10.0, 23.7mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 09:58, SONY DSC-W100, 10.0, 23.7mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 125

The French Parliament
01-Apr-2007 10:08, SONY DSC-W100, 4.5, 18.7mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

Notre Dame from the river
01-Apr-2007 10:12, SONY DSC-W100, 10.0, 23.7mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 10:12, SONY DSC-W100, 10.0, 23.7mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 125

The side with the Rose on it
01-Apr-2007 10:14, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 10:14, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 10:14, SONY DSC-W100, 7.1, 13.7mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 10:15, SONY DSC-W100, 7.1, 13.7mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 125

The amazing rose window
01-Apr-2007 18:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

After the tour was over, we stayed to take a picture
01-Apr-2007 18:34, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

That's me
01-Apr-2007 18:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

There's Jeff and Susan
01-Apr-2007 10:37, SONY DSC-W100, 5.6, 7.9mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 125

At the French restaurant we went to for dinner - right next to the lunchtime cafe. I just thought this picture was interesting
01-Apr-2007 20:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 141

Me loving the camera
01-Apr-2007 20:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 141

Still loving it
01-Apr-2007 20:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 141

Who loves ya?
01-Apr-2007 20:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 141

Jeff puts on his French face
01-Apr-2007 20:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 141

01-Apr-2007 20:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 800

01-Apr-2007 20:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 7.7mm

One more for the road
01-Apr-2007 20:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800

Susan and I were done sightseeing after dinner. But Jeff wanted to still see the Eiffel Tower at night and I had just done that the night before. Susan was still done though, so I ended up escorting her back to the hotel while Jeff Metro’d over to the Eiffel Tower. He ended up taking some fantastic pictures over there, because like I said above, he actually knows how to use the night picture feature of his camera. Plus, it was a clear night, unlike the night before. Just take a gander at the pics below. Bravo, Jeff!
April 1, 2007: Jeff heads to the Eiffel Tower and takes some awesome photos

01-Apr-2007 00:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800

01-Apr-2007 00:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800

01-Apr-2007 00:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800

01-Apr-2007 13:08, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 13:11, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 125

The Ecole Militaire
01-Apr-2007 13:44, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 2 sec, ISO 125

Closer view
01-Apr-2007 13:45, SONY DSC-W100, 5.2, 23.7mm, 2 sec, ISO 125

There's the Les Invalides
01-Apr-2007 13:46, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 2 sec, ISO 125

Trocadero across the Seine
01-Apr-2007 13:51, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 1.6 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 13:51, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 1.3 sec, ISO 125

Looking down from the first level
01-Apr-2007 13:54, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 125

Looking straight up from the second floor
01-Apr-2007 13:59, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 125

The Arc de Triomphe
01-Apr-2007 14:01, SONY DSC-W100, 5.2, 23.7mm, 2 sec, ISO 125

Another view up from the corner
01-Apr-2007 14:05, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 14:05, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 125

There's the Trocadero again
01-Apr-2007 14:17, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 2 sec, ISO 125

And zooming in - you can actually see where people are standing as they're taking pictures this way
01-Apr-2007 14:17, SONY DSC-W100, 5.2, 23.7mm, 2 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 14:59, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.333 sec, ISO 125

Across the river from the Eiffel Tower
01-Apr-2007 14:59, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 15:01, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 15:05, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 125

Sparkly goodness
01-Apr-2007 15:07, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.625 sec, ISO 125

Full moon makes the picture
01-Apr-2007 15:08, SONY DSC-W100, 3.2, 10.7mm, 0.625 sec, ISO 125

Awesomeness
01-Apr-2007 15:10, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 1 sec, ISO 125

Awesomeness
01-Apr-2007 15:10, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.769 sec, ISO 125

01-Apr-2007 15:11, SONY DSC-W100, 2.8, 7.9mm, 0.769 sec, ISO 125