(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!)

So it took me quite a bit of time (a month or so) to continue the recap of the amazing European trip…from over 2 months ago. Yes, I suck. But I endeavor to get these cranked out sooner than later, as hell, I’m beginning to forget just what it was we did! Part of my delay has been the fact that there are a TON of freakin’ pictures to go through…still. This page and the next have a fuckton of pictures to look through so persevere with me!
Let me bring you back into the vacation mode though – that’s the least I could do. The night before, we all (me, Jeff, Susan, Shannon and Brian) had gone on the kick-ass nighttime taxi ride through Paris. I must reiterate what a fantastic thing that is to do. Do it, if you are ever in Paris. We got back around midnight or so, but had to make sure to get some rest because we were going to get up first thing in the morning because it was time to beat the crowds to Versailles!

To get to Versailles, you actually have to take a train out to it from Paris, as it’s not exactly right in town. We planned for this endeavor by making sure to leave early enough to get to Versailles shortly after opening, so we all met at our hotel lobby first. This morning, we added another to our crew, Mike. Mike is a friend of Susan’s and is currently stationed over in Germany so he took the train over. He is a pretty cool guy and got along well with the existing group of us.
I ended up using some more of my admittedly limited French skills to buy a Versailles Rail Pass which gets you a round-trip ticket on the RER AND a ticket into Versailles, allowing you to bypass the ticket line there, which is a definite plus. Easily enough, we got there and walked the brief journey from the train station to the palace gates, which you arrive at and immediately are overwhelmed by the sheer grandiosity and Size of the Palace of Versailles. It was the retreat from Paris politics and hubbub that the Sun King, Louis XIV, built – and it’s freakin’ amazing in its scope and over-the-topness. It definitely earns its reputation as Europe’s Top Palace, because while the palace itself is huge, when you actually get to the back of the palace, you see the immenseness of the palace grounds – which you’d need a whole day to walk around and explore on your own.
Anyways, we were able to walk right in and begin the self-guided tour throughout the palace. Jeff and I had downloaded the Rick Steves iPod walking tour which was very informative and fun to listen to – Rick Steves is kind of a dork. But it was a good tour, although the recording was based on an old tour route, as you see, Versailles’ tour path has been reorganized because they’ve finished restoring some sections that you weren’t able to visit before, including the Hercules grand entrance hall and, most exciting, the Versailles Opera House. It was amazing to see that, especially since it was featured prominently in the recent movie by Sofia Coppola called Marie Antoinette (boring movie, but beautiful). There was plenty to see in Versailles, but it mostly served to illustrate how much freakin’ money was spent on lavishness. Incredible. Oh, but if you really want to know more about Versailles, here’s a Wikipedia entry all about it! We finished the tour, walked around the top portion of the gardens briefly, but then headed soon enough back on the train to Paris, which was good timing on our part, as the place got PACKED by the time we were leaving. A Saturday is definitely not a ‘light’ tourist time for one of the biggest attractions in France!
March 31, 2007: Journey to and Exploring Versailles

Jeff and Susan are ready for their French breakfast
31-Mar-2007 07:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

Keeping it real, yo
31-Mar-2007 07:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

Guess I'm trying to keep things in control here
31-Mar-2007 07:44, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 192

31-Mar-2007 07:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

The map of Paris on the wall of our hotel's restaurant
31-Mar-2007 07:48, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 9.0, 10.487mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

Us in line to buy our Versailles passes
31-Mar-2007 08:42, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 315

Walking the long plaza to the palace gates of Versailles
31-Mar-2007 09:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

The Hercules entranceway
31-Mar-2007 09:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800

31-Mar-2007 09:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800

A better view of the Hercules' ceiling
31-Mar-2007 09:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800

Golden something or an other
31-Mar-2007 10:00, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800

Me lounging in the halls of Versailles
31-Mar-2007 10:01, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

Jeff and Susan
31-Mar-2007 10:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 644

31-Mar-2007 10:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800

Hanging out by the windows
31-Mar-2007 10:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec

31-Mar-2007 10:19, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800

Me in one of the many rooms
31-Mar-2007 10:25, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800

Looking outside to the gardens
31-Mar-2007 10:28, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 151

A bust of Louis XIV, the builder of Versailles
31-Mar-2007 10:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 604

Ornate red room in the palace
31-Mar-2007 10:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800

Seriously, a wing of the palace you don't see - can only imagine what's in there
31-Mar-2007 10:34, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

The infamous Hall of Mirrors
31-Mar-2007 10:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800

Me in the Mirror (cue Michael Jackson music)
31-Mar-2007 10:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 400

third time's the charm
31-Mar-2007 10:42, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 508

After you exit the palace tour, you are at the rear of the palace
31-Mar-2007 11:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

Right by the top of the gardens
31-Mar-2007 11:04, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

These are ornately maintained - can't imagine how much work that takes
31-Mar-2007 11:04, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

Looking to the East
31-Mar-2007 11:06, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

And there you can see the MANmade lake
31-Mar-2007 11:06, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

Cool, angular shot of some Versailles hedges
31-Mar-2007 11:08, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

You can see the amount of restoration still going on at the palace
31-Mar-2007 11:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

A look out at the immense gardens - the Grand Canal is what you see way out there
31-Mar-2007 11:12, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 12.523mm, 0.001 sec

A view of very contradictory architectures; but still beautiful
31-Mar-2007 11:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 9.0, 10.487mm, 0.006 sec

Walking away from the palace and towards the town and train station
31-Mar-2007 11:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

What visit to Paris would be complete without visiting a few choice sights: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Champs Elysees …. and of course, the Arc de Triomphe! This was built to commemmorate the many victories of Napoleon Bonaparte – and it certainly has one of the premier locations in Paris to be situated in, as it is directly at the end of the Champs Elysees away from the Tuileries and Louvre museum. And it is amazing to see it as you travel up the Champs Elysees. Here’s some more info on the Arc de Triomphe from Wikipedia.
We got back from Versailles and hopped off the Metro at the Champs Elysees in order to walk up it a bit towards the Arc. You have to approach it in order to really get a good look at it. The weather started to turn a little dreary and when we were up on top of the Arc, it actually did start to rain. But even with the dreary weather, there’s nothing like being on the top of the Arc and seeing all of Paris in 360 degrees. It’s amazing to see the crazy road turnabout that lives around the Arc but you can also see every main tourist landmark from the top as well. So here are some pictures from our time atop the Arc!
March 31, 2007: Living Large at the Arc de Triomphe

The Arc from the Champs Elysees
31-Mar-2007 14:04, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

An even closer view
31-Mar-2007 06:05, SONY DSC-W100, 9.0, 18.7mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 125

I had to take another picture that was similar to one I took in 2002...
31-Mar-2007 14:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Looking up at the Arc from the ground
31-Mar-2007 14:26, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 116

More detailed shot
31-Mar-2007 14:26, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 141

At the top and looking out
31-Mar-2007 14:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

There's Sacre Coeur in the distance
31-Mar-2007 14:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 100

Looking straight down at the turnabout
31-Mar-2007 14:34, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

Looking toward the modern Paris business downtown
31-Mar-2007 14:34, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

You can see La Grande Arch - the hollowed out square building in the middle
31-Mar-2007 14:34, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.005 sec

A view of the rainy Arc roof
31-Mar-2007 14:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.006 sec

More Paris scenery
31-Mar-2007 14:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.008 sec

The Eiffel Tower!
31-Mar-2007 14:36, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

31-Mar-2007 14:36, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.004 sec

31-Mar-2007 14:36, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.003 sec

31-Mar-2007 14:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.006 sec

The Champs Elysees
31-Mar-2007 14:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.006 sec

A comprehensive view of the Champs Elysees
31-Mar-2007 14:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 124

Another view of the Tower
31-Mar-2007 14:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.2, 9.028mm, 0.004 sec

31-Mar-2007 14:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

The top of the Arc, again
31-Mar-2007 14:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Where the Champs Elysees begins
31-Mar-2007 14:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

31-Mar-2007 14:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

ME
31-Mar-2007 14:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Me again
31-Mar-2007 14:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

Shannon and Brian
31-Mar-2007 14:43, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

sans Umbrella
31-Mar-2007 14:43, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

Jeff and Susan in their hooded glory - no umbrellas for them
31-Mar-2007 14:46, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 141

Our 'candid' conversation shot
31-Mar-2007 14:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

31-Mar-2007 14:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

The gang headed down the stairs
31-Mar-2007 14:56, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 141

31-Mar-2007 14:56, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 141

The Ghosts of the Arc
31-Mar-2007 14:56, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 141

31-Mar-2007 15:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 1 sec, ISO 200

The spiral staircase from the Arc's top level to the street
31-Mar-2007 15:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 800

The French Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
31-Mar-2007 15:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 400

There's my friends....
31-Mar-2007 15:12, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 400

....and now I am getting pointed at! I have finally arrived.
31-Mar-2007 15:12, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 400

So a part of Paris that I had always wanted to see was more of Montmartre, especially after seeing the movie Moulin Rouge. Within Montmartre, I’ve always wanted to see the cathedral of Sacre Coeur, mainly after seeing it in Amelie and just having seen it in the many guidebooks of Paris. So while we were strolling around the Champs Elysees in the rain, and everyone was kind of like “What Do We Do Now?” (and at the same time, driving Susan insane…), I suggested going to the Montmartre area and seeing not only that eclectic neighborhood but the Sacre Coeur cathedral. So off we went on the Metro to Montmartre!
Arriving there, you get to street level and are immediately enveloped in a sense of exciting activity and ‘alive’ness. It is a very interesting neighborhood to say the least. Lots of vendors and lots of people. To get to Sacre Coeur you have to walk uphill through the area, eventually getting to the main plaza below the cathedral. And then you have even more uphill walking to do to just get to the cathedral, but it’s well worth it, as the view from the top of Montmartre is stellar, just like from the Arc. Unfortunately the weather was still gloomy, so while the view was still great, it could have been better with some clearer skies. A few of us toured the inside of the cathedral, which is amazing in its own right, but in a town full of ancient landmarks, this one is almost a baby: it was built in the 1800s, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at it. Again, more information to be found at Wikipedia.
After visiting the cathedral, we met up with everyone and started walking along the main street in Montmartre, which takes you through the red light district of Paris (where all the sex/porno shops are) and to the illustrious Moulin Rouge! It is certainly interesting to see all those strip clubs and stores – interesting things that are sold there!
Finally, it was dinner time and we found a cool restaurant in the area that served us great food, but most importantly, red wine and chocolate mousse (our first round of chocolate mousse for the trip – but rest assured, there would be more chocolate mousse, let me tell you!).
March 31, 2007: Exploring Montmartre and Sacre Coeur; having dinner in town

The bustling neighborhood of Montmartre
31-Mar-2007 16:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 133

There's Sacre Coeur atop the Montmartre hill
31-Mar-2007 16:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

Closer view
31-Mar-2007 16:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 12.523mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 124

ME
31-Mar-2007 16:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

The carousel at the bottom of the hill - it was in Amelie too
31-Mar-2007 16:42, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 111

The cafe at the bottom of the hill - and Susan crossing the street
31-Mar-2007 16:43, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 400

The same curvy walkway up the hill to Sacre Coeur as seen in Amelie
31-Mar-2007 16:48, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 209

Sacre Coeur
31-Mar-2007 16:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100

31-Mar-2007 16:50, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

31-Mar-2007 16:50, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

There's Mike hiking up the hill
31-Mar-2007 16:54, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 204

Jeff and Susan making their way up too
31-Mar-2007 16:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 400

Looking down the hill to Montmartre district
31-Mar-2007 16:59, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 151

31-Mar-2007 17:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 265

looking right close at the cathedral
31-Mar-2007 17:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

At the top of the hill
31-Mar-2007 17:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

You can see the Eiffel Tower if you look just right
31-Mar-2007 17:20, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 351

When looking to find where Susan and Jeff were, I found them sitting at the cafe through a telescope. I'm that good.
31-Mar-2007 17:27, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 400

31-Mar-2007 17:27, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 400

Oooh, the Sexodrome! Yep, this is the Red Light District.
31-Mar-2007 18:00, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 400

The Moulin Rouge!
31-Mar-2007 18:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 367

Me and the Red Windmill (aka Moulin Rouge)
31-Mar-2007 18:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 400

31-Mar-2007 18:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 302

I think that this would have been the building Ewan McGregor's character lived in in the movie
31-Mar-2007 18:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 383

Ah, the glorious red wine we drank at our restaurant/cafe
31-Mar-2007 19:01, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800

Susan and Jeff enjoying some French food and ambiance
31-Mar-2007 19:20, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800

Shannon, Brian, and Mike enjoy it too
31-Mar-2007 19:21, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800

Me, Susan and Jeff
31-Mar-2007 19:21, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800

A finished meal
31-Mar-2007 19:30, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800

Me and Susan
31-Mar-2007 19:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 800

The waiter took our picture. Ah, Paris!
31-Mar-2007 19:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

An accidental shot of the nearby bar
31-Mar-2007 20:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 315

I love me some Chocolate Mousse
31-Mar-2007 20:20, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.3 sec, ISO 141

So does Shannon
31-Mar-2007 20:22, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.2, 9.028mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 141

After dinner, I invited myself along with Brian and Shannon to go visit the Eiffel Tower at night – it was time for Jeff and Susan to have some alone time….
We Metro’d over to the Rue Cler area and proceeded to walk to the Eiffel Tower from the L’Ecole Militaire section, so you get a good long approach to gaze at the wonder that is the Eiffel Tower at night. As you’ll see below in the pictures, the Eiffel Tower is truly amazing to see at nighttime with all its lights on. We also went and walked up the first two levels of the Eiffel Tower via the stairs which is always a fun experience and I think Shannon and Brian enjoyed doing it. To get to the very top though, you do have to take the elevator, which is not exactly my favorite thing to do…but at least at night, it’s not nearly as scary as it would be during the day. The night we were there, it was still a bit murky out there, so the view wasn’t as crystal clear as it sometimes as (see Jeff’s pics from the next day).
Well, there are lots of pics to see, so no more blathering on by me…this has been a lot of freakin’ webpage to write. To say the least. And there’s still THREE MORE DAYS to write about!
March 31, 2007: Journeying to the Eiffel Tower at night with Brian and Shannon

Looking at the Tower from the Ecole Militaire area
31-Mar-2007 21:27, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.2, 9.028mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 800

There's Brian
31-Mar-2007 21:28, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 12.523mm, 0.3 sec, ISO 800

We would soon be walking this distance to the Tower
31-Mar-2007 21:30, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 800

31-Mar-2007 21:30, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.3 sec, ISO 800

Shannon poses with her umbrella
31-Mar-2007 21:30, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

A WWII memorial at the end of the lawn
31-Mar-2007 21:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 800

Getting closer to the Tower
31-Mar-2007 21:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 800

So cool - even with the spotlight
31-Mar-2007 21:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 800

Different flash settings of that same pic
31-Mar-2007 21:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

Here's the Tower again (notice the theme)
31-Mar-2007 21:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 800

Doing my impression of the Eiffel Tower
31-Mar-2007 21:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

Brian and Shannon sing a happy French song for the occasion
31-Mar-2007 21:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

Even jumping to show their joy
31-Mar-2007 21:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

31-Mar-2007 21:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

Getting real close
31-Mar-2007 21:47, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 800

and now we're under it
31-Mar-2007 21:56, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800

Some more shots as we climb the Tower
31-Mar-2007 21:57, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 617

Getting up to the first level
31-Mar-2007 21:57, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800

Me too
31-Mar-2007 21:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800

More stairs
31-Mar-2007 21:59, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800

Illuminated awesomeness
31-Mar-2007 22:01, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800

31-Mar-2007 22:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 800

Barely made it up the stairs
31-Mar-2007 22:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

Shannon the spidergirl
31-Mar-2007 22:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

31-Mar-2007 22:06, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

I messed up the shot - but this was Brian's Spiderman shot too
31-Mar-2007 22:06, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

31-Mar-2007 22:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 800

Looking down to the ground from the first level
31-Mar-2007 22:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 800

Shannon makes sure she looks fantastic for the next set of stairs
31-Mar-2007 22:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800

The signs to the next set of steps
31-Mar-2007 22:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 800

There's the second level mocking us from above
31-Mar-2007 22:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800

31-Mar-2007 22:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 800

A mockup of one of the guys who made the Eiffel Tower
31-Mar-2007 22:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 766

All the elevator people LOVED my camera
31-Mar-2007 22:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 465

View from the second level
31-Mar-2007 22:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 800

Shannon and Brian rejoice
31-Mar-2007 22:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

Me too
31-Mar-2007 22:21, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

While waiting in the LONG line for the top elevator, I took this pic looking straight up to the top
31-Mar-2007 22:25, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800

Another shot of the amazing architecture
31-Mar-2007 22:27, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800

Parisian cityscape from the top
31-Mar-2007 23:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

Looking back towards the Ecole Militaire
31-Mar-2007 23:08, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 800

More Paris cityscape shots
31-Mar-2007 23:08, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.3 sec, ISO 800

Another shot of the grids in the Paris landscape
31-Mar-2007 23:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.3 sec, ISO 800

Seine River shot
31-Mar-2007 23:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 800

Me enjoying the top of the world feeling
31-Mar-2007 23:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

31-Mar-2007 23:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.3 sec, ISO 800

There's the Arc de Triomphe
31-Mar-2007 23:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 800

31-Mar-2007 23:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.2, 9.028mm, 0.3 sec, ISO 800

Shannon and Brian enjoy the scenery too
31-Mar-2007 23:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

The Seine river again
31-Mar-2007 23:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 800

31-Mar-2007 23:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 800

There's the Trocadero (where we took our awesome shots from the night before)
31-Mar-2007 23:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 800

31-Mar-2007 23:19, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 800

31-Mar-2007 23:27, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.3 sec, ISO 800

31-Mar-2007 23:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233

Me again
31-Mar-2007 23:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233