Tour de France

My first night in Paris, my dad (Roland,) Rebecca (an old friend from Canada), and I made the trip by metro to Monmartres.

2009-07-06T16:36:01Z

moeymarc
My first night in Paris, my dad (Roland,) Rebecca (an old friend from Canada), and I made the trip by metro to Monmartres.

At the top of the 'hill' of Monmartres stands Sacre Coeur, a beautiful and magnificent church seen between the buildings here.

2009-07-06T17:07:53Z

moeymarc
At the top of the 'hill' of Monmartres stands Sacre Coeur, a beautiful and magnificent church seen between the buildings here.

Is that better with the flash? Yes, all of the streets were cobblestone. Very cool!

2009-07-06T16:43:53Z

moeymarc
Is that better with the flash? Yes, all of the streets were cobblestone. Very cool!

This was taken from the middle of a busy intersection.

2009-07-06T17:07:24Z

moeymarc
This was taken from the middle of a busy intersection.

This is the outside of the house where Picasso and Braque invented cubism. Please give me a break, I hadn't slept in two days!!!! I know I'm shiny!

2009-07-06T17:06:48Z

moeymarc
This is the outside of the house where Picasso and Braque invented cubism. Please give me a break, I hadn't slept in two days!!!! I know I'm shiny!

Another FAVE artist lived on Monmartres. This was the house that Van Gogh lived in with his brother. They lived on the second floor. You can see the balcony at the top with the sunflowers.

2009-07-06T16:53:40Z

moeymarc
Another FAVE artist lived on Monmartres. This was the house that Van Gogh lived in with his brother. They lived on the second floor. You can see the balcony at the top with the sunflowers.

Yes, it's really there! No sign of Ewan McGreggor, though. Bummer.

2009-07-06T16:57:56Z

moeymarc
Yes, it's really there! No sign of Ewan McGreggor, though. Bummer.

It's hard to describe the magnificence of Notre Dame cathedral. It's the epitome of gothic architecture and took over 200 years to build. Almost every surface is covered with ornate carving ...

2009-07-06T16:50:44Z

moeymarc
It's hard to describe the magnificence of Notre Dame cathedral. It's the epitome of gothic architecture and took over 200 years to build. Almost every surface is covered with ornate carving ...

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:44:33Z

moeymarc

Check out the gargoyles everywhere. We got to see their true purpose that day we visited because of the rain. Through their open mouths, water drains from the roofs and spills down below. ...

2009-07-06T16:26:08Z

moeymarc
Check out the gargoyles everywhere. We got to see their true purpose that day we visited because of the rain. Through their open mouths, water drains from the roofs and spills down below. ...

It was a very gray and rainy day that we visited this cathedral, but it didn't matter one bit! I was in awe of this place.

2009-07-06T16:42:26Z

moeymarc
It was a very gray and rainy day that we visited this cathedral, but it didn't matter one bit! I was in awe of this place.

O.K. The climb to the tower is a workout, but worth it. Mom (Gloria) and I are contemplating jumping over, but the wire prevents us! Drat! :)

2009-07-06T16:44:12Z

moeymarc
O.K. The climb to the tower is a workout, but worth it. Mom (Gloria) and I are contemplating jumping over, but the wire prevents us! Drat! :)

The view is spectacular. Isn't that the Eiffel Tower in the distance?

2009-07-06T16:42:22Z

moeymarc
The view is spectacular. Isn't that the Eiffel Tower in the distance?

Dad being weird. He kinda looks like that gargoyle on the right, doesn't he?

2009-07-06T16:38:48Z

moeymarc
Dad being weird. He kinda looks like that gargoyle on the right, doesn't he?

This view is looking inward from the tower of one of the roofs of the cathedral.

2009-07-06T17:01:07Z

moeymarc
This view is looking inward from the tower of one of the roofs of the cathedral.

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:58:29Z

moeymarc

This is the view from the VERY TOP.

2009-07-06T16:55:26Z

moeymarc
This is the view from the VERY TOP.

Below are photos from another cathedral, St. Chapelle. It was the private cathedral of one of the kings of France way back when. The stained glass in this small cathedral are some of the m ...

2009-07-06T16:37:15Z

moeymarc
Below are photos from another cathedral, St. Chapelle. It was the private cathedral of one of the kings of France way back when. The stained glass in this small cathedral are some of the m ...

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:43:46Z

moeymarc

Each of these windows had a different pattern of stained glass. It must have taken years to create!

2009-07-06T16:20:14Z

moeymarc
Each of these windows had a different pattern of stained glass. It must have taken years to create!

Hey, recognize this? It's the leg of one of the most famous monuments in Paris. You get one guess...

2009-07-06T16:44:15Z

moeymarc
Hey, recognize this? It's the leg of one of the most famous monuments in Paris. You get one guess...

O.K. It's the Eiffel Tower. One of the biggest tourist traps and a favorite spot for pick pockets!

2009-07-06T17:02:23Z

moeymarc
O.K. It's the Eiffel Tower. One of the biggest tourist traps and a favorite spot for pick pockets!

There is a pretty fantastic view from the second level. Although Parisians say the best view is from that tower you see in the distance, the Tour Montparnasse. The reason they say the vie ...

2009-07-06T16:09:25Z

moeymarc
There is a pretty fantastic view from the second level. Although Parisians say the best view is from that tower you see in the distance, the Tour Montparnasse. The reason they say the vie ...

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T17:00:34Z

moeymarc

The goal here was to get a picture of me and Rebecca at the Jardin Luxembourg. I guess I was aiming a little high. Sorry Rebecca...

2009-07-06T16:57:03Z

moeymarc
The goal here was to get a picture of me and Rebecca at the Jardin Luxembourg. I guess I was aiming a little high. Sorry Rebecca...

That's better. But now you can't see the Palais de Luxembourg!

2009-07-06T17:03:54Z

moeymarc
That's better. But now you can't see the Palais de Luxembourg!

So, let's take it separately. That's good.

2009-07-06T16:26:28Z

moeymarc
So, let's take it separately. That's good.

And now, me.

2009-07-06T16:54:13Z

moeymarc
And now, me.

Taken from our hotel window at dawn. This is the chapel that was used in the story Les Miserables as the site of Cosette's marriage.

2009-07-06T16:56:59Z

moeymarc
Taken from our hotel window at dawn. This is the chapel that was used in the story Les Miserables as the site of Cosette's marriage.

And next to the chapel, a line of cafés and shops. It's hard to see the name of that pizza shop below, but it's 'Pizza Momo.' I liked that because Momo is the nickname my little Sammy has ...

2009-07-06T16:27:35Z

moeymarc
And next to the chapel, a line of cafés and shops. It's hard to see the name of that pizza shop below, but it's 'Pizza Momo.' I liked that because Momo is the nickname my little Sammy has ...

Here's a bridge that crosses some famous river. The Seine, is it?

2009-07-06T16:59:32Z

moeymarc
Here's a bridge that crosses some famous river. The Seine, is it?

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:37:45Z

moeymarc

This is the outside entrance of the Louvre. This place is huge. I am sure there only a few people in the world who have ever seen it all.

2009-07-06T16:09:37Z

moeymarc
This is the outside entrance of the Louvre. This place is huge. I am sure there only a few people in the world who have ever seen it all.

That's me! Ready to go in and see as much as I can!

2009-07-06T17:07:35Z

moeymarc
That's me! Ready to go in and see as much as I can!

This is Napoleon's Tomb. My dad was about to fall in!

2009-07-06T17:01:09Z

moeymarc
This is Napoleon's Tomb. My dad was about to fall in!

Outside the Rodin Museum. It's the Thinker!

2009-07-06T16:46:12Z

moeymarc
Outside the Rodin Museum. It's the Thinker!

The Burghers of Calais. Rodin.

2009-07-06T16:39:32Z

moeymarc
The Burghers of Calais. Rodin.

The last few days of my trip to France, my dad and I left Paris by rental car and ventured to Normandy and Brittany to visit World War II monuments and various other cathedrals and sights. ...

2009-07-06T16:26:43Z

moeymarc
The last few days of my trip to France, my dad and I left Paris by rental car and ventured to Normandy and Brittany to visit World War II monuments and various other cathedrals and sights. ...

The flags of all nations involved in the war.

2009-07-06T16:39:02Z

moeymarc
The flags of all nations involved in the war.

This is the American cemetery on the bluff above Omaha Beach.

2009-07-06T16:41:35Z

moeymarc
This is the American cemetery on the bluff above Omaha Beach.

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:54:50Z

moeymarc

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:30:52Z

moeymarc

A view of Omaha Beach at the top of the bluff.

2009-07-06T16:41:03Z

moeymarc
A view of Omaha Beach at the top of the bluff.

This is the monument on the hill above Omaha Beach. In the dusk it's hard to see the German bunkers that are found everywhere.

2009-07-06T16:33:40Z

moeymarc
This is the monument on the hill above Omaha Beach. In the dusk it's hard to see the German bunkers that are found everywhere.

It was pretty dark when I took this picture of the hill going up from Omaha Beach. As I waked back up to the car, I tried to picture what it might have been like climbing this hill on D Day. ...

2009-07-06T17:02:33Z

moeymarc
It was pretty dark when I took this picture of the hill going up from Omaha Beach. As I waked back up to the car, I tried to picture what it might have been like climbing this hill on D Day. ...

Rouen was the first town we visited in Normandy. It was completely charming. At the center of town (as in all French towns) is the cathedral. It appeared to have fire damage on the outside. ...

2009-07-06T16:50:12Z

moeymarc
Rouen was the first town we visited in Normandy. It was completely charming. At the center of town (as in all French towns) is the cathedral. It appeared to have fire damage on the outside. ...

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:27:56Z

moeymarc

This is the inside. So beautiful. The inside of these cathedrals have such an unusual smell. They are so very old. It's also quite cold and dark inside.

2009-07-06T16:59:22Z

moeymarc
This is the inside. So beautiful. The inside of these cathedrals have such an unusual smell. They are so very old. It's also quite cold and dark inside.

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:23:20Z

moeymarc

Above is the inside and below is the outside of the same wall. That's a rose window for ya!

2009-07-06T17:02:23Z

moeymarc
Above is the inside and below is the outside of the same wall. That's a rose window for ya!

We approached this island off the coast of Normandy by night. You could actually see it's reflection on the clouds in the dark sky. It's le Mont St. Michel, a beautiful abbey.

2009-07-06T16:58:48Z

moeymarc
We approached this island off the coast of Normandy by night. You could actually see it's reflection on the clouds in the dark sky. It's le Mont St. Michel, a beautiful abbey.

Yes, it was raining. The illuminated abbey stands at the top of a hill in the center of a charming village. We only spent an hour there, but I'd love to spend days!

2009-07-06T16:52:55Z

moeymarc
Yes, it was raining. The illuminated abbey stands at the top of a hill in the center of a charming village. We only spent an hour there, but I'd love to spend days!

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:14:01Z

moeymarc

It's Chartres cathedral! This one is so cool inside!

2009-07-06T16:10:13Z

moeymarc
It's Chartres cathedral! This one is so cool inside!

Yes, my dad again, being weird.

2009-07-06T16:55:49Z

moeymarc
Yes, my dad again, being weird.

What amazed me most about the inside of this cathedral was the detail in the carvings. I took this with a flash. These were carved long before electric lights. Talk about strain on the eyes!

2009-07-06T16:36:48Z

moeymarc
What amazed me most about the inside of this cathedral was the detail in the carvings. I took this with a flash. These were carved long before electric lights. Talk about strain on the eyes!

The photos below are all of the only town in Brittany we visited, Dinan. And, as I told my dad, if I ever disappear without telling anyone, this is where you'll find me. It is THE most charm ...

2009-07-06T16:15:50Z

moeymarc
The photos below are all of the only town in Brittany we visited, Dinan. And, as I told my dad, if I ever disappear without telling anyone, this is where you'll find me. It is THE most charm ...

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T16:07:43Z

moeymarc

This town is surrounded by one of those mediaeval walls with towers! It looks like something out of a movie set. It's all still intact. We read in one of our guide books that there was a way ...

2009-07-06T16:25:28Z

moeymarc
This town is surrounded by one of those mediaeval walls with towers! It looks like something out of a movie set. It's all still intact. We read in one of our guide books that there was a way ...

moeymarc's photo

2009-07-06T17:06:08Z

moeymarc

And, the view from the top. You can see that tower that I took pictures of in the dark. The houses are all so cute.

2009-07-06T16:53:35Z

moeymarc
And, the view from the top. You can see that tower that I took pictures of in the dark. The houses are all so cute.

The streets are very steep and narrow. All cobblestone. The houses are so cute! Lots of color is used on the wooden parts. There are many half-timber houses in this town. That's a street lig ...

2009-07-06T16:41:00Z

moeymarc
The streets are very steep and narrow. All cobblestone. The houses are so cute! Lots of color is used on the wooden parts. There are many half-timber houses in this town. That's a street lig ...

A quick picture of a store in Dinan. We thought it was funny..."Rolland"...

2009-07-06T16:36:46Z

moeymarc
A quick picture of a store in Dinan. We thought it was funny..."Rolland"...