Arc de Triomphe

We woke up and both April and I felt better. It seems like she cleaned out her system with her atomic blast, and I had come back slowly but surely. We headed to the apt to see how Eth/Maddy were doing. They were kind of groggy, it was a little hot/noisy for them but they're used to it from LA. We brought them croissants/bread, we had breakfast, then headed for the Arc de Triomphe at the western end of the Champs-Elysees. We decided to take the metro out there and walk the 4+ Km back. Being wanksters we got off at the wrong metro stop, it was about 1/2 way there but had a similar name. So we walked up the street, and there was a huge line to buy tickets to climb the arc, we didn't want to wait so we just sat at the base by the flame of the unknown soldier. This flame was started in 1920, and is currently the oldest eternal flame in Europe, since the Vestal Virgins fire was eliminated in 394. Side note, I mostly throw in these historical references for my sister Diane, and maybe a few others like Danny O'c, maybe Katie likes this kind of stuff too.

Anyway the Arc is awesome. It's huge. After WWI some guy flew his place thru it. It has all the famous French battles engraved in the stone. The famous generals are listed. The French armies march down the Champs after victories, The Nazis did it, then the Allies marched down after they won. Lots of history there.

Enough with history we were hungry. Rick Steves suggested a great little cafe popular wth the locals and a few blocks off the main drag. It was perfect. Amazing, no tourists even tho it was just 2-3 blocks away. A highlight of the lunch was the fresh kiwi drink that tasted like the fresh-fruit orange from the Goldenrod. Our waiter had spent time in the US and England, we had a nice chat with hm after the lunch.

Then we walked back to the apt. We passed the Louis Vuitton flagship store. There was a line to get in; they only let a fixed number of shoppers in so they can be intimate with the salepeople. Instead we settled for the Hugo Boss store. Eth seemed enraptured.

The architecture on the walk back was amazing. Cool buildings, statues, bridges everywhere you look. The Louvre is monstrous.

Got back chilled, then April had us out walking again towards Lux Gardens and past St. Sulpice (but it was closed). We had Italian for dinner, then hit the sack. Pretty mellow day.