Throwback to Paris, France

Our trip to Paris last October was rock-my-socks-off amazing and I had the time of my life.  Again, we went with a purpose:  Madlib (one of D's FAVORITE artists) was performing at a club in the suburbs.  So off we went, happily skipping to the most beautiful city in the world.  It poured rain almost the entire time and was ridiculously cold, but it didn't matter.  Because we were in Paris.  And everything is grand in Paris!  :)

Catching some "Zzz"s on the plane.  Isn't he cute?  I'm so lucky!

This was a sign that Paris would be awesome, and it was.  :-P

 We found our first Invader!  I'm a HUGE fan of the street artist "Space Invader" and that was one of my primary goals this trip:  To find as many Invaders as possible.  If I'm remembering correctly, we saw something like 18.

 Snow on the Alps on the way to Paris.

The view from our hotel room on Rue D'Aboukir.

Anyone who truly knows me knows that I am a HUGE HUGE HUGE fan of the Phantom of the Opera and all things Phantom-related.  Our first duty in Paris was to go to the Opera Garnier, the inspiration for the story of the Phantom of the Opera written by Gaston Leroux.

Oh, the romance just kills me!  :)

I look a little pained here in this photo, because immediately upon seeing the building I burst into happy tears... Corny, I know!  But this was a bucket list dream come true!

Le Omelette!

French oignon soup.  (I just had to.  One cannot come to Paris and not try typically cheesy "Parisian" foods.  More to come of that...)

After lunch inside the Opera Garnier.  

It was close to Halloween when we went to the Opera House.

A dragon at the foot of the staircase in the Opera Garnier.  The photo quality is a little off, but you get the idea.

Sorry for the terrible photo quality, but this is the costume for Black Swan in Swan Lake.

The Opera Garnier was doing a show on the many costumes used in various ballets throughout the opera's history.  Some of them were downright creepy.

I am so happy here.

The 8-ton chandelier and the ceiling of the Opera Garnier, painted by Marc Chagall.

If you have read the many books based on Phantom or have seen any of the movies, you recognize these faces.  Some are based off of Comedy and Tragedy, common figures in Europe and in worldwide theatre.

Practicing dancers on stage.

In the Salon du Glacier, within the Palais Garnier.

 From a mirrored wall.

Another example of ornate, over-the-top everything in this Palais.

 The main foyer of the Palais Garnier.

One ceiling in the Night room of the Palais Garnier.

Ballerina portrait.

 Within these small display panels are examples of famous sets and backdrops for ballets shown in the theatre.

 Another Invader by the Louvre!

Our only glimpse inside the Louvre this trip.  We spent so much time in museums in Rome we went museum-free this trip to Paris.  Maybe next time!

By the Louvre.

A smaller pyramid within the courtyard of the Louvre.

My very first glimpse of Le Tour Eiffel.

David was not pleased with my selection of hot pommes frites... French fries... In Paris...  :)

Walking through the Jardin des Tuileries by the Louvre.

 Arc de Triomphe.

The Champs-Elysees.

Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur.

Modern-day Paris.

Here's the REAL reason we came to Paris:  MADLIB AND PEANUT BUTTER WOLF SHOW!!!

WORD.

He had a fantastic time!

Another Invader by the Catacombs!

We took ourselves out for Moroccan food while there.  It was amazing.

A little turned around on our way to the Notre Dame Cathedral.

The draft at the Moroccan restaurant was awful, and since it is appropriate for a lady to veil her hair when in similar company, it worked.  

 Costume from the Opera Garnier exhibit.

 Le Notre-Dame.

GARGOYLES!

 The weighing of souls.  Some go to Heaven, some go to Hell.  The faces of the condemned are scary.

 Inside the Notre Dame.

 We were lucky enough to attend a service in the Notre Dame.  It was beautiful.

 Yay!

 Notre Dame

 Le Tour Eiffel light show.

D with our friend, Daniel, who is currently liviing in Paris (LUCKY!).

 An expressive mailbox.  :)

On a side note, I feel it necessary to say that here is what I look like when I haven't been eating ANY gluten for a month or over.  I feel fifty times better.

More weird street art in Paris.

Oh look, D matches!

We ordered a crepe.  :)

 Yay!  Street art!

The escargot passed inspection!

 At the top of Le Tour Eiffel.

 Palais de Chaillet

Art approaching the Centre Georges Pompidou, the modern art museum.

Outside the Centre Georges Pompidou.

Thai food with Daniel!

 Small arch (I don't know the name) by our hotel on the Rue D'Aboukir.  GREAT neighborhood!  I loved it!

By the Synagogue in Le Marais district, the Jewish Quarter.  

In brief, Paris was phenomenal.  I would go again, move there, study there, spend the rest of my life there and enjoy every second.  We will be back.  It's a city like Rome - you could live there your entire life and never really get to know it.  :)