Art, Art is EVERYWHERE in Paris

We did so much on our trip to Paris, I'm going to divide the day into several posts so they're a bit easier for me to write and in turn, you to read. This first post is all about random beautiful things we saw while walking (and walking and walking and walking...) around central Paris. 

On our first full day in Paris one of the things Bill kept remarking was how pretty the city was. Granted, we stayed in the heart of the city, but it truly was beautiful. I feel like we could have taken a picture of almost every building as they were all historic, well constructed, and fairly ornate. I kept my camera in its bag that first morning until we rounded a corner and saw Pont Alexander III. It is a bridge over the river Seine with many gilded pillars and statues. Simply stunning! The camera just had to take it's first outing of the day :-)

Pont Alexander III

Pont Alexander III

We made our way down the Seine towards our first museum of the day (d'Orsay), but I had to take one last shot of Pont Alexander III - isn't it gorgeous?

River Seine and Pont Alexander III

At the end of the first day after visiting one cathedral, two museums, and three cafés (all to be featured in future posts), we headed home for the night. Leaving the Louvre, we stumbled upon this giant monument (below) commissioned by Napolean. Even though it was after 10:00pm, it was still dusk and the lighting on the monument was beautiful. I am sure this monument is stunning no matter what time of day you see it. 

Arc du Carrousel commissioned by Emperor Napoleon

As we made our circuitous way back to our hotel, we made sure to swing by the Egyptian obelisk, which was a gift to France many years ago. The obelisk was placed in the center of Revelution Square where the guillotine once stood that took care of Louie XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette. I'm glad they have something commemorating the spot, and that it's not a big statue of the late King & Queen or worse, a statue of a guillotine!

Luxor obelisk located where the French Revolution guillotine once stood

Lastly, on our walk home on the night that first full day, we stopped at the top of the hour to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle. After it sparkled for 5 minutes, I captured this shot of the tower beaming its beacon across Paris. What a sight on a day of amazing sights!!!

Eiffel Tower at night