Paris

I have visited Paris many times but it's been a couple of years... well... come to think of it... something like 12 years. I used to come here to visit one of my best, dear friends and we had tons of fun (dancing salsa, hiding out from thunderstorms at Sacre-Coeur, eating seven course dinners and taking car trips to the coast).

I only had 26 hours to spend in Paris this time around (when I flew in from Dulles, DC...) - and I used them well, ignoring the fact that I hadn't slept since Friday morning Californian time. I had a chance to spend a fantastic morning with my dear friend to try out her bridal dress, meet my dear alien friends from around Europe, walking in the Tuileries, drinking tea at a brasserie close to Les Halles, shopping in Les Marais, and eating a fantastic dinner around République - before the fact that I had been up for 36 hours straight forced me back to the hotel at Saint-Germian-des-Prés...

View from my hotel window.

View from my hotel window.

Alternatives to cars on busy, narrow streets.

Montparnasse in the background.

The Parisian Metro.