Notre Dame Cathedral sits on an island in the Seine river in Paris, known for its flying buttresses. It is considered the official center of Paris. Saint Denis was the bishop of Paris in the 3rd century who was executed while still preaching. The Louvre was originally a royal palace and now houses a huge collection of art from around the world, entered through a modern glass pyramid built below ground level. The Eiffel Tower is more impressive in person than in photos, with restaurants and views from upper levels. Versailles outside Paris exemplified the lavish spending that contributed to the French Revolution, with real gold thread in the king's bedroom. Napoleon is entombed at the Invalides in Paris.

1. Paris with Mike and Dena

2. Notre Dame de Paris

3. Notre Dame de Paris sits on an island between two rivers

4. A great example of Flying Buttresses – one of the architectural aspects for which this 12 century Cathedral is known

6. The official center of the City of Paris and therefore, France - (and therefore some would say, the world) It is in front of Notre Dame - If you have your GPS it is: 48° 51′ 12.24″ N, 2° 20′ 55.68″ E 48.8534, 2.3488

7. Saint Denis – was the Bishop of Paris in the 3 rd century, was executed and carried his head while still preaching a sermon along the way.

8. Louvre You enter today by going into a very modern pyramid and going down below ground level.

9. Before the Revolution the Louvre was a Royal Palace. There is so much art work in the Louvre that I don’t think anyone really “sees the Louvre.” They see parts of it.

11. The Louvre has a lot of artifacts from all over the world in addition to a huge collection of famous art.

12. Eiffel Tower Truly a magnificent piece of architecture, much more impressive than it shows in photographs. You go up several floors to the restaurant, named for he famous French author, Jules Verne.

15. The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

16. As I walked through Versailles (outside of Paris) I kept thinking how these French really needed a Revolution!

17. The King’s bedchamber – real gold thread!

18. That summer I got to see Cambridge and the Sorbonne. The Sorbonne is in the Latin quarter of Paris – named for the Latin spoken by students there back in the Middle Ages.

19. Where Napoleon is entombed

20. The Emperor’s Tomb

21. Famous things in France . . . Book sellers on the left bank of the Seine River - Sidewalk toilets – you put money in, it gives you 20 min and then the door opens! This one was right in front of a restaurant. This was in our apartment in Paris . . . I guess it is for cleaning your boots?