This was a busy day today. I did a lot more walking than I expected and apparently my legs are not fully recovered from the run. I'm still dealing with shin splints and calf pains. Anyways...
The day started at the Louvre. I have no idea how long I spent here but it was as while. I was a bit bored with the statues and sculptures though after the Roman Art exhibit in Seattle and all the ones I saw in Italy. Even so, they were impressive. I spent more time just taking in the paintings. Most of them are not my style since they are more realistic, I prefer the modern and impressionistic paintings I saw at the Orsay. They couldn't have been too bad though because I did spent a ton of time there today.
After the Louvre I walked up to the Arc de Triomphe. The stroll up Champs Elysses was a pretty cool. At the start, near the Louvre and the obelisk things are in a more old style and much more relaxed. There is a park with some great places for a picnic or lounging in the sun. As you get closer to the arc there is a definite change towards more businesses and buildings. I wandered in to the Mercedes dealership for a bit to see if they had anything interesting. Unfortunately it was a bit lacking. I need to find Porsche, Ferrari, or Lamborghini dealerships I guess. There is an Alfa Romeo dealer near my apartment so I may go check that out today.
Once I got to the arc I watched the traffic circle for a bit before using the underpass to get to the arc. I showed my museum pass and went right on up the steps in the arc. For some reaason I was expecting an elevator. There isn't one. I must have mixed that up with reading about another attraction. You wind up a circular stairways for a good long ways before you come to the first 'landing'. There were a number of people obviously not expecting so many stairs as they were stopped on the sides panting a bit. My legs and feet are still apparently a bit in pain from the run so its not like I was doing a lot better. Eventually though I made it to the top. The view from up there is impressive. The weather was clear enough that I could see forever. I started taking pictures and then my camera battery died. Tomorrow I'll have to take a back-up battery. Even without the camera I made the most of the view. I stood and sat up there and just took in the sights. The cool wind felt good too. Then it was back down the stairs...
After the arc I walked around a bit to find the bus stops around there. I knew I'd be back on the Champs Elysses for a show tonight and I think I've had enough walking. I did manage to find one bus that comes right down the street from my apartment so I took that home.
Tonight was interesting. I had purchased tickets for the show at Lido due to a friend's recommendation. The show was at 9 so I planned on having dinner before and taking a bus to arrive at 8:30. I changed this plan a bit to just take a bus over around 6:30, explore for a bit, eat dinner, and then be at the show. As soon as we got to my bus stop though it started pouring. In my haste to avoid the rain drops I headed off down the wrong street. I walked a bit, found some shelter in trees, and hid in some entryways to try and keep from getting too wet. Then I realized my mistake of being on the wong street. I took a left to head back to Champs Elysses. Then rain really started coming down. I ran till I found a shelter but I was already just soaked. I then just stood in a covered entry way to HSBC with a number of other people. When it lightened up a bit I made a run for it and found a restaurant right next to Lido for dinner. Its a good thing the weather here is not too cold or I would have been shivering. As it was I dried up OK and then went to the show.
The show was pretty entertaining. I think I may be spoiled by my Cirque Du Soleil vieweings as I noticed a couple of times the girls were out of sync, or the strength feats by the guys were not perfectly solid and shake-free. But, I did like the show. And I got to talk to a couple from Australia who were here on a 2 1/2 month vacation around Europe. Not a bad night at all!
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