Reminiscences...

After reading "A Year in the Merde", I realised that my experiences in Paris were not one-offs. Apparently, it's a Parisian's patriotic duty to act the way they do. And this is not always what we (mankind) would call normal.

Oh, to digress, there is a song by Minnie Driver called "Everything I've Got In My Pocket" which is surprisingly really good. It's very soothing adult alternative. She sounds really good. Get a listen if you can. You may download it (Oohh..!) or try to catch it on Yahoo! Launchcast on the radio station called "The Coffeehouse".

I think I'll save my Parisian stories for another time. I'm sure you guys are eagerly awaiting some Paris pictures, so voilà!

Cimetière Père Lachaise. What the heck is that guy doing dancing there? If he falls, he'll be so shattered!

No, the pic on the right is not that golden dot on the horizon of the left pic.
Pont Alexandre III (left) and detail of sculptures on the roof of Opéra Garnier.

In front of the Arc de Triomphe on Avenue Champs-Elysees with Grandpa G and Malaysian Devil.

In a bar/lounge, called (can't remember) at (can't remember). Can you help me out, Charly?!

Sacré Coeur and the view across the rooftops of Paris. Second highest point after the Eiffel Tower.

Does this really need any description?

Grandpa G and I were hanging around the Trocadéro to watch the sparkling lights of the Tower that happen every hour for 10 minutes. As it was nearing 11pm it was getting quite windy and cold, but I didn't want to appear wimpy in front of Grandpa G and decided to act like him and not put on my jacket. How smart was that, huh. I'm so macho.

Ah!! Bee-yoo-tee-full!

One of the 3 wings of the Louvre with a bit of the Pyramid entrance peeking out on the right. The bloody Louvre wings are so huge you can throw away your membership to Fitness First and just apply for a Louvre card and walk the whole floor on each wing every day and you'll have buns of steel in no time.

On the right is the Carousel in front of the Louvre. At night the carnival opens and it's a real lively do. All sorts of rides and games. Brilliant. Of course, one ride costs just a little under the cost of a heart bypass surgery.

Still at the Louvre. Pronounced Loov...ruh!

I think this is in Pigalle. Pervert heaven.

I could've stayed in front of this building for hours watching the fire eaters and listening to the gypsy music. Unfortunately, guys are not so romantic or dreamy. Too busy being macho I guess.

You'd better recognise these 2 places from before. And No, that is not the London Eye.

Actually, if anyone wants some advice from me, just sleep during the day and wander about Paris at night. It's much nicer and there are less unsmiling shopkeepers. They're all already at home practising for the next day full of un-smiles.

It's better appreciated at night and under it than from across the suicide's dream road - L'étoile of the 10 lane variety.

See why I said it's better to see Paris at night? Although this is still a pleasant building in the day.
Gosh, this doesn't need a description does it??? Okay, fine. 3 guesses - this is where the Hunchback of Notre Dame lived.

View of the majestic and très impressive gates from the compound of the Palais de Justice.

We had actually visited the Sainte-Chapelle which is just behind the Palais, but still in its compound, so this made the Sainte-Chapelle the only church I've ever known to have metal detectors and body searches done just to enter.

One of the immense stained glass windows that Sainte-Chapelle is so famous for. But I bet you've never heard of this church, have you? Have you?! Well, I hadn't heard of it either so relax.

Yes, it really is.

This is what happens when statues dance on stone tablets. They fall eventually. Oh, unless this statue saw some Nazgul/Dementors and is about to be stabbed in the left shoulder and risk becoming a wraith himself by having all the life and happiness sucked out of his soul at Mordor/Azkaban.

Le Moulin Rouge!! Nude ladies in feathers! Famous can can dancers!
Fortunately, tickets to the shows cost just a little over the price of the Crown Jewels so it makes this show more glamourous than the typical nude dancing show. Keeps the poor pervs away and the drooling princes coming. :P

At Montmartre taking a hurried picture before another "man who pretends he doesn't see people taking pictures right in front of him" walks right into the picture again.

Chinese restaurant at the Galeries Lafayette with French-speaking Chinese servers. The good thing is, Ils parlerent anglais!! And the bonus is, they smile!
Grandpa G commented that one of them looked like a hooker from Shanghai. To me she looked more like a frazzled housekeeper. What the heck is Grandpa G thinking??!