Paris: Take Two

As an extra bonus to the ash clouds, we were able to stay in Paris for a day! Our Chunnel train arrived in Paris around noon, and we couldn't find a cheap enough train until the next day. This was really nice, because the last time we came, we were kinda bummed out about the weather. But this time it was extremely nice. We stayed in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris, home to the infamous Moulin Rouge.

It is also home to Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart), a very beautiful church built about 100 years ago. Interestingly enough, it is actually younger than St. Paul's Cathedral in Pittsburgh!

Montmartre is also on the top of Paris's tallest hill, giving it some pretty spectacular views. Another really cool thing about the neighborhood is that there are tons of artists out painting and selling their artwork. We thought about having our portrait painted, but in the end decided not too.

After touring Montmartre, we spent the rest of the day at beautiful Luxembourg Gardens.

Pretty!

That is quite a stag.

Sadly, I don't remember of whom this is a statue.

I do remember what this monument is for, however. It is dedicated to Catherine de Medici, the famous Queen Mother of France who is thought to be responsible for encouraging some of the worst atrocities of the French wars of religion. But this was a pretty fountain.

After we ate dinner, we headed back to our hostel to wake up for our early-esque train back to Aix. At last, we made it back!