Underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa

After leaving Amsterdam, (spent another couple of days there, going to more museums such as the Rembrandts and National History), and a lovely day at Zaanse Schans, a historic village not far out of Amsterdam, I caught an overnight bus to the city of lights, Paris.

After arriving at 6 in the morning, dropping my bags off at the backpackers, I headed out to explore the city, somewhat in zombie land due to a lack of sleep. Started off with a walking tour of the city (love these, run on a tips basis, so you pay what you feel it is worth, takes in the main sights, and is usually with a wacky person who has moved here from England or Australia to live (or at least thats where my tour leaders have come from).

After finishing the tour I wandered down to the Eiffel Tower, climbed it (nearly died in the process, although I have been walking heaps, I am not used to going up stairs anymore, everywhere over here is flat!). I then took some photos at night of the Tower and the Arc de Triumph.
The next day was spent being a tourist, the Louvre, Pantheon, Catacombes, and climbing the Arch de Triumph. I found the Mona Lisa very disappointing, maybe because we are so used to seeing it, or because they keep you at a distance, but I wasnt moved by it that much. Did however to a flying visit of 2 1/2 hours in the Louvre and managed to see less than 1 of the 4 floors, and didnt stop to read anything in that time-you could spend hours there.

Found the Catacombes a bit disturbing, you really need to visit these with someone else. Located 20 meters under Paris, they house millions of bones displayed decorative designs-the idea of someone in teh 1700s so people could go and visit them.

Today found me out at Palace Versailles, which was lovely, despite there being Union action so they opened 2 hours late, which meant I had to spend an hour wandering the lovley gardens before I could go in.