June 2000

Megan and I were in Paris for five days.  There is a s***load of stuff to see there.  They got a little something for everyone.  There is plenty to eat and drink as well.  You can't go wrong there for three days or three weeks if you can afford it.  One of our favorite things was the placement of chairs in the urban outdoor cafes and bars:  The chairs all faced out, away from the bar toward the bustling streets.  The locals and tourists put on a pretty good show.

Of course there are several "must see" destinations in Paris.

On this trip, we stayed in the Marais, a relatively quiet neighborhood on the northern side of the Seine River.  From here, we had pretty easy access to the whole city.  Of course, you can't go too far wrong staying anywhere in Paris since the Metro (subway/tube/underground/whatever) is so easy and pervasive.

Strolling about the city, one will find many wonderful architectural specimens, whose exteriors beckon visitors to sample the treasures inside.

Inside the churches, museums, chateaux, gardens, and monuments visual and cultural delights await.  There is a piece of history everywhere.  We managed to capture a bit of it all on film, but the photo ops are overwhelming.

And, finally, I felt drawn to the Rodin Museum to check out the house where the artist lived and worked.  It is now a spectacular museum with beautiful gardens.  I rounded out my visit there by taking in the "Gates of Hell" - a giant bronze featuring a ghoulish and tortured portal to Hades.

Rodin Has Created the Entrance to the Shadow Kingdom

October 2000

Jake and Christopher returned to Paris later that year with Jimmy.  Some bits of that adventure follow: