July 5, 2009
The Fireworks Tailgate Party Washington, DC 2009
March 22, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009 We got up early for a 7:45 train out of Paris to London. Upon arrival, we made our way to our hotel near King’s Cross, and then headed to central London. Our first stop was a pub near St. Paul’s Cathedral for fish and chips. After lunch, we poked our heads into the cathedral. We then bought a 24-hour pass on a tour bus that covered all the main sites in London and rode it for several hours. In the late afternoon we met up with our friends Ian and Bekah who are currently living in London. We hung out in Costa coffeeshop, then headed to the Angel neighborhood where we ate at an Indian restaurant.

Friday, March 20, 2009

We got up early for a 7:45 train out of Paris to London. Upon arrival, we made our way to our hotel near King’s Cross, and then headed to central London. Our first stop was a pub near St. Paul’s Cathedral for fish and chips. After lunch, we poked our heads into the cathedral.

We then bought a 24-hour pass on a tour bus that covered all the main sites in London and rode it for several hours.

In the late afternoon we met up with our friends Ian and Bekah who are currently living in London. We hung out in Costa coffeeshop, then headed to the Angel neighborhood where we ate at an Indian restaurant.

Thursday, March 19, 2009 After watching the sunset from Pont Neuf, we walked to St. Michel and had dinner at a sidewalk cafe. We both had chevre salads and duck, and as always, the people watching opportunities were terrific! After dinner, we took a night cruise on the Seine that departed from Pont Neuf, on Ile de Cite. The views were awesome as the boat took us past the Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame, and many more spots along the river. We topped off the night with nutella banane crepes! A perfect way to end our romantic time in Paris.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

After watching the sunset from Pont Neuf, we walked to St. Michel and had dinner at a sidewalk cafe. We both had chevre salads and duck, and as always, the people watching opportunities were terrific!

After dinner, we took a night cruise on the Seine that departed from Pont Neuf, on Ile de Cite. The views were awesome as the boat took us past the Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame, and many more spots along the river. We topped off the night with nutella banane crepes! A perfect way to end our romantic time in Paris.

March 20, 2009
On Thursday afternoon we took the Metro to Le Bon Marche, a famous designer shopping district - but we only window shopped :) We then headed toward St. Michel and stopped along Pont Neuf, one of the oldest bridges in Paris, to take in our last sunset. It was gorgeous and the sky was pink right around the Tour Eiffel! C’etait magnifique! - Jessica
On Thursday afternoon we took the Metro to Le Bon Marche, a famous designer shopping district - but we only window shopped :) We then headed toward St. Michel and stopped along Pont Neuf, one of the oldest bridges in Paris, to take in our last sunset. It was gorgeous and the sky was pink right around the Tour Eiffel! C’etait magnifique! - Jessica
The train mobilisation (i.e. Strike) did not stop us from getting to Louis XIV’s Versailles palace 30 minutes outside of Paris. It did, however, stop us from going inside the palace. Apparently, the museum workers union was also on strike! Oh well! This gave us a chance to spend several hours walking through the massive gardens and along the Grand Canal on the grounds of the chateau. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time.
The train mobilisation (i.e. Strike) did not stop us from getting to Louis XIV’s Versailles palace 30 minutes outside of Paris. It did, however, stop us from going inside the palace. Apparently, the museum workers union was also on strike! Oh well! This gave us a chance to spend several hours walking through the massive gardens and along the Grand Canal on the grounds of the chateau. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time.
Delicious dinner at Cafe de L’Est next to our hotel on Wednesday. Cantal cheese salad and duck salad. I love duck!
Delicious dinner at Cafe de L’Est next to our hotel on Wednesday. Cantal cheese salad and duck salad. I love duck!
After the Picasso museum, our mission was to shop for the must-have boots in Paris for Jessica. After many stores, we were successful in finding her birthday boots at the Jovak store in Les Halles. She was pumped!

After the Picasso museum, our mission was to shop for the must-have boots in Paris for Jessica. After many stores, we were successful in finding her birthday boots at the Jovak store in Les Halles.

She was pumped!

Wednesday, March 18 We visited my IRIS internship building in the Voltaire neighborhood in the morning and headed out for the Musee National Picasso just before lunch. We bought sandwiches along the way in the Bastille. Just before we got to the museum, we stopped for a picnic in the Square Leopold Achille park. The Picasso museum takes the visitor chronologically through Pablo’s life. It is really fascinating to see his progression of styles throughout his life. The collection also includes a lot of his sculptures. We heard at the ticket desk the museum is closing for 3 years this summer for renovations to the interior of the old mansion. We are happy it was still open now.

Wednesday, March 18

We visited my IRIS internship building in the Voltaire neighborhood in the morning and headed out for the Musee National Picasso just before lunch. We bought sandwiches along the way in the Bastille. Just before we got to the museum, we stopped for a picnic in the Square Leopold Achille park.

The Picasso museum takes the visitor chronologically through Pablo’s life. It is really fascinating to see his progression of styles throughout his life. The collection also includes a lot of his sculptures. We heard at the ticket desk the museum is closing for 3 years this summer for renovations to the interior of the old mansion. We are happy it was still open now.

We ate Tuesday’s dinner at a brasserie in Place du Tertre. The place is an old square just down the street from Sacre Coeur where many artists set up and paint and caricature artists attempt to draw portraits of tourists. We sat outside under a heat lamp and watched the action on the square. I had boeuf bourgignon and Jessica ate spaghetti bolognese and we both had French onion soup. I can’t get enough of that stuff!
We ate Tuesday’s dinner at a brasserie in Place du Tertre. The place is an old square just down the street from Sacre Coeur where many artists set up and paint and caricature artists attempt to draw portraits of tourists. We sat outside under a heat lamp and watched the action on the square. I had boeuf bourgignon and Jessica ate spaghetti bolognese and we both had French onion soup. I can’t get enough of that stuff!
After the Musee d’Orsay on Tuesday afternoon, we walked across the Seine and all the way to the top of Montmartre. Along the way we found a new French pastry to love - Viennoisse Chocolat. It is like a breadstick filled with chocolate chips. We made it to the top of the hill to the Sacre Coeur right around sunset. I shot some exterior photos of the Sacre Coeur and some cool views of the Tour Eiffel with its strong spotlight illuminating the night sky.
After the Musee d’Orsay on Tuesday afternoon, we walked across the Seine and all the way to the top of Montmartre. Along the way we found a new French pastry to love - Viennoisse Chocolat. It is like a breadstick filled with chocolate chips. We made it to the top of the hill to the Sacre Coeur right around sunset. I shot some exterior photos of the Sacre Coeur and some cool views of the Tour Eiffel with its strong spotlight illuminating the night sky.