Paris Anniversary Day 1

Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Champs-Élysées Christmas Market, Place de la Concorde, 

Jardin des Tuileries, Palais Royal and the Louvre: DONE! :)

I LOVE PARIS!!!!

Our train to Paris, all ready and waiting... :)

Always read about fog creeping across the land, but seeing it is soo different. Suddenly The Hound of the Baskervilles feels more real.

We're here!!!

This is our rocket train, passing plains at the speed of up to 320 km/h (200 mph), takes you from Lausanne to Paris in 3 hours and 40 minutes! :)

You HAVE to have a Russian gastronome right there across from the train station, don't you? :)

    

Once we settled at the apartment (not without issues: the girl forgot to give us the keycode for the building. And even though her roommate was waiting for us at hoe, it took us 15 min. and the kindness of a neighbour to get in: no intercom or cell on us), ready to explore...

Using a proper subway again, (read: it actually goes underground). After living for so long in NY I guess most subway systems are a no brainer at this point, but I guess without this experience, Paris subway could've been a challenge. The lines connected in a weird way, loooong passage ways with stairs going up, then back down so you are on the same level as before, som stops are new and shiny, but for the most part the same water dammage as back in NYC. Felt like home! :)  But... one thing (at least) I always felt was lacking at the MTA (as the numerous people falling off the platform at 72nd street during rush hours would attest if they could), glass partitions framing the platform, doors opening ONLY once the train is at the station. 

No intro needed I guess, had to have the typical tourist shots of our own to take home.

180 degree turn and view down Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde, Luxor Obelisk, and Grand Carousel in the background. Now... we have a 1.91 km (1.18 mi) walk there.

Marché de Noël des Champs-Elysées (do I really need to translate this? ;) )

French Crêpe and Glühwein, what else do you need?

French cheese!

Mother Russia, again. Not one market is without a stall like this is seems.

Creamed mushrooms to keep our strength.

We're here, entering Place de la Concorde.

The north fountain, devoted to the rivers Rhone and the Rhine

Luxor Obelisk and Luxor Obelisk with the La grande Roue at the entrance to the Jardin des Tuileries.

The Eiffel Tower! We are going there tomorrow, can't wait!

Who's a big strong man? :D