Paris: Yes, its that good!

Arriving at Charles De Gaulle Airport we were delighted to find there was no visa fee required to enter France. This not only saved us some cash but covered our asses. In all the planning for our surprise trip home, we forgot to check the process/requirements for entering the country which could have lead to real problems. Nevertheless, western civilization had the last laugh at our expense when the cab ride from the airport to our hotel cost a staggering 70 euros (approximately $100 USD).
We had been up for roughly twenty hours by the time we pulled up in front of the hotel. Exhausted and hungry we threw our packs off in the room and headed to the corner cafe for dinner. The weather was warm and pleasant as we hobbled down the cobblestone streets. The feeling of being on a Hollywood movie set came to mind. Everything you think Paris would be like, it is and so much more. The cafe was charming and inviting with cozy intimate seating. We ordered a bottle of red wine, a pasta dish and a gourmet sandwich which was delicious and completely eaten within ten minutes. After finishing the bottle, we were off to bed, sleep was needed.
Refreshed we woke up early to take full advantage of the short three day visit to this magnificent city. First stop, just like the French, was to the local patisserie shop to indulge in buttery, chocolatey sweet delicacies. On a sugar high we walked to the Eiffel Tower from our hotel and down the Champ de Mars then continued along the Seine River. The city was amazingly detailed with sculptures and many other architectural beauties. The bridges were adorned with carved stone and the huge water fountains were fit for Zeus. Decadence is the best way to describe it. Decadent and beautiful!
Avenue Des Champs Elysees showcases the fabulous Paris shopping district. A three story Louis Vitton store anchors the corner lot not to be out done by the svelte Abercrombie & Fitch models who are paid to be stunningly good looking and open the door for customers. High fashion is everywhere with the seductive scent of perfume floating in the air. These people make living life in high fashion look damn good. Everyone strutted as if they were the next top fashion model.
At the end of the Avenue stands the Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. It was easy to see why it was named one of the most visited monument in Paris.
If, or better yet, when, we return to Paris more time will be spent at the Louvre Museum. It is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. We walked our legs off for 5 hours in the Louvre and maybe saw a tenth of the displays. Five days is a more appropriate amount of time to truly appreciate every masterpiece individually, but with time lacking we focused on the key attractions first. These included the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. That's right, I stood face to face and looked Mona Lisa herself in the eye. Pretty freaking awesome!
We also spent 3 hours visiting the Musee D'orsay, the famed art, painting, and sculpture museum where you can take in the works of Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne, Degas, Gauguin...if you make it to Paris, do not skip this place, it's less crowded and you can get closer and feel less intruded in viewing the paintings you've always heard about. Amazing!
Last but not least on the sightseeing walk is Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris located on the Seine river. It is a cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedral (official chair) of the Archbishop of Paris, currently André Vingt-Trois. We weren't able to go inside but the outside at sunset was breathtaking.
Outside of being incredibly expensive, Paris was amazing and is a must see city, we look forward to going back with friends and experiencing even more. It was incredibly easy to walk, beautiful, amazing food, and history at your fingertips daily. It was odd to check off all these "bucket list" places to see and visit in a short 2 days of walking Paris, but it is just filled with so much history and is well a planned and picturesque city.
That night we had our farewell dinner to Paris AND to the end of our eleven month journey abroad. The next day we'd be on a plane back to the States (Paris to Dublin, Dublin to Chicago, Chicago to Louisville) It was time, we were gassed out and ready to surprise family and see friends again. Not to mention a long long hot shower and fluffy pillows and crispy clean sheets :)