Baked Goods

We had a great first day in Paris!

Tuileries gardens, Paris

First stop was a French bakery for a chocolate croissant for breakfast.

Orsay Museum was formerly a railway station.

We took the Metro to a stop near the Louvre, then walked across a bridge over the River Seine to Musee' Orsay, where we got the full dose of French Impressionists. I'm still not sure if I know my Monet from my Manet, but I've got a good handle of Van Gogh and Renoir.

One of the clocks at the Orsay, looking out over Paris

After a quick sandwich at another French bakery (a theme may be developing here), we went to the Rodin Museum, where we saw "The Thinker" and other neat stuff. He was prolific -- there must have been hundreds of sculptures there -- but most of them look half finished. A.D.D.?

"The Age of Maturity" by

Camille Claudel

Rodin's student and lover, Camille Claudel

We only spent a few minutes at the French Army Museum, seeing Napoleon's tomb. Try to imagine if Donald Trump were to design his own memorial, then you've got the idea. It's pretty over the top.

Napoleon's tomb -- it's "Huuuge"

We got our obligatory photos with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Then we visited the Conciergerie, the prison where Marie Antoinette and a couple thousand others waited for the Guillotine. Cheery place.

Napoleon presiding over his own grave.

And then we were off to one of our fondest memories of our first trip to Paris nearly 40 years ago: Saint Chapelle, the beautiful 13th century stained glass chapel. Unfortunately, the sun went under and it rained while we were there. In sunshine, the place is absolutely dazzling. In clouds, still beautiful, but not the full experience.

The obligatory Eiffel Tower shot

We ate dinner at a a touristy little diner not far from our hotel. The food, wine, and beer were fine, but the distance between tables would never fly in America. With mere inches between our table for two, and the table for two next to ours, it doesn't afford the sort of privacy to which we are accustomed.

Sainte Chapelle -- not dazzling without full sunshine, but still gorgeous

Nevertheless, it was a great first day in Paris.

Location:Paris, France