The Arc de Triomphe

Part of the series: Paris and Tuscany

<< First Day in Paris

Champs-Élysées >>

As we wandered up the Champs-Élysées, I could see that Barb and Lynn, while enjoying themselves, were wondering what all the fuss over Paris was all about. I was a little worried, because Barb's dream was Paris, and she has loved it from afar for... well, ever, I think. And all that was running through my head was "Please, please love Paris..."

Remember, up to this point, they had seen the airport, the side of the city facing the train (which seems to be the same in every city and town - graffiti artists are incredibly talented at gaining access to places they should never be), been semi-abandoned in a train station where they didn't speak the language, and now we were walking up one of the most famous streets in Paris, and really, it was just a bunch of people out shopping in a high-class area.

And then we saw the Arc de Triomphe.

The Arc de Triomphe, from the Champs-Élysées

We got someone to take our picture from the top of the Champs-Élysées, and headed down the stairs to the tunnel so that we could see it up close.

And then two more people fell in love with Paris.

Barb and Lynn, falling in love with Paris

It was a beautiful day, and while there were a lot of people, it wasn't overwhelming, and there was lots of room to wander around and places to sit along the base of the Arc. There was also a military ceremony of some sort, ending with a marching band and the veterans we had noticed marching up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc. All in all, it was wonderful, and it set the tone for the rest of Paris, and really, our whole vacation.