In February of 2000 my best friend, Michael, and I took leave from our squadron in Rota
and journeyed to France. We spent five days touring Paris, Versailles, and Normandy. Of
all the European capitals I visited between 1998 and 2000, I believe Paris was my favorite.
Paris had a personality all its own; at once grand, gaudy, elegant and polluted. If you visit
only one major European city, go to Paris.
All thumbnails are clickable links to higher-res images.
and journeyed to France. We spent five days touring Paris, Versailles, and Normandy. Of
all the European capitals I visited between 1998 and 2000, I believe Paris was my favorite.
Paris had a personality all its own; at once grand, gaudy, elegant and polluted. If you visit
only one major European city, go to Paris.
All thumbnails are clickable links to higher-res images.
The Arc de Triomphe, built the during
reign of Napoleon. Anchoring one end
of the splendid Champs-Elysees, the
Arc's roof is a little-known observation
deck (if you look very closely, you can
see the people up there looking down).
reign of Napoleon. Anchoring one end
of the splendid Champs-Elysees, the
Arc's roof is a little-known observation
deck (if you look very closely, you can
see the people up there looking down).
The Eiffel Tower seen from the
top of the Arc de Triomphe.
top of the Arc de Triomphe.
Looking up from directly
under the Eiffel Tower.
under the Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower with the illuminated "2000" that was lit at midnight on
January 1, 2000, to celebrate the millenium. Completed in 1889 for the
Paris Exposition, the tower was Gustave Eiffel's 1000 ft. high masterpiece.
No photograph can ever capture the unimaginable size of this structure.
The rotating beacon on top of the tower is made up of a team of four
powerful spotlights that each sweep a quarter of the sky, creating the illusion
of a single beacon.
January 1, 2000, to celebrate the millenium. Completed in 1889 for the
Paris Exposition, the tower was Gustave Eiffel's 1000 ft. high masterpiece.
No photograph can ever capture the unimaginable size of this structure.
The rotating beacon on top of the tower is made up of a team of four
powerful spotlights that each sweep a quarter of the sky, creating the illusion
of a single beacon.
The Eiffel Tower from
across the river Seine.
across the river Seine.
The Lourve--the most famous art museum in
Europe. Originally the palace in which the
monarchy lived, Louis XIV moved the throne to
the new palace he had built at Versailles. The
nobility briefly occupied the Lourve again during
the early days of the French Revolution before
the beheading of Louis XVI and Marie Antonette.
Among the magnificent treasures housed here is
the famous Hellenistic era sculpture, "Venus de
Milo" (circa 100 BC). In the lower right photo
Venus and her admiring public seem to be
making eye contact.
Europe. Originally the palace in which the
monarchy lived, Louis XIV moved the throne to
the new palace he had built at Versailles. The
nobility briefly occupied the Lourve again during
the early days of the French Revolution before
the beheading of Louis XVI and Marie Antonette.
Among the magnificent treasures housed here is
the famous Hellenistic era sculpture, "Venus de
Milo" (circa 100 BC). In the lower right photo
Venus and her admiring public seem to be
making eye contact.
The Chateau de Versailles, the most magnificent
palace in the Western World. When Louis XIV
ascended the throne in 1661, this was but a small
hunting lodge his father, Louis XIII, had favored. In
1682 Loius XIV chose Versailles as the permanent
seat of the French Throne.
As late as the early 20th Century Versailles was still
occupying a key place in French and European
history. On July 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles,
formally ending World War I, was signed in the Hall
of Mirrors (right). This great hall has large picture
windows on one side overlooking the vast gardens
and identical window frames on the other side fitted
with mirrors to create a dazzling reflection of the
daylight. At night the finely worked crystal
chandeliers illuminate the hall.
palace in the Western World. When Louis XIV
ascended the throne in 1661, this was but a small
hunting lodge his father, Louis XIII, had favored. In
1682 Loius XIV chose Versailles as the permanent
seat of the French Throne.
As late as the early 20th Century Versailles was still
occupying a key place in French and European
history. On July 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles,
formally ending World War I, was signed in the Hall
of Mirrors (right). This great hall has large picture
windows on one side overlooking the vast gardens
and identical window frames on the other side fitted
with mirrors to create a dazzling reflection of the
daylight. At night the finely worked crystal
chandeliers illuminate the hall.
The Chateau de Versailles. The high-
roofed structure on the far right is the
King's Chapel, where the King would
attend Mass.
roofed structure on the far right is the
King's Chapel, where the King would
attend Mass.
Fans of Audrey Hepburn and Carey Grant will recognize this colonade
from the climactic chase scene of the Stanley Donen film Charade
(1963). This is the colonade at the Palais Royal, across the street from
the Lourve, where Audrey Hepburn's character Regina Lampert finally
learned the truth about Carey Grant and Walter Mathau's characters.
from the climactic chase scene of the Stanley Donen film Charade
(1963). This is the colonade at the Palais Royal, across the street from
the Lourve, where Audrey Hepburn's character Regina Lampert finally
learned the truth about Carey Grant and Walter Mathau's characters.
The cathedral of Notre Dame, constructed between 1163-1345.
From these bell towers the Hunchback swung down to save
Esmerelda. One of the smallest of Europe's great cathedrals, Notre
Dame boasts some of Europe's most famous stained glass windows
and well-known gargoyles.
From these bell towers the Hunchback swung down to save
Esmerelda. One of the smallest of Europe's great cathedrals, Notre
Dame boasts some of Europe's most famous stained glass windows
and well-known gargoyles.
Of course, for Americans (especially Americans in the Armed Forces), the most sacred
grounds in France are the landing beaches of Normandy. On June 6, 1944, Allied forces
stormed onto the shores of Nazi-occupied Europe and began the defeat of Germany.
Thousands of American soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen never came home. After
WWII, France formally deeded the land for the American Cemetery to the United States,
thus making this small plot American soil for these men's final resting place.
grounds in France are the landing beaches of Normandy. On June 6, 1944, Allied forces
stormed onto the shores of Nazi-occupied Europe and began the defeat of Germany.
Thousands of American soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen never came home. After
WWII, France formally deeded the land for the American Cemetery to the United States,
thus making this small plot American soil for these men's final resting place.
