When the Eifel Tower was originally built for the Worlds Fair in 1889 Parisians did not like it.  It was so tall and Paris was so flat that you could see it from everywhere.  My favorite story goes that a newspaper writer in Paris, who particulary hated the tower and wrote about it, would eat in the restaurant in the tower every day for lunch.  When asked why he went to the object of his hatred every day he replied, "It is the only place in Paris from which I cannot see the tower."

Also, I learned recently that if the Eiffel tower were shrunk to 14" tall, it would weight 9 grams.

Notre Dame from the Seine

Pier 39

Where else do they build docks just for sea lions? These people in
Northern California sure are weird. Glad I'm normal.

Another one I dug up from last year.

Sunflower

France is covered in sunflowers.  When driving through the country you see fields of gold.  This one is at the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Notre Dame

Wallihans in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral.  The story goes that the towers are built intentionally at slightly different heights because only God is perfect.

Panning for Gold

They put real bits of gold in these troughs for the kids to find. And
you get to keep it!

This was from our trip to Oroville and Sacramento last in October last year.

Pirate Ship

Jessica and Jacob having a good time.

Beef Burgundy and Salmon

For the main course I had the Beef Burgundy.  Everyone else had the Salmon.  Rebecca and I enjoyed a bottle of Burgundy (Pinot Noir).  It was delicious.  All while sitting at a bistro on a cobbled street in Montmartre.

Escargot

More goodness.  Escargot is a favorite of Jacob (and me).  They have the texture of squid and taste like butter, garlic and parsley.

French Onion Soup

Mmm, good.  French Onion Soup is a favorite of Jessica (and me)

Jessica Learning to Fly Fish

Jessica trying her hand at casting a fly fishing rod.  Lucky for the fish there were no fish in the "pond".

Lots of Torque

With an output shaft speed of 36,760,000,000,000 years per revolution,
I am certain that there will be enough torque to rotate the concrete
block, unfortunately I won't be there to see it.

This one comes from MIT and is located at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

Montmartre

Montmartre is really the only hill in Paris.  It is north of the Seine near where we were staying.  It was the home to artists such as Salvador Dalí, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh. during the Belle Époque from 1872 to 1914.  It looks a lot like San Francisco in some respects and is where we had some of the best meals of our trip.

Jessica on her Velib Bike

Siteseeing in Paris can be exhausting.  Just ask the lady sleeping on the bench.

Australian Beer Glasses

Classic!  I never did find out what make the "Speed Bottle Opener" faster than a regular bottle opener.

Jacob Cycling in Paris

Jacob riding his rental bike along the Seine.  The bikes are a great way to get around.  The first 30 minutes are free and there are stations all over Paris to rent and return them from.  We rode from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower along the river bike path.  Then next day we tried to ride in the other direction from the Louvre to the Notre Dame Cathedral but we had to ride on streets and sidewalks and it was not as much fun.

San Jacinto

Jessica and I atop Mt San Jacinto. Starting at sea level and taking the tram up to 8,500 ft does not provide any time to get used to the altitude.  We struggled at first but got our second wind and made it to the top at 10,834 ft then seemingly flew down the trail and back to the tram. 

This trip was just the week before we left for France.

Pont Alexandre III

A tour boat on the Seine in front of the Pont Alexandre III bridge.  The bridge was built between 1896 and 1900. It is named after Tsar Alexander III, who had concluded the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892.

What's wrong here?

This is in a children's exhibit at the Discovery Science Center. Someone doesn't know the difference between a rat and a Tasmanian Devil. 

Place de la Concorde

Jacob, Jessica and Rebecca at the Place de la Concorde with the Eiffel Tower behind.  This is the largest plaza in Paris.  It was called the Place de la Revolution during the French Revolution and was the site of many beheadings during the Reign of Terror.  After the monarchy was restored it was renamed the Place de la Concorde.

Fountain of River Commerce and Navigation

The Fountain of River Commerce and Navigation at the Place de la Concorde.

Tour de France Finish

This is the famous last turn of the Tour de France when it ends in Paris as it has done for many years.  The riders come from the right of the horse statue and turn right up the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triumph.  The finish line is about 500 meters from this point.

We arrived the same day the Tour finished here but unfortunately did not have the opportunity to see the finish.

Arc de Triomphe

Jessica, Rebecca and Jacob at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.  We spend the first week of our trip in Paris, the second week, the kids went with their grandparents and Rebecca and I toured around France and the third week we were all six together in Normandy in the north of France.