Tour de Paris

Having retired around 3 in the morning, we got off to a late start on our second day (around noon, 6 am South Carolina time). Jet lag recuperation has been especially difficult as the late sunset (around 11:00 pm here) has furthered our circadian confusions. Making the most of the remainder of the day, we took a bike tour of the city. The route brought us by, among other sights, the Ecole Militare (which Napoleon attended), the Eglise du Dome (where he is buried), the Hotel des Invalides, across the Alexandre III bridge, and then to the Jardin des Tuileries, where we had lunch. After lunch we rode by the Louvre, back across the Seine, and finally to the Eiffel Tower.
 Following the 3.5 hour tour, we walked to the miniature Statue of Liberty on the Seine, which happens to face the real statue in New York. (NS)

Pictures are few of the bike tour because we were busy most of the time riding our bikes, but here is what we have.

The Jardin des Tuileries, where we had lunch

Mom in the Jardin des Tuileries, with the Egyptian obelisk at the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe in the background.

One part of the Louvre

Riding across the Alexandre III bridge.

The Alexandre III bridge viewed the day before from the Eiffel Tower. The bridge was built to celebrate peace between France and Russia. The golden statues at the corners each represent a step towards peace. They also serve as cantilevers for the bridge, which was the first single span bridge across the Seine.

In front of the Louvre

The Statue de la Liberte, viewed from the Eiffel tower.

The statue up close, looking towards her big sister.

In addition to the fourth of July, 1776, the tablet held by this statue has the 14th of July, 1789 (Bastille Day), the French independence day.