Misc. Paris

The Orsay Musem, this houses more modern are of the 18th century, Monet, Renoir, etc.. street in Paris, Our Hotel, and the Airport when leaving. Had a great trip!!!!!

Effel Tower

View from the top of the Eiffel Tower, This thing is huge!!!!

Versailles - It was good to be the KING!!!!!

To be King Louis the XIV. The biggest, most expensive, the grandiest Palace in all of Europe. All of Europe's Royals wanted to be him. On several 1000 acres, with 1000 rooms, it took half of France's gross national product to build. The King's private chapel, reception room, grand ballroom with mirrors and over looking the huge gardens and lawns. View from the gardens in the back and then a picture from the front.

The Louvre Museum (housed in the old King's Palace). The art and other collections are out of this world. Could have spent days or even weeks there.

Sainte - Chapelle where the Royals went to church. All made out of stained glass and built in the 13th century. It was one of the most impressive places I've ever been. The prison where many enemies of the royals were kept and later the prisoners of the revolution (which ironically were the royals, they were kept here before being beheaded). the oldest bridge crossing the Siene, built in the 1600's.

Paris

Siene River with Notre-Dame Cathedral. We climbed alot of stairs to get to the top and then looked over Paris. Note the gargoyles.

Lisbon

Shelly is in front of a elevator that takes people up and down the hills that are on each side of the city center, we rode this one. Buildings were very colorful. The last night we attended a formal dinner in a old convent.

We took a jeep tour to Sintra outside of Lisbon. It was the King's summer palace. Pena Palace was amazing. It looked like a Disneyland inspired place. Next we went to the most western shore in all of Europe.

Tower of Belem, guarding Lisbon's port. View of the city center. The arch leading to the city from the port. The last king of Portugal was murdered here (near the arch) in 1898, a dictatorship then ruled the country until the 1970's. Sao Jorge castle that over looks the city.

Lisbon

We had a great time on our trip. the first night we went to Monastery of Jeronimos buitl in the 1500's. Before dinner the Monks who live there sang some songs (chants), it was really cool and Shelly loved it.