Still Doing Touristy Things!

I've lived in Paris now over two months, and I still have so many things yet to see!

The other day I went on a walking tour of the Marais. The Marais is the posh, upscale area in Paris right north of the Seine River. All of the kings and aristocracy lived there in the 18th Century, and ever since then...the area has kept it's reputation of high class. In fact, one of the main roads in the Marais is called "Avenue Francs Bougeoise"... The francs bougeoise were the rich aristocracy in Paris who didn't have to pay any taxes! Francs means without taxes....and bougeoise is the group of high high class folk.

Well, definitely upholding it's name...the Marais was gorgeous! Right now it's supposed to be fall in Paris...but Paris is still bleeding with spring and summer flowers! And, the Marais was gorgeous! (See picture above of garden design with crazy cabbage things and perfect trimmings)

There's a huge courtyard garden in the Marais open to the public called the Place de Vagues. (See picture below with fountain. The upper right corner of the picture is the apartment Victor Hugo lived in! What a punk!!) Used to be called the Place Royale, but after the French Revolution the name was changed because people hated anything that had to do with the Crown. It was changed to Place de Vagues because Vagues was the first region of France that paid the state taxes! Haha. How funny!

But, just at the edge of the Marais is the Ville Juif...Jewish Quarter of Paris. It was amazing! There were so many interesting restaurants and stores! And, this was on a Sunday, so everything was open! (Jewish Sabbath is Saturday...whereas, Catholic-the rest of Paris-has everything closed on Sunday) There were so many beautiful Jewish schools and people all over! The streets were so crowed...it was awesome.

After the Marais walking tour, I enjoyed another tourist site in Paris: the Auguste Rodin Musee. (See picture at the very top. That is a view of the museum from the front gardens) Rodin is famous for his sculptures, The Thinker, The Cathedral, and The Kiss. He was very scandalous for his time, and played with many themes and styles that were considered horendous to some! I loved him! The museum was in a gorgeous old "hotel"...which is a huge, old, private mansion. The gardens surrounding the hotel were lovely and the view was incredible! The Tour Eiffle and Invalides all in the same spectrum!

This past week has been lovely! So many funny things have been seen and done! Well, I'm off to the Gare de Lyon (my favorite train station) to reserve some seats on the train for me this weekend!!! Where am I going?! Well...it will have to be a surprise when you read my blog when I get back!! : )