So you've heard of Socrates and Archimedes. But did you hear about the Greek father of vegetables?

His name was Crudites. ;-)

(Yes, it was a long trip.)

I'd been to Paris before, but I wanted to ride the Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel, referred to by some as one of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World". It's certainly interesting to travel beneath a body of water, but at this point it's so routine that most passengers simply sit back and relax.

The tunnel beneath the English Channel was finally completed in 1994 after decades of blunders in planning, and at fifty kilometers, it's the second-longest rail tunnel in the world (behind Japan's Seikan Tunnel). While the ride from London Waterloo station to Paris' Gare du Nord lasts nearly three hours, crossing the Channel is only a twenty-minute endeavor.

Ah, Paris.

Pretty typical architecture

The Arc de Triomphe, as seen from the middle of the Champs-Elysees

Here's a small tip for your next visit to the Eiffel Tower:
Don't go when you think there might be a storm.

I was nailed hard with pounding rain and a strong breeze while waiting in line -- luckily I was under a small covering near the door. As you can see, I am completely drenched in this picture.

To add insult to injury, once I finally found shelter just inside the door, the ceiling began leaking on me.

Needless to say, I got my ticket validated for the next day and hopped in a taxi bound for my hotel.

Here's what it looks like up there...

A very convincing Gustave Eiffel

More eye candy:

The Notre Dame Cathedral

The Musee du Louvre - central entrance area
(you take a staircase inside that pyramid)

The queue for the Mona Lisa

I don't think this needs a caption :-)

(I never said I was going to give a representative tour :-D)

Before leaving Paris, I had dinner at Terminus Nord, a really delicious place directly opposite (what else?) Gare du Nord.

I'm usually happiest around food.

SNCF is the national railway of France, much like our Amtrak.

Check back soon for the next installment :-)

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

If I were you, I would change the Mona Lisa caption to "THAR SHE BLOOOOOWS!!!!!"

~Kelly

Posted by: Kelly on July 20, 2005

I absolutely love

DSC02265.JPG,DSC02252.JPG, and DSC02203.JPG

as pictures.

I'll see what I can pick up in finland. =P

Posted by: Greg Perkins on July 20, 2005

I went to watch "The Island" yesterday... as you know... and Amtrak train went really fast and had glowing blue lights.

I might actually like train rides if they worked like that

Posted by: Katharine Chu on July 20, 2005

wow! Paris is one of my To Visit cities list, after London!

Posted by: Saad Zaheer on July 20, 2005

paris paris

Posted by: lulu on July 20, 2005

your photographing skills are cool! awesome pictures

Posted by: Meder on July 20, 2005

Beautiful pictures, Anthony.

Do you know if the pond at the foot of the Tour Eiffel is "new"? I really do not remember seeing it.

Posted by: Annie on July 21, 2005

Sorry guys -- I'm seeing some family back east and am offline for a few days. I promise the posts will continue just as soon as I'm back

Posted by: Anthony on July 26, 2005

Wow.

amazing pictures.

-Stephanie

Posted by: Stephanie on July 29, 2005

ooo i love the views from the Eiffel Tower!

Posted by: Emilie on July 29, 2005

Hello from Amtrak Headquarters @ Washington D.C.

Posted by: Eddie on August 24, 2005

Comments have been closed.