Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806.

You can walk up the 284 steps to the observation deck, but unfortunately we ran out of time...and energy!

The tomb of an Unknown Soldier has been here since 1920.

Champs-Elysees is one of Paris' most famous boulevards. It has a ton of shopping, cafes, restaurants and nightclubs.

Standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. Jamie and I visited Paris on our honeymoon in 2000. This is truly a magnificent city.

Shawn striking a pose.

Views of Paris...

from the second level...

But being up that high did make Grandma Miller a little nervous! Do you see her holding tightly on to us?

Izzy certainly isn't afraid of heights.

More beautiful views...

Paris is home to 10.6 million people in the metropolitan area

The Eiffel tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World Fair) and wasn't received well initially from a Parisian artisian point-of-view.

But it does have around 5.8 million visitors a year.

A little bit of Van Gogh...

...some Monet

at the Musee

d'Orsay. This museum was formerly a train station (minus the works of art of course).

Strolling along the Left Bank. There were many vendors selling postcards, books, pictures and trinkets.

Sainte-Chapelle was built around 1248. This is a Gothic monument and was built by Louis IX to keep his sacred relic collection. "There are 15 separate panels of stained glass with 1,100 different scenes, mostly from the Bible." This place is breath-taking.

The altar held the presumed "crown of thorns". The Notre Dame Treasury now holds his relics.


The lower level of Sainte-Chapelle.

From the outside you would never know how amazing the stained glass windows are.

Flowers for sale along the sidewalks of Rue Cler

Michelangelo's "Slaves" (1513-1515). The "Dying Slave" (also called the "Sleeping Slave") is the one on the right. The left one is the "Rebellious Slave".

A look through a Louvre window at the Glass Pyramid which is the entrance.

"Winged Victory of Samothrace" (Victoire de Samothrace) circa 190 B.C.

The Louvre is a gigantic place and it would take you weeks to view each sculpture, piece of art and treasure in it.

Some pieces of art are quite large. The frame is bigger then Isabelle!

Some art is behind bullet-proof glass and the only piece of art on the wall.

Some art is even on the ceiling.

Standing outside of the Louvre.

The Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris. It was begun in 1163 and mostly completed by the 14th century.

Stunning rose windows.

It has a 7800 pipe organ. It is also French Gothic architecture.

These portals were originally used as a "Bible of the Poor" to help people that were illiterate understand the Old Testament. These statues were once painted, as was the inside of Notre Dame.

French undoubtedly make the BEST pastries and bread. I have also convinced myself that they are calorie free. We frequented this corner bakery on our stay in Paris. Just writing about this place makes me drool.

Allie is "So big"...she is almost 10 months old! She loves her big sister!

St. Germain-des-Pres is Paris' oldest church (11th century). The first church that stood here was destroyed by the Vikings in 885.


It is painted in a medieval style.

Jamie's parents, his brother, the girls, and I took a 3 1/2 train ride from Stuttgart to Paris on Thursday and got back on Sunday. It was a whirlwind trip with alot of walking and dragging the stroller up and down the Metro stairs (thanks Shawn), but worth it to see one of the best cities in the world.

Les Invalides was built by Louis XIV as a veterans' hospital.

Peeking out to see the City of Lights.

St. Sulpice Church

A look inside...

Dan Brown's "The DaVinci Code" purported 'rose line' which is actually just an astrological bronze rod in the floor...so the church says.

Happy New Year! At the stroke of midnight, the skies of Tuebingen lit up with fireworks...everyone...and I mean everyone set them off. Poor little Allie didn't appreciate the wake-up call at 12:00 am outside our bedroom window.

We love to see the city of Tuebingen...and having visitors helps us explore our university town that we live in!

Johannes Kepler's house (famous astronomer who studied and lived in Tuebingen---and a very distant relative of mine).