A few more things from Paris!

Going through all my pictures (trust me, there's over a thousand), I found a few things I didn't get to include on here along the way. These are in no particular order, but I didn't want to leave these things we saw out! 

One day Mom and I accidentally found ourselves at the Grande Arche. Located in Paris' business district, it was designed to be a 20th century version of the Arc de Triomphe, a monument to humanity rather than military achievements. The really cool thing about the arch however, is that it completes (up to now anyway) the line of monuments that create the "Axe Historique" that runs through Paris. 

 Business district of Paris

The Grande Arche is HUGE. I had to step to an angle to even get a picture. Fun fact, the arch is at an angle to account for the RER, Metro, and a motorway that all run directly underneath; the angle was the only way to allow for its giant foundations.

More of the business district

Honestly, it was an entirely different world from the rest of Paris. We took advantage of accidentally ending up here by eating lunch, using wi-fi, using free, extremely clean bathrooms (more than once just because they were so nice), enjoying air conditioning, and using a nice ATM :)

We ran across this giant thumb while we were there. I looked it up once we got back, and apparently it weighs 18 tons. Here's more info if you want it: The Thumb

On this same day, we headed back to the Champs-Elysees. If you had all the money in the world, this would be a great place to shop (although, I think I like Fifth Avenue just as much!).

It was so crowded!

Awesome cars on display at Peugeot on Champs-Elysees.

I had to stop in and buy some diamonds at Cartier after our stop at Louis Vuitton -- not. I wish that's what we did, but I did find some cute clothes at a few other places that needed me to purchase them instead :)

On another day, we headed out to find Saint-Sulpice. If you've read Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, you may recognize the church's name. It forms a setting for both the book and the movie, although filming in Saint-Sulpice was not allowed for the movie so they used a virtual set.

 If you have read the book, you may also remember "the Rose Line." The name doesn't actually exist; in reality, the line is called the "Sulpice meridian" and isn't a part of the Paris meridian that Dan Brown claimed in the book. The brass line runs across the floor and ascends the obelisk you see pictured below. Called a "gnomon," this set up allows sunlight to hit the brass lines at different times throughout the year and was in fact constructed to help with scientific measurements, as well as determining the date of Easter.

 On our way in, there was some type of Paris boy scout troop ceremony taking place. We had great fun taking guesses at what a boy scout in Paris might do -- learn to navigate the metro, find public restrooms, climb the Eiffel Tower, etc.

When we came out, they had ended the ceremony by jumping in the fountain in front of Saint-Sulpice. Their swimming badge perhaps? Just kidding...It looked fun! You can see their footprints at the base of the fountain.

On our way home we found this cool wall...no idea what it says and I still haven't looked it up to find out!

And travelled back through Luxembourg Gardens once again. As usual, it was picture perfect! How cute are these men playing chess? Like straight out of a movie...and they were everywhere!

I <3 Luxembourg Gardens so much. I would spend everyday here if I lived in Paris... assuming I didn't have to work :)

And lastly, I forgot to blog about visiting Shakespeare and Company bookstore. No pictures allowed inside, but it is such a cool place. It's tiny and crammed with all kinds of books. There is even a piano upstairs anyone can sit down and play. Read the cool history of the bookstore here and a nice tribute to this shop's owner here. Seriously, I'm sure you're sick of reading, but it's a pretty neat story.

Mom and I upstairs -- you can barely see us in the window!

If you go to Paris, and you go to Notre-Dame (because how could you not?) you HAVE to walk over the block or so to visit Shakespeare and Company. If you buy a book, make sure they stamp it to say it came from there (we did!).