Day One In Paris, A Walkabout

Paris is as beautiful as ever, you could spend years here and keep finding new little corners. Compared to London, it's a bit more expensive, a little grittier, more laid back, maybe more traditional, none of the pomp, smaller, less green vegetation wise; they're both grand cities. incomparable really, so I don't now why I'm even trying.

The French prefer their trees all organized

Lot's of modern public art installations

The Seine is running high and fast

The lacy legs of the Tour Eiffel, can you imagine how this was engineered so long ago

Great, well marked bike routes every where

Harrods Of London

The Egyptian Escalator

The Food Hall, very spend, they have to wear those goofy little hats

Me with the meat!

The Dodi and Diana Memorial, it's in the basement under the escalator

J'ai Oublie Quelques Choses De Grande Importance: Le British Museum et Harrods

In English I forgot a couple of important things.  The British Museum (free) is the repository of all the great objects that Britain snagged during her Empire days,  Harrods is the grand department store in central London, owned by the father of Dodi Al Fayad, Diana's last lover.

A glass canopy by Norman Faster covers the central court

Roman bronz dug at Herculeum, hidden by the eruption of Vesuvius

The Rosetta Stone, key to understanding Hieroglyphics

A pharaoh 

Complete facade of a Greek temple

Best of all the Elgin (hard g) Marbles, statuary that adorned the pediments  of the Acropolis

Greece wants them back, fat chance

A Few More Shots Of Londontown, Before We Move On To Paris

London was just great! Here's some more pix:

The Millennium Bridge

A view from below the mesh decking of the Millennium ped bridge

Leicester (say Lester) Sq at night

St Pancrass Station, Eurostar Terminus

Camden Town is wild, a great street scene

There's A Lot Of Fuss When ER II Goes To Parliament, Protecting The Queen

All the pomp the Royal Household can muster, which is a lot, was on display as the Queen rode in her Carriage down the Mall to open Parliament at Westminster yesterday.  No photo of the Queen, had the camera on video--I'm too thick to figure out how to grab a still.  She looked radiant and indeed pleased to see the crowds lining the route, and indeed we were pleased and indeed awed by the royal presence! No kidding, it was an glorious spectacle.

With All Due Respect To Holland, London Can Grow A Tulip