’15 Sep: Paris! week 1 w/W&D

An example of four different tiles in one photo. The tilework throughout was what you’d expect of the central mosque in a major capital city.

The Institute of the Arab World “a visionary example of the 1980s architecture”.

We didn’t actually go in to see the fine collection but rather made a straight run for the…

…roof! Wow, views. Notre Dame, yes. But there was one view that you could only get a peek of through the glass and the access was locked.

You know me, I just had to get in there because…

…look! The Eiffel Tower! This woman agreed after… well… a little cheerful begging, to take me in.

She said ‘do you know why I’m taking you?’ and I said because you’re nice? and she said well, yes, because I want you to go home and tell your family and friends that all Arabs are not terrorists.

I know that, but it seems she didn’t know that I know that, so I got to take this picture of the Eiffel Tower!

The building is clad in these wonderful shapes.

From Lonely Planet: “Inspired by traditional latticed-wood windows, the building blends modern and traditional Arab and Western elements, with thousands of mushrabiyah (or mouche-arabies, photo-electrically sensitive apertures built into the glass walls that allow you to see out without being seen).

Next stop, Shakespeare & Company, the stuff of legends. Wiki has plenty to say on the subject.

Just goofing around. We passed by the Sorbonne and the Pantheon, for another visit.

Ahh, another view of THE Notre Dame.

Public transportation, my favorite. Tony told us about how to finesse the bus system, how the bike rentals work, about the electric cars you can rent, and bought us some more tickets.

Thank You Tony for a GREAT day and a perfect end to our first week in PARIS!