Paris Plages and Eiffel in Excess

Day 44 - Tuesday - July 26
We spent the morning checking out the buses we would need to take to get to the ophthalmology hospital the next day.  We are getting pretty good at understanding the bus system by now. We bought 10 tickets at a time which makes it convenient and cheaper.

Check out the shoes. If you think this is something, visualize a young woman in a business suit riding a single speed track bicycle doing a track stand (balanced while stopped) at the traffic light amidst the Paris traffic--in high heels.

These vendors are all up and down the sidewalk on the Left Bank.

Using our trusty translator to figure out something on the menu.

On the way back we decided it was time to visit the beach.

Now this is a pot!

The Bocci Ball courts were popular.

These guys were really serious about the scoring.

They measured these at least twice before they finally agreed.

The sandcastle completed.

They even put "pigeon pokers" on it.

Sun bathing at its finest. First it was just to get a picture but that mattress was so comfortable that napping quickly came to mind.

Nancy C., this picture was taken just for you. Doug said I could get the turtle for you but I would have to carry it on my bike.

From the beach to the Eiffel Tower......again. This time we thought we would really take a look at it instead of just buzzing by.

The line for going up was more than we wanted to deal with and we had seen Paris from lots of angles already. So we stayed on the ground.

These souvenir tower sellers are everywhere.  You can tell when a new tour bus pulls up because they all migrate.

This fellow is having a lot of fun selling ice cream and repartee with his customers.

We thought we would try one of those hold-the-camera-as-far-away-as-possible self-portraits.

"Peace" in multiple languages.

Requests to sign a petition was a frequent occurrence in the public squares.

Late afternoon migration being aided by the police. We aren't sure why this occurred as the sellers had been there all day.

Back in the St. Germain neighborhood.

Birthday earrings have turned into a birthday scarf for France so the search is on.

Not only did this chocolate store have an artistic flair but it also allowed you to pick out your chocolate for sale by the pound......chocoholic heaven.

The Eiffel Tower in a different light, at 10pm.

Paris streets really gets busy after sunset. It is about 10:30 by now and the restaurants are packed.