Getting to Show off my city

Yes, I know, I'm not a Parisian. or French. But having lived here now for about a month I feel like I know this city - I understand a bit about its patterns and its rhythms. and lucky for me, my good friend Myra has come to visit. She arrived Friday morning - jet lagged - but full of energy. After she settled in - we set off to see the largest jewel in Paris' crown - the Eiffel Tower. In the time that I have been here, I have not gone to see the Eiffel Tower up close - just as part of the skyscape. I've seen it in the past, and I've even gone to the top. In all honesty, while I think you MUST see the Eiffel Tower if you come to visit - it is not my favorite landmark in Paris. (please don't tell).

However, since this was Myra's first visit to Paris - the Eiffel Tower was a must. The Tower has been around for over a century and is visually stunning - especially when lit up at night. When you see it for the first time, I think that the size of the Tower is surprising and I have to admit - very impressive. We walked away from the Eiffel Tower to the Parc du Champ de Mars toward the Ecole Militaire. I think it is at this point that you can truly appreciate the Eiffel Tower. You see it from a bit of distance and you can see how the imposing structure can become the symbol of a city and perhaps even the country.

We moved further away from the Eiffel Tower and saw the Hotel des Invalides - originally created by Louis the XIV for military veterans, it is now a museum of the military. However, it not this museum which draws your attention, but the grand structured emboldened in gold behind it - which is Napoleon's Tomb. Unfortunately, on this day, the tomb had closed so we weren't able to go inside. Instead we continued down Rue du Cler to what may now be my absolute favorite place in Paris.

We walked from the 7th arondissement to the tony 6th - to the amazing Rue de Grenelle. I was able to show Myra the change in the city's neighborhoods until we came to the end of the street and perhaps my mecca - the Christian Laboutin shoe store. Some people drool over chocolate - I drool for these shoes. I would do almost anything to have a pair - except that they cost way too many euros for me to justify the purchase. My birthday is in October by the way - just in case you were wondering...

In any event, I couldn't let the first visit end on a commercial note - so we walked along to catch a glimpse of Notre Dame. It is a sight that never ceases to awe me.