france

Tomb of Napoleon was where Napoleon's tomb was. And it was inside a chapel like building. The setting sun cast a glorious glittering golden color on the chapel. Napoleon's ghost shall be quite proud of this splendid moment and feel less abashed about his vertically challenged body.

Eiffel tower at night

From the top of the Effel tower (correct spelling is Eiffel Tower), one can see Paris from the top. Paris was dark because the sun was setting (i.e. no sun = dark).

Red - purple - brown - black, the sun was gone and the light was on. The tower was gorgeous.

The Louvre and some more night trip. Most people were tired, but there was beer selling in the camp.

So this is the Eiffel (aka Effel) Tower.

May 7th (Friday) Paris of France - A city that have too much to see. Notre Dame was a big church where one can go to the top to understand how it once inspired Victor Hugo to write the Hunchback of Notre Dame. But if Victor had to wait in line like all the other tourists did, he probably wouldn't have any time to write his story.

The gothic cathedral was mystical, and solemn, with statues of gargoyles and angels everywhere. One angelic statue gestured to the dove, "Thou shall not shit on my head."

Arc de Triomphe was built in 1806 to celebrate Napoleon's victory.

Sculptures of soldiers in war were on both side of the Arc. For example, one showed a soldier not wearing any underwear asking his colleagues, "Is it safe to fight without a pant?" His colleague was willing to give him his helmet to cover up his private part. That shows how the French soldiers fight side by side towards victory.

Tomb of the no name soldier was also under the Arc.

Avenue Des Champs Elysees was a busy avenue. One could easily be run over by the French drivers if he or she tried to take a photo in the center of the road.

At the end of Champs Elysees was an Egyptian monument, which was 3000 years old. The Egyptian gave it to the French government and the French gave them an antique clock, which was broken. So the Egyptian gave the clock back to the French and asked for a refund. Of course they didn't get it.

Around the plaza was some fountain and statues; each has its own posture. One statue buried his head into his arm, shouting desperately; "No, not another bird shit!"

The four horses on top of the arc outside the Louvre were all fake. The real one was in Venice. But neither the real one nor the fake one can run.

The Mus�e du Louvre was huge, it was half as long as Champs Elysees. If one took one minute for each painting, it would take nine month to finish. I was a bit concerned that I would be trapped inside the museum for nine months.

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci was always smiling, probably on the tourists who spent 50 franks just to visit her.

The winged Victory of Samothrace somehow lost her head when fighting for victory.

Another statue showed a Greek biology teacher showing his student the anatomy of a deer (this photo).

And another showed Aphrodite topless.

Yet another showed a Greek guy tried to kill a poor snake.

And the tour bus wouldn't wait for 9 months, so we took off.

And dinner and beer.

May 8th (Saturday) Paris to Chateau De Crux - A bus day: Fontainebleau where upon the front stairs of the palace, Napoleon asked his solders to follow him. Those who did finally sued Napoleon for false advertising after the battle of Waterloo.

Trees in a straight line

A swimming pool.

May 9th (Sunday) Chateau De Crux - A French Picnic

One thing I learnt from the picnic was the power of the sun. I walked and I walked with my fellow tourists, and I smelt something burning, and I realized it was my skin. But who cares, the village scenic was good.

We went to a very holy place, in front of which was a tavern for beer and we sat there for drinks.

We returned and I set out right away to the Western part of the town, this time by myself.

A mare was instantly attracted to me, perhaps she thought my sun burn was irresistibly sexy.

The journey ended up in a town with a pretty church and a real chateau, not like the cheap one we were sleeping in last night.

This is the hotel.

May 10th (Monday) - Journey to Barcelona - Aqueduct tour In Pont Du Gard was the Aqueduct. The Romans built it for tap water and the French kept it for tourist attraction.

The journey then continued to Spain

May 12th (Wednesday) Spain to French Antibes - Bus day A service stop and l was late to the bus and everybody looked at me funny.

Then the last walled city in France, Aigues Martes.

Arrived Biot where we walked to the beach. The French dogs barked at us in French. We didn't understand a word but we knew it wasn't friendly.

I slept early.

May 13th (Thursday) - Cannes - Film Festivals Took a train from Biot to Cannes. Then Ferry to St Marguerite.

There was a museum and a very ardent museum staff who tried to speak to me in accented French which he thought was English. I knew he was telling me the man of the Iron Mask had lived once in the building.

Then walked around the island and saw a seagull.

Then took off the St Honorat where I spent an hour in a ruined castle and 5 minutes outside a monestary. The ferry was late and I was late to Monaco.

Spent the night in star hunting but I knew no one.

May 14th (Friday) France To Italy - Bus day Passed Monaco, to a perfume factory where I have no business in but was forced to listen to the hard sale.

Then we went to Italy