Paris, France "The City of Lights"

Apparently, 'The City of Lights' has its own Statue of Liberty. One of three in the entire world. However, it is quite miniature compared to the Eiffel Tower that sweeps over the entire city with its gleaming point and stability. The thing is enormous. I was taken back by its size and more so by its beauty. I spent the first night in Paris at the hostel restaurant studying maps and having a meal. The city is huge and the underground metro, even bigger. On Saturday, I headed out around 8:45am to begin my journey through the sites and streets. The first stop, Notre Dame. The church is a beauty with its stained glass windows and huge wooden doors. The altar is quite a sight as well, constructed with perfection. As we ventured on through numerous subways and cobbled streets we came across the Hotel de Ville, Pantheon and the Musee du Louvre. The Louvre was remarkable, a triangular shaped structure with priceless paintings and sculptures underneath. I was astounded by the sight of the Mona Lisa, hanging freely on the wall, protected by a glass shield and two guards. I stared straight into her eyes for nearly five minutes. I neglected to take a photograph and decided that if one wanted to see such beauty; they must see it first-hand. The entire Louvre was enormous and cased many valuables of the world.
At midday we headed for the Eiffel Tower. With a destination in stone and empty stomachs we trekked to the Eiffel Tower and stood in line for about an hour with a basket of sausage and fries. It was great, we munched and waited patiently for our turn to board the lifts and make our way inside the tower itself. One thing is for certain, the Eiffel Tower puts the Arch to shame. I stood at amazing heights looking straight down and across at the city trickling below. My mind was enthralled with all the excitement and the thrill. After spending most of the afternoon looking out at the city of Paris from great heights we made our way back down and headed straight for Roland Garros Stadium (the sight of the French Open tennis tournament). We returned the next day for the tour, since the facilities were closed.
That night we ate dinner across from the Moulin Rouge and strutted our stuff on the streets (whatever that means). The restaurant was nice and my food was excellent. We were able to see the Arc de Triumphe after dinner and it was pretty awesome because they had a ceremony going on. The ceremony under the Arc is done to honor the fallen soldiers. The public could only see it from a distance but the vibe was passed around. The night sky was a deep navy and the photos turned out great. We made our way back to the hostel in the evening and called it an early night, only to be awaken a couple hours later by some crazy hostel goers from Dublin.
The next morning we woke with some trouble but made it out of bed and onto the streets once again. Sunday was a fulfilling day as well. Our first stop was Versailles, which took around 45 minutes by train and about 3 hours once we were inside. It was marvelous with artwork and sculptures dating back hundreds of years. Some of the artwork and architecture of the building was astonishing and I could see clearly the time and effort given to each creation. It was a long walk around but worth every minute. We were led outside onto the courtyard and the view was beautiful. After leaving Versailles, we stopped for a sandwich and coffee then set out again. We returned to Roland Garros for the walking tour. It was a good tour of inside the facilities and onto the court. I sat behind the interview desk of the first place player and felt like a Champion for a moment. It was thrilling to be on the court where the actual matches take place. The tour took about an hour and afterward we hopped the metro to the Oblisque. It was a strange structure from a distance. It looks a lot like a pencil stuck right in the middle of a courtyard. However, as I got closer I saw its beauty. The engravings were ancient and the gold was vibrant.
Sunday evening brought us more time to see the Eiffel Tower - it was lit up so beautifully at night and I had to see it up close. We went back and took some photos before making our way to the gift shops. As we were walking to the metro station the clock struck 7pm and the Eiffel Tower lit up the sky. It was remarkable, the lights were the brightest I've ever seen and the entire 'City of Lights' was finally living up to its name. I couldn't believe my eyes. I marveled for a few moments and then went on my way. We found a piano bar that night to eat some dinner and listen to some English tunes. It was a good evening and a great ending to our trip.
Sunday evening into Monday morning brought minimal sleep and a 7 hour trip back to The Netherlands. But the truth is.... I'd do it again tomorrow.