Paris, The City of Lights

The vibrancy of this city is infectious. And what better place to be where all the action is at the Moulin Rouge. Since it was a weekend we had to take a 11:00 PM reservation time! The unexpected was the enormous crowds of people out and about and going to the  show. Standing in line for an hour with hundreds of people gave us lots of people watching time. I noted my husband and I were certainly on the older end!!! The young ladies were dressed to the nines with their high heels or boots, leggings or tights and yes the signature color black with the necessary accessory a scarf.  

Thr Moulin Rouge is a cabaret located in Paris. It was founded in 1889 by the Catalaan Joseph Olller and Charles Ziddler. It is located on the Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th District at the foot of Montmartre. Oller and Ziddler's  style and names have been imitated and borrowed by other cabarets around the world. This cabaret was famous introducing  the Cancan dance, a frenzied rhythm done by dancers in what was once termed titillating outfits. The Moulin Rouge was loved by Parisian artists especially by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who spent a lot of time there. Several of his paintings reflect the era of the Moulin Rouge when it was at its height. 
When you enter the cabaret there are at least a hundred tables. You were seated or shall I say crammed in at the tables for the show. But with ticket admission the reward was a bottle of champagne served in an ice bucket :) The show was fantastic with a variety of entertainment that never once stopped for an intermission. What a unique show experience. Only wish...they had allowed pictures.
The following photos are just a few of the Paris landmarks we either drove or walked by. Not only were the buildings magnificent in size and detail but so were the bridges. There are 36 bridges in city Paris. Each one has some unique stone carving to set it apart from another. 

Napoleon's Bridge spelled with his N initial










Eiffel Tower

Note the windows on bottom section in center of tower. There is a restaurant where dinners start at a minimum 360 euros per person. Just in case you are planning a visit, reservations are required some 6 months ahead.

Orsay Musee on the left houses a variety of French paintings which includes Van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne and de Toulouse Lautrec.











Several days of walking around Paris have been good for wearing off triple course meals from the ship. So I felt we could justify a patisserie (pastry shop) stop for an apple tart and a chocolate eclair.

Check out the fancy way it is packaged up for the customer.