I've been working on the pictures, culling, cropping and shrinking for viewing. This is taking a long time. Too many pictures! I went and clicked on my Bloglines yesterday and there were over 1500 unread posts from the blogroll. Too intimidating, so I haven't checked any yet. But I will, slowly but surely, get to my blog buddies over the next week. I have to go alphabetically or I get confused. Over the next couple days, I'm going to post some of my favorite shots from the trip. With captions too! Feel free to click on any to enlarge them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsS1wYtEk4ibsIrEOqnZIIbjoLzt8JsxO6PpMrMtZL2hsh56qhp2WjWWso-L5jdfbwlWH8VMPEHyrGuC5IssyboSp_XBxvJb1dWxR0nLwQjhV2nQ-4T5hxo5MBpPNvRWww47c/s400/rickeiffeltower.jpg)
We took the elevator up but the stairs down the Eiffel Tower. Serge was nervous the whole time. I had to cajole forcefully to get him to stop and take a picture of me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICftyQ0bc_NXtylOxDbbxQ9ZZgmM8S8UUUDJGCpeg17bA9tUxcnnV8DalgqrMPn7J1TbyEffYt3ce9EHtP7fVyIiJfkdSX3NNlvlVrp3Ne_IDLte5W8d_Whir74TQX_dfItxJ/s400/castpompeii.jpg)
In Pompeii, they unearthed the spaces where bodies had been but long ago disintegrated. Fill the space with plaster and you have someone's dying moments.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc_mEGlOjCvOACFtnfIV03nIJgllmv1rZ79UCW6LnFwYDAAiho5cFJwgreTr5vyrZxQAyuTFrZTR5saauvAm9daibtf1ZCv-sHozi43Y7RKD9kpiwCTcVsmJ8A60e3nDzhFfE/s400/croatiantoilet.jpg)
Here is a Croatian toilet. I tried to hit the hole peeing but ended up splattering my bare shins.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXUbNqxR_CjP5Pqh5i6p_n5SZBxp9kkdMPxI_WrNbP4HBNsfr80-hLQ4rJMj-tMP9Yw2Oa_tHcDvmDxm5eRUwFqRO6EPL-V7NIFVxKQolG1UlkDEzRLrAHCQ73N3tusiO8Nk8/s400/templeoflove.jpg)
The Temple of Love at Versailles. We wanted to, but didn't. Darn Japanese tourists.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_AGo_6uQwoWPPkS6sgKsSud2r_eUG7UC8cA8-83SRwnxrdoHhmoDLgZx_pUDb53dYDmLtaUdkH_54aV0LayMJBBn15Yj-9RWoeTAqRuaxKa4e6SSS_Vyv74O5JPpzp4GJa8q/s400/sergesteaktartare.jpg)
We had steak tartare in Paris. With raw egg and everything. Then, the squirts. We couldn't leave the hotel room all the next morning. In my patinaed remembering, it was worth it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsImz6A0ymqSaqRrDiwzUWdL7obQTqy9h6GYg9LlJG3wduivNa5kXfV0KELmPS0I_ULEdhJGRVui0wg91jcIn5zcxWY3fteevKzpTfL_rFe7O0ko-MUwf1qHIjKjpbpkvTF82/s400/versailles2.jpg)
Walking around the Palais de Versailles. So much history. The descendants of Marie Antoinette's sheep still graze the grounds. (Or so they say.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaJEkq0seo20aw-qQzW6yT4mkcIv1bICAaKFovX5d5CYgf1fIFyFy-HHhuhXjpNBW3txuu0mcITmThbUxdmgKAswVuY0y-2SwNdYHk-jZ8CHD80VrLqPK8OxJSYhArG8DBDMx/s400/ricklouvre.jpg)
Waiting to get into the Louvre. I had to poop there too, sigh. Museums and clothes shopping I tell you.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPavtl7LIlEn5504t7njcm20iEhbPg5Gule74W9PP7eDdSj3qGmXhKMxAHGCO6Lvo4b4Qoez552UpVq2VSgvR5sHy9S02kjUMLxqdzB6I2XR3YEzVzIvnCibFEoY4y8NZWD1g/s400/ricksergenotredame.jpg)
In front of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. We fed the birds, avoided the gypsies and went inside.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6GThebye8RI1mKWrtK0EiXU94UspyuMge_iTlpXGQtFUOcZuWkYdFYJbmV3wVpRHfbsbRFLaQ_xo42btyBYeE8LOxeDIDa4VW45Cifw0JfAiqxYryMSQUw-f59kUWyWhEWoO/s400/parisparking.jpg)
There was a lot of creative parking in Paris. Total beehive, that city.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDnrD3aaruyFLFs7B7uTdOlfDo_CzSO7goGmbgjdMQekhHcOZfkJFuWkXOgiudKZdk6E8cExU8wWi5XYLhdtgKt4sHmStXEf0HZnf2JlpPqlS9McroB8OM99zGNW2i9e-RPq4/s400/parisbikes.jpg)
In Paris, the public biking system. I hear they're working on doing that here too.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdakI5w3tbGBwP0ETuAn0t46wO5oFj054N3XZnoC7Dlf7gjdNwLq7S19iQY6EeFvuWG6Wi0LF059jiWpA8yEtQCvdTVlJ1vmBXPVOOw7nqPhyphenhyphenjfcGNOVkTzsZhl6LpVksRnVGC/s400/monalisa.jpg)
The Mona Lisa. Yes it's true, small painting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30mcAHaea2qAhMiRlK_qkgd5E5LY9VmjtkyWYbQOD9fa00nqfT49ojHc_9R_ov6tYVXycj6QcRett9xi2na8QpUw3q0KXdj78_RySm5Ay6ovybzjbVyPxtWg9GEeNRLKRROUv/s400/clouds.jpg)
This is why a balcony cabin is so worth it. Coffee and croissants and the amazing movie of sky and sea.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehYPGdtX5Dp1U_oG6E1TCL7ncXw-dcjuJNnzgOig7TFYxmttaaEXngRnY_lTGyGCiXwvUI-AnPIo0gTInvJzsJ1QwS6NNCn2UNF0uMwmQ_FrXhDrLFczzEpB3YHX3xAtzzqbb/s400/insidelouvre.jpg)
Inside the Louvre, it was sometimes hard to see where the people ended and the paintings began.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDu83QTJhcafMw29XojPIVm69MdU8TdGksb5yWelEfqNmi4CDf_nszEkRql5fL7q_3vEnxFJWRHZlSRf6P2p6kfl11cChEHS0SISGEkmGvpWNcUYaeFzSF8KKPU0aZUPFqSq1/s400/kidcroatia.jpg)
I love the way they display ice cream in Europe. We all ordered one at this place. It was 10 in the morning. I felt just like this kid even though I am fitted in this gangly adult body.
26 comments:
Lots of weird juju in Pompeii, all those folks that died there.
Fabulous pics. There's a great exhibit here at the MFAH from Pompeii but seeing it there has to be better. J'adore Paree, lived there for 2 years and would love to move back but can't. Your whole trip looks wonderful!! Welcome back to this side of the pond!
What great photos! Thank you for sharing! I look forward to some more.
I adore your take on the steak tartare.
I love these shots and your comments, of course. The picture of the casting in Pompeii was chilling. I remember seeing one of a mother shielding her child on a TV show.
Your pictures have a "slice of life" quality to them that keep them from being static. And that shot of the sky and sea is absolutely beautiful. Keep 'em coming!
LOVE the photos and all the pooping comments! Beautiful...the photos, not thr pooping comments!
Looks like you had a great time!
HUGS...
Great shots. I really like the crowd in the Louvre one...really cool.
The Croatian toilet looks much better than the ones I had in Mongolia last year...
This post made me cry. I want to save all the pictures and then make a scrapbook. That's pretty damn anal of me, isn't it?!
-Rox
Excellent, excellent photos.
(Wow-- cheer up, Rox!)
Glad you're back and pooping in our own hemisphere.
those are great pictures!! I've always thought a cruise sounded nice - just reading about your trip makes me see it is a must!!
Whenever I travel, I always come home with pictures of the ice cream displays, too.
After visiting Versailles, I became convinced that the citizens of Paris came for Marie Antoinette not for her callous attitude toward their plight—but rather her absolute horrible taste in wallpaper.
What a terrific bunch of pictures!! It sort of looks like you were "forcefully cajoling" in that first shot, though. Loved the ocean shot and the ice cream kid...and nice to see Serge's eyes in an indoor shot again!
You pooped in the Louvre--LOVE that!!
ABSOLUTELY 100% concur with that balcony cabin deal....it's nearly a must have. And I love the pee splattering on bare shins....hehehe. My first experience with that type of toilet was in Asia in the early 1980s. Let's just say it wasn't pretty.
These are great! The crowd in the Louvre is maybe my favorite too. And yes, can't go wrong with a sea view, if you can get it. Endlessly captivating. Welcome back. The only thing better than traveling is coming home.
That museum shot with the people in the foreground is utterly fantastic! Seriously, it's a winner. The Pompeii photo is so poignant ... very moving. I love the mountains of ice cream, too. What flavour did you choose?
Welcome home Torn and Spouse. How is Sara? I'll bet she danced with joy.
Great pictures. I can't wait to see the rest.
One thing I've found is that when traveling and taking lots of pictures, the day after you get home should be spent selecting and organizing.
I've also learned to take multiple shots of the same thing. Usually I'll snap 3 or 4 frames and select the one I like best.
That Croation Toilet looks strange. Do I see grids where a person stands? I like the pictures but the one I like the best is the sky and clouds.
Tornwordo had to take a dump, The Eiffel tower he did climb. There was no where to go up there so he had to bide his time. He toured the palace at Versailles, but there was no place to go. The Sistine Chapel by and by but there was no toilet hole. He was just about to quit, but oh the Pope made Holy shit! Then he held it in his bowels about to move finally Torn took a great big Dump You can see it at the Louvre. Ed
Welcome home! That Croatian toilet looked like the modern version of the one I used in Paris and it was a pay-toilet as well!! You were lucky, all you had to do was pee.
;-)
I've enjoyed your trip and pictures very much, many thanks!
Fabulous photos, and thank you for the captions. Really, they add a lot for those of us who have yet to travel.
Mark :-)
Your pictures are very candid and you have a very good eye. I would love to see more when you have them ready. On another note I'm really happy you were able to poop during your travels. I usuually get all clogged up until I get home.
As usual thanks for sharing pictures and pooping with us. We would expect no less.
Great pictures...:_)
You are a great photojournalist! The ice cream was my favorite pic, followed by the Mona Lisa.
I've been following your vacation pix for a bit & have to say that I'm ENVIOUS! Awesome.
good job my friend. I kept going back to that plaster of the person; it's like I can almost feel the fear.
And the ice cream kid was classic.
Love the Smart Cars. Were they everywhere or just where you took that pic?
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