In front of the famous pyramid of the Louvre
What a long but activity-filled first day! Both groups arrived at the airport this morning, tired but enthusiastic. After dropping our bags off at the hotel, we got our first taste of the Paris metro, getting off at Hôtel de Ville for a walking tour of Paris. We took a quick peek at the outside of the Centre Pompidou (the "inside out" building) and all grabbed a quick lunch in the neighborhood of Châtelet - les Halles. Next we visited the famous cathedral of Notre Dame, and enjoyed looking at the stained glass on the inside, and the gargoyles on the outside. Our next stop was at the Louvre, the largest museum in France. Though one could spend weeks inside and still not see everything, the group had enough time to get a taste of the many works of art and artifacts the museum houses, as well as see some of the most famous works, such as the Mona Lisa. Finally, we headed back to the Latin Quarter for a crêpe dinner, before going back to the hotel for an early, and much deserved bedtime. We're all looking forward to a good night's sleep and another day of Paris sight-seeing tomorrow!