Paris: Part 2
On the [plane passing](http://www.hicks-wright.net/photos/v/2006/paris/day4/">fourth day we tried to go to Musee D'Orsay, but unfortunately it was closed due to the labor strikes protesting the new labor laws that also sparked several student riots in the city. As we were walking away, we saw the riot police motorcade. Sensing that this would be the case pretty much everywhere, we decided to walk across the river into the Jardin des Tuileries. After that we walked over to the Hotel des Invalides. Unfortunately, it was a bit chilly that day. Later that night, the riot police set up their caravan outside the apartment.
On day 5 we decided to head up to Luxembourg Gardens. On the way, we passed one of the main riot areas. I particularly liked the graffiti written on the McDonald's. We also stopped by the Pantheon.
Unfortunately by the sixth day Iris and I were both feeling a little low, so we got some rest and just did a little strolling around parts of Paris we hadn't been to yet. On our way, we found a liquor store that carried Calvados, an apple brandy I've been wanting to try for a while now. I got a nice bottle, which Iris and I tried before going out that night. I highly recommend it! That evening, we decided to go out for a nice meal. We ended up choosing a restaurant named Le Gran Colbert, which is the restaurant in the final scene of Something's Gotta Give. The food was alright, we had some good wine, but desert was the most notable. We ordered rum cake, which as it turns out, was served with a shot of rum. For some reason, our waiter decided we were taking too long, and left before we actually paid the bill.
The seventh day was spent at the Louvre. We got to see some sort of statue restoration room, the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and a number of sculptures I hadn't seen before. As we were walking into the sculpture garden, we came across a saxophone band. I got some video of them playing. It was a great venue, great acoustics!
On the last day we walked north, where we hadn't gone before. We stumbled upon another riot spot. If anyone saw the news that week, they should recognize the roundabout where riot police used water cannons on protesters.
That pretty much wrapped up our trip. One last cool thing, as I was flying back, I caught this picture of a <a href="http://www.hicks-wright.net/photos/v/2006/paris/day8/IMG_3690.jpg.html) my plane halfway over the Atlantic. We had a great time!
At 5:54 PM on June 2, 2006, Keacher said,
What were those turquoise cannon for?
Oh, and it doesn't look so cold in photo 3573 :-)
At 7:19 PM on June 2, 2006, Tyler said,
The cannons were everywhere, gaurding the injured soldiers I guess.
Eh, it got colder through the day.