Spring in Vichy

Last Sunday, March 21, marked the first day of spring. We celebrated its return with dust pans and other various cleaning supplies in hand. Vichy certainly comes alive during this time as evidenced by the amazing weather and crowded parks. Not about to let the opportunity pass by, we've engaged in various springtime activities (including homework, Denny) throughout the entire week culminating in a fabulous picnic on the shores of the river Allier with our friends.

Prvi dan proljeca nas stan je docekao cist I uredan jer smo ga za tu priliku posebno detaljno ocistile i prozracile. Ovih smo dana uzivale u lijepom vremenu a sedmicu smo zavrsile piknikom sa prijateljima u prekrasnom parku preko puta naseg apartmana.

Spring Cleaning! So much to do!

The Result

This One's for You, Denny

She Must be "Lucky" (Azra: Pigeons' Favorite Target)

Le Grand Marché: Best Place in Vichy to Buy Fresh Produce

A Peek Inside

Preparing Fried Eggplant and Quinoa

The End Product - Yum!

Juice and Coffee with Antoine

Group Picnic

Football! (The American Kind)

Joanne (Picnic Organizer)

Sarah and Emilie

Mita!

Malwina, Our Slavic Sister

Wood Nymph Nick Napping

Some Things Never Change

Nick: Expert Climber

Mélanie Puppy Love

Paris Day 3: Museums

Having been promised rainy weather, we decided to spend our last day in Paris exploring a couple of museums. Amra and I beat the crowd early Sunday morning and were among the first to enter the Louvre. Equipped with a map of the museum, we wondered the numerous halls of the Louvre appreciating its many treasures. Next we toured the Musée D'Orsay, which houses the works of some of our favorite artists from the Impressionist movement. Regrettably, we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. Before catching our train to Vichy, we grabbed some delicious gelato with our friend Ethan, who is currently studying in Paris. We bid our farewells in front of the fountain on Place St. Michel. Au revoir, Paris! A la prochaine fois!

Zadnji dan u Parizu smo provele u umjetničkim muzejima.

"Like this?"

"There, is that good enough?"

What's art, Eddie?

Inverted Pyramid

Winged Victory

Mona Lisa (La Jaconde)

Les Deux Soeurs

One of the Louvre's Many Halls

David and Goliath (Front)

David and Goliath (Back)

Aphrodite a.k.a Venus de Milo

Psyche and Cupid

Captive (The Dying Slave)

St. Mary Magdalene

Code of Hammurabi

Close-Up of Code of Hammurabi

Horses of Marly (There are four of them.)

Fountain on Place St. Michel

Paris Day 2: Paris Proper

Day two, we undertook a rather ambitious walking tour of Paris. After breakfast in the hostel, we took the metro to the Pantheon and walked to all the major sights. Despite our aching feet, we mustered the strength to climb the stairs up the Eiffel Tower. A hint to any traveler, if you decide on a grand walking tour, be sure to wear comfortable shoes! Below are the sights we visited.

Slike drugog dana u Parizu:

Pantheon

Buying Chestnuts Outside of Jardin du Luxembourg

Chestnuts!

Palace of Luxembourg

Pond in Jardin du Luxembourg

Amra (holding a chestnut, yum!)

Azra and Eddie Imitating a Statue

Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame

Azra at the Back of Notre Dame

"Oh my poor feet!"

Conciergerie

3,200-Year-Old Obelisk from Luxor in Place de la Concorde

Grand Palais

Avenue des Champs Elysées

Arc de Triomphe

One of the Deluxe Designer Stores on Avenue Montaigne

Another Store on Avenue Montaigne

Eiffel Tower

Taking the Stairs

View of the City from the Eiffel Tower

Parc du Champ de Mars

Breathtaking Descent

"We love Paris!"