After returning the rental car @ Avis, we ventured into Paris via public transport. Paris is an expensive city. The round trip train ticket + metro in the city cost 28 Euro per person, $42. But, it was well worth it.

Most museums are closed in Paris, because all museum workers are en grève (on strike), protesting the government plan to reduce museum employees through attrition. Therefore, the Louvre, the Versaille, the Orsay museum were all closed on Friday.

Fortunately, the Napoleons’ tomb & National Veteran/Army Musuem (l’hotel des invalides) was still open. After 4 p.m. the admission is at reduced rate of 4.5 euro vs. 6.5 euros. The tomb of Napoleon is in the cathedral. He is buried in a gigantic mabel coffin. The WWI and WWII museum is also quite interesting. It shows the French perspective on the 2 world wars. Because the museum was huge, I did not get to visit the other sections, e.g. armor, medieval chivalry, … In the central court of the museum, there are over 100 bronze canons from various times of the past.

Paris by night is a truly magical experience. Les Champs-Élysées is the street of light. Trees alone the avenue are all dressed in lights. And, the christmas market runs along both side of the avenue, with vendors selling from sweets & food, toys & souvenirs, glass & artworks, …

We had planned to see a show in Paris, e.g. Moulin Rouge or Lido. However, all the shows were sold out.

Also, before arriving in Paris, we visited the village of Giverny, which is the home of the famous impressionist painter – Monet.