From the top of the Arc!

After two days of going to work, going to dinner, going to bed, it is high time for some excitement again! I need to shake up the work routine and get back to my daily field trips. When flipping through my 'handy dandy everything you could ever want to know about paris and more' book, it dawned on me...L'Arc de Triomphe! My office is located on L'Avenue Victor Hugo only about a football field away from the Arc, so it's kind of ridiculous I haven't already checked it out.

As you might be able to tell from previous posts, "the lunch break" doesn't seem to have the same parameters as in the states. Maybe things are a little more laid back since its August and most of the city's workers are on holiday, but something tells me that an hour and a half (or two and some change if you're the boss) is pretty standard. Yesterday I grabbed lunch to go and went to sit on a bench in the shade and watched cars drive around the Arc. This proved to be extremely amusing since there are twelve roads that branch out from the central circle, causing total chaos. Lots of beeping and weaving through traffic, but shockingly I haven't seen any hand gestures - I guess the French really are très civilized!

For those of you who might need a history lesson of the day, the Arc de Triomphe is the giant arch in Paris that is a monument to honor all those who have fought for France. It was also my main man Napoleon's idea to create this in 1806 when he promised his troops "you will march home through arches of victory" (I don't know if that is a direct quote, but probably pretty close)...and the rest is history. Also underneath the arch is an eternal flame for the tomb of the unknown soldier that mark remains of an anonymous French soldier from WWI.

After taking the underpass to get to the other side of the street, I took the steps to the top of the Arc. You have to wonder how many tourists have assumed you just walk across the traffic; I am sure there is no one who has lived to tell that tale! There were fantastic views from the top of the Arc and tons of great spots for pictures.

Time to put down the camera and return to the office...