Paris - September 2006

As most of you know, Mike and I took a trip to Paris on the 13th September to sell knives at a knife show for Des (Mike's step father).

So here are some photos from our trip (that I will be adding to each day - as it's a slow and painful process!)

The Centre Pompidou was created by architects Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano and Gianfranco Franchini as a cultural centre dedicated to modern art. The building is essentially inside out with the escalators, water pipes and air conditioning on the outside.

A statue outside Forum Des Halles - a large underground shopping centre with the world's largest underground subway beneath.

A big stone head next to Saint Eustache in the centre of Paris. We stumbled upon this huge piece of art while on our way to the Sacre Coeur.

The Sacre Coeur Basilica was built in 1873 as a "moral condemnation of the sins of Paris". The main dome towers 83m over the Montmartre hill and has over 300 steps that take you to the top of the dome in order to experience a stunning view of Paris.

At the top of the main dome



After going for sushi at the knife makers cocktail party, we took a walk to the Royal Opera House. My feet have never been so sore! But it was definitely worth the stunning sight of the Royal Opera House all lit up at night.

This is the Pais Knife Show that we went to. Below is one of Des Horn's custom folding knives
(Made from demascus steel, meteorite and mother of pearl)

This knife is made from demascus steel (innox in French) and Mammoth tusk (Mamoot in French)

Another of Des' knives with his first gold inlay (og)

Our table at the show (after we sold one knife :)

Mike at our table at the knife show

After the last show, one of the knife makers, Koji took us out for sushi to a Japanese restaurant. This is Koji and me with our origami we made each other.



Koji and Mike during our meal - the most and best sushi i've ever had!

Me, Koji and Mike

Mike during one of our many walks along the Sein.

We stayed near the Notre Dame so everything was virtually in walking distance... some walks a little longer than other - great exercise!

Ice cream by the Sein - always a win!

The Notre Dame in the background. On the first evening we went into the Notre Dame and there was the most beautiful singing during the service.

Another one of our masterpiece photos (taken by both of us) - spot the mistake...

The Pantheon (with some wierd "modern art") . This building was built as a Roman Temple and later became a Catholic Church. It is the best-preserved Roman building and is the oldest "important" building in the world with its original roof intact.

Since the Renaissance the Pantheon has been used as a tomb. Among those buried there are the painters Raphael and Annibale Caracci, the architect Baldassare Peruzzi.

The view from the top of the Pantheon

Onto another subject... Paris drivers...The driving in Paris is shocking, and even worse is their parking - could you get any closer???

Off to the Picasso Museum - Mike looking a little worried! lol

The Kiss by Picasso - I love it ;)

The Goat by Picasso

Our pick Nick by a fountain near the Lourve
(turns out the Lourve was closed that evenging!)

Then onto the Arc de Triumph

The view from top of Arc De Triumph (note that there are no lanes)

Mike holding up the Concord!

Me by a huge fountain at the Place de Concord.

Dome Church - Napolean's Tomb.

Rodin - The Thinker

Van Gough in the Rodin Museum

Nectar Bar

Nectar Bar -Mike and Ben

Nectar Bar - Sally and Me

Nectar Bar - Shelly, Mike and Justine

Nectar Bar - Mike and the girls

Me and Sally at the Paradise Restaurant

Mike and Sally (his sis)

Trying to find an open bar after the Paradise Restaurant

Dodgy underground "club"

The French House

French House - Brett, Mike and Mark

Mark and Xen on the other side of the underground

Mike in front of the Louvre

Me in front of the Louvre

"Trick photography" inside the Louvre (we both took this photo ;)

The Venus de Milo and me