1/14/2020
(Above: Arc de Triomphe – this post’s namesake.)
Active Summary: Today the morning began with a few callisthenic exercises, a shower, and then an outdoor adventure. My brother and I experienced the following throughout this escapade: handmade ham & cheese crepes, some hand statues, the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadero*, a walk to and up the Arc de Triomphe**, a small visit to French Burger King to acquire some bubbly beverages, and then a walk back to the room where I am presently putting together some pictures for this entry.
The fellow who made us both a handmade crepe. He first cooked the crepe portion and then laid an egg on top. After allowing the egg and crepe to cook and meld together, he then applied cheese, ham, and a special sauce with which he wrote his message. (On my brother’s he drew an Eiffel Tower.) 
A hand-made crepe of much deliciousness. For some reason the cheese in France (like that on the soup yesterday… and as was present on this crepe) has much more flavor than the cheese one finds in the United States. 
A bunch of sculpted hands on stones. 
Four hands on a medium chunk of granite. 
Four hands on a large chunk of granite. 
Three hands on a medium-sized chunk of marble. 
Three hands on a small chunk of granite. 
One small hand on a massive chunk of granite. 
A wide forum in the middle of Paris. 
The French National Assembly building. 
A bridge over the Seine. 
A capitol-like building beneath a grey sky. 
The Eiffel Tower. 
The Eiffel Tower from farther away. 
A narrow street in Paris. 
A view from one of the Arch’s four sides. 
A view from one of the Arch’s four sides. 
A view from one of the Arch’s four sides. 
A view from one of the Arch’s four sides. 
Also seen from the top of the Arch – a high garden. 
The underside of the arch. 
A lot of names scrivened into the pillars of which the arch is comprised. 
A very narrow building. 
Another narrow Paris street. 
The British Embassy. 
Greek temple-like structure. 
A cathedral without a name. I call it the quiet place (because it was.) 
The domed ceiling of the Quiet Place. 
The primary shrine within the Quiet Place. 
A painting in the Dark Cathedral. 
The inside of another cathedral – this one called (by me) the Dark Cathedral. 
Yet another painting in the Dark Cathedral (I can see it much better here than I did in person). 
Stained glass in the Dark Cathedral. 
Another painting. 
A sculpture in the Dark Cathedral. 
This is the side of the Dark Cathedral (on the left). To the right there are a couple restaurants.
(7:49 PM Update:) After walking 400 feet to a high-quality Italian restaurant and having a Calzone, Arugula/Parmesan Salad, and a glass of Sicilian wine for dinner, my brother and I stopped by a bakery on the way back to the room where we picked up some delicious desserts. Camoen’s was a miniature Lemon Meringue Pie, and mine was called the Paris Brest. I don’t exactly know what was going on with the latter’s name, but it was delicious.
TIL: Today I learned that not only can one stand on top of the Arc de Triomphe, I also discovered that there were lavatories within the massive structure. Also, to get to the arch, one does not walk through the busy traffic roundabout***, they instead walk through a tunnel underneath.
Commentary: This morning, there were warmer temperatures today and a lack of rainfall, so my brother an I went on a long walk. It was at least 8.8 miles according to Google Maps, and throughout that journey, we got to see much of Paris’s primary sights and get a better idea of the city.
The day’s primary highlights as of 5:00 PM, were the breakfast crepe (superb flavor that only got better toward the bottom), the view from Arc de Triomphe, and a brief visit to a very quiet and very warm cathedral.
Final Note: Tomorrow my brother and I plan on venturnig to the Louvre and spending a while there. 17 Euros (about 20 USD) is not a bad price for entering what is possibly the world’s largest public collection of art and artifacts.
*A forum where Hitler stood for his photograph in front of the Eiffel Tower.
** Interestingly, the Arch of Triumph was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte after the Battle of Austerlich – a conflict that was fought at the beginning of War & Peace (presently reading this book).
*** This roundabout is where at least 12 different streets meet together and probably contains the most motor traffic I have seen in one spot at any one time.
Okay, few comments… videos were great and as an inside joke BB didn’t know there were so many stairs to the bathroom… food looks incredible… great pictures… the quiet place has a lit of potential… hmm