Going back in time - Paris Day Two

Taking a little long to post the pics. Really tired...especially after the stockholm trip...I'll post the pics from stockholm in a while. Nothing much there really. :P NOTHING MUCH IN SWEDEN ACTUALLY, at least for now. Anyway...here's day 2 in Paris, starting off at the Pantheon of Paris. Bad weather in the morning, so not really nice pics even after intense photoshopping..:S

After the Pantheon, we went in search of Jean Nouvel's Institut du Monde Arabe. And so we found it. Nothing interesting at first other than the misleading entrance. It was later that we realised, the facade was really something that's worth mentioning.

The entire facade of the institute was made up of these automated patterned designs squares. They rotate within themselves to change the pattern. Every square are set at different pattern so as to make the building look more dynamic rather than a uniform change all at one go. Interesting, but I bet expensive.

Next, we headed to Musee de Orsay, think its the 2nd largest museum after Louvre in Paris. Lotsa interesting stuff but I think it will take me 1 day to upload everything I took, so just a glimpse of the place.

And yes, someone familiar spotted hibernating in this museum..

And of course, something that I thought everyone should see. Wonder if it was a real life experience from the artist. :P

Then we headed for the ever popular, 2nd to probably that 100 over year old huge metal thing, the Arc de Triomphe. Pic of the Arc was uploaded previously, so I shall just show you what you can see up on the tower. By the way, its quite a bit of non stop spiral staircases to climb before you can reach the top. But I can assure you, its worth the climb.

Eiffel Tower can be clearly sighted up there as well. In fact, with my 70-300mm, I've managed to capture a pretty close up of the tower's tip.

And yes, remember what the Arc de Triomphe was used for before becoming a tourist attraction? No..not during the Roman period, during the time where Paris was still in a mess. Yup...a watch tower...can't remember if it was for watching for crimes or fire, but after seeing this...yup. FIRE!!!

By the way, I can hear the sirens of police cars or fire engines..whatever...EVERY SINGLE DAY IN PARIS....tough job to be a police or fireman in Paris.

After the arc, we headed towards the direction of Champs Elysees. Really happening here I tell you. But the best part for me was the car showrooms. We visted Peugeot, Mercedes, Citroen and Toyata. Basically that's all along the street. You get to get in there and snap freely. Unlike Singapore, some ah chek will come to you and either tell you cannot shoot, or ask you this that north south east west....:S Something we should improve ay?

Some radical free form facade of a shopping centre by Champs Elysees. The Parisian really try everything don't they.

And so that's day 2, and there's already so much to see. What can I say, even after spending 6 days in Paris, I think I'll have to go there again cos there's just so much to see there. If there's anywhere on earth that you die die have to go, it has got to be Paris.