Photos from Amsterdam/Paris

In March this year, Jasmine (my girlfriend, for those who don't know), Serena, one of her friends, and myself spent a week together in Paris and Amsterdam. Since we were all good tourists, we took our cameras along, and here are some of the results. These are mainly from Paris, since I forgot my camera one of the days we were in Amsterdam. Such is life...

Jasmine and Serena outside the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
This is the main (and biggest) museum in the city.

We spent two days in Amsterdam together, and four days in Paris, doing all the usual tourist things as well as a little shopping. As you can tell from some of the photos, it was a little cold (the girls noticed it more than me, since they're used to Taiwanese temperatures rather than European temperatures), but a good time was had by all.

The Hôtel de Ville, the old Paris city hall.
Jasmine and Serena, taken near the Hôtel de Ville. The bridge in the background is the Pont d'Arcole (I think...)

Jasmine and Serena sitting outside the Hôtel National des Invalides.
The Église du Dôme, at the rear of the hôtel National des Invalides.

Jasmine outside the Pompidou center.
The Louvre, looking from the palace towards the Jardin des Tuileries. We didn't actually go inside the Louvre, although we tried twice. None of us were that fond of queueing...

Me outside the Pompidou center, with a few different sculptures behind me.
Recognise this? Taken from the Parc du Champ de Mars. Yes, we climbed it. You kind of have to, really.

...and the opposide view. The École Militaire and Parc du Champ de Mars, taken from the first level of the tower.
Another one taken from the tower, this time from the top - the Trocadéro.

Jasmine and Serena at Versailles. We didn't spend too long there, since there isn't really a lot to see without paying, and none of us had umbrellas. Not good when it's starting to rain.
One of the few bits of Versailles you don't have to pay a fortune to see - the hall of mirrors. This is where the treaty of Versailles that ended the first world war was signed. And we all know how well that turned out...

Serena, taken at the Bois du Boulogne. She's a really cool person, and it was a lot of fun having her along. When I visit Taipei, though, it's my turn to ask the questions, though... ;)

Some more photos will maybe appear here when I have the time and energy to get the film developed and the photos scanned.

Of the two cities, I preferred Amsterdam to Paris. There were just too many places in Paris that you have to see to cover them all in four days, so after two days we gave up trying. I didn't get the feeling that Paris was a real city, though, the way I did in Amsterdam, and the way you do in London. I don't know why, exactly - maybe it's just me...

Next time: some photos from when I visit them in Taipei :)

The Hôtel de Ville, the old Paris city hall.	Jasmine and Serena, taken near the Hôtel de Ville. The bridge in the background is the Pont d'Arcole (I think...)
Jasmine and Serena sitting outside the Hôtel National des Invalides.	The Église du Dôme, at the rear of the hôtel National des Invalides.
Jasmine outside the Pompidou center.	The Louvre, looking from the palace towards the Jardin des Tuileries. We didn't actually go inside the Louvre, although we tried twice. None of us were that fond of queueing...
Me outside the Pompidou center, with a few different sculptures behind me.	Recognise this? Taken from the Parc du Champ de Mars. Yes, we climbed it. You kind of have to, really.
...and the opposide view. The École Militaire and Parc du Champ de Mars, taken from the first level of the tower.	Another one taken from the tower, this time from the top - the Trocadéro.
Jasmine and Serena at Versailles. We didn't spend too long there, since there isn't really a lot to see without paying, and none of us had umbrellas. Not good when it's starting to rain.	One of the few bits of Versailles you don't have to pay a fortune to see - the hall of mirrors. This is where the treaty of Versailles that ended the first world war was signed. And we all know how well that turned out...
Serena, taken at the Bois du Boulogne. She's a really cool person, and it was a lot of fun having her along. When I visit Taipei, though, it's my turn to ask the questions, though... ;)