Paris weekend; Les Halles and Vélib'

Sunday

Last day in Paris. After hotel breakfast, check-out, and luggage storage at the hotel, we went to a nearby Vélib' stand and got two bikes - heading for the city center.

Biking past the opera building.

Walking round in the Les Halles area - found a local market.

Buying postcards.

Have to visit a Starbucks if possible - there's one in the store area at Les Halles. It looks like the traditional and healthy Frappuccino drink...

Lunch at a nice sunny cafe in the Les Halles area. A perfect way to finish the weekend trip.

More pics here.

Paris weekend; Sacré-Cœur and Negro Spirituals

Saturday

After another hotel breakfast we set course for the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur church. Even though it's crowded with tourists, it's worth a visit.

On the way up to the church. Men trying to wrap a piece of string around your wrist and charge for it - scam...

A few blocks from the church we found this quiet local cafe. Perfect for a lazy lunch in the sun. After lunch we walked across the street into a park and found a local jazz band - great after-lunch music.

Time for another Vélib' bike ride - leaving the Sacré-Cœur area for another Notre Dame visit.

Inside Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. Magnificent.

Jenny found posters for a gospel concert when we walked around in Paris. Decided to try it out - Jenny buying tickets to the performance.

Whoa... It was an impressive performance in the old stone church. Gospel, negro spirituals, ...

Jenny after the concert. Feeling happy...

Evening shot from a bridge. We walked around an hour in central Paris after the concert before going back to the hotel.

More pics here.

Paris weekend; Tour Eiffel and Notre Dame

Friday

After a late breakfast at the hotel we took a metro to the Eiffel Tower. It was time to elevate ourselves and get some perspective on the city.

View from under the construction.

Great weather for going to the top of the tower. It's a stunning view.

Beautiful city houses.

After a walk along the Seine river in central Paris, we stopped by a small restaurant; lamb chops, mm...

Walking along the Seine river towards Notre Dame.

Notre Dame, it's an impressive building with interesting decorations.

Jenny and I decided to head back to the hotel after a full day of touring Paris. Checked Google Maps and aimed for the M3 metro line - Réaumur Sébastopol was the closest station. Bought a bottle of red wine and chocolate on our way.

More pics here.

Paris weekend; Hotel Espace Champerret and Champs-Élysées

Jenny and I spending an extended weekend in Paris, France; Thursday - Sunday.

Thursday

SAS flight from Kastrup to Charles de Gaulle, train to city center, metro to hotel. Staying at Hotel Espace Champerret [map]. Not the most luxurious place in town, but it'll do. The metro is just around the corner, line M3, station Louise Michel.

Checking the map before entering the city center.

A walk along the well-known Champs-Élysées. Starting with Arc de Triomphe.

Obélisque de Louxor at Place de la Concorde.

Enjoying a beautiful sunset as seen from Musée du Louvre.

More pics here.

A few days in San Francisco; JavaOne and donuts

Monday - Friday

After breakfast on Monday, Jenny took the shuttle to San Francisco airport and returned home. I stayed until Friday and covered the JavaOne conference; JCP EC pass / speaker pass (JSR-249 MSA 2 panel) / VIP access (Sony Ericsson).

Keynote moment - Oracle's Larry Ellison on stage; Oracle buying Sun.

Developers, developers, developers, ... Even though JavaOne had more attendees, there was so much more energy at Google I/O the week before.

And while I'm at it, the "breakfast" served at JavaOne has to be reconfigured from the ground up... Eating sugar-donuts early in the morning is not doing anything good for my health.

A few days in San Francisco; Science and secrets

Sunday

After breakfast at Mel's Drive In (regular customers by now) we once again took the MUNI from Powell to the Golden Gate Park. This time we had the California Science Museum in mind.

The museum was spectacular. Especially the tropical rainforest sphere with live frogs, birds, butterflies, and in the basement snakes and fish.

Inside the sphere.

Butterfly watching us?!

Butterfly hitchhiking?!

The stairs to the museum roof. Liked the composition - had one chance to shoot the picture with just Jenny in it since more than us wanted to use the stairs.

A living roof. It breathes.

Got back to the hotel just in time for the complimentary wine tasting. After that it was time for some shopping again - we paid Victoria's Secret a visit (me with VS bag - not for me to use though)...

We ended the day with another sushi dinner at Sanraku, Sutter St. Back at the hotel Jenny started to pack her bags - her flight leaving next day.

A few days in San Francisco; Cheesecake Factory and shoes

Saturday

After breakfast at Mel's Drive In, shopping at Ross at Fourth St, and complimentary ice cream at the Palomar hotel, time had finally come to visit the cheesecake epicenter in San Francisco - The Cheesecake Factory. Fantastic lunch and superb cheesecake.

More about the cheesecake story here.

Bird looking for free take away cheesecake.

After a day of intensive shopping it's important to justify each purchase.

Shoes, shoes, shoes, ... Some from Ross at Fourth St, some from Skechers at Powell St.

Ended the day with the Angels and Demons movie at the Metreon.

A few days in San Francisco; Golden Gate and Sausalito

Friday

Lance looking down from the ad wall at me and Jenny when we're having breakfast at Il Caffe in Union Square. A good start for a day filled with bike adventures.

So, off we went to find a bike rental. We decided to go with standard bikes from Bike And Roll on Columbus Ave.

The map at the store outlined a couple of trails. We decided to go with one that went over the Golden Gate Bridge, then if we had enough time continue on to the Sausalito village, and then back to San Francisco by ferry. Bigger map here.

The bridge captured from the San Francisco side - just before going over it.

Somewhere on the bridge. The view is spectacular.

Passed the bridge. Picture from the Sausalito side.

A small farmer's market in Sausalito.

We got a tip from a local couple to try the Spinnaker restaurant for lunch. It was ok. The view was great though.

San Francisco skyline captured from the ferry on the way back to the city.

After returning the bikes we went back to the hotel and ended the day with the new Star Trek movie at the Metreon.