Due to a poor WiFi signal in the hotel, and the numbers of photos today, we’re having issues with paragraph spacing.

The front entrance of the French Army Museum, Musee de l’Armee de Invalides with the bullet-shaped evergreens. The lush green grass and the neatly trimmed evergreens at the museum.

Cathedral de Saint Louis des Invalides located on the ground of the Musee de l’Armee des Invalides

So far we’ve walked 15 of the 40 square miles (103 square km) of Paris. In a way, I’m thrilled it’s raining today.  Having tossed all my tennis shoes along the way, I only had a few pairs of leather Keds, one new and one almost new.

World War I tank as we entered the museum. The massive courtyard of the Musee de l’Armee des Invalides was used as a staging area during times of war.

Normally, these shoes don’t hurt my feet but after all these miles, I must admit my feet are rubbed red in spots, and a day off from walking will do wonders. The rain is a good excuse to keep us from a long walk today.  Although, if my feet weren’t still hurting, we’d probably attempt it, rain or shine.

This was a helmet from medieval times. Guns on display in the “old department” from the 13th to 17th centuries.

We need time to continue planning our remaining open days, many of which are already booked. In Paris, one feels compelled to keep moving in fear of missing something.

Body armor from the 17th century. Primitive arrowheads and stone and metal weapons.

Yesterday, we’d planned to walk to our heart’s content in a new direction. Checking out the map we decided to attempt to make it to the Musee de l’Armee des Invalides, France military museum with such areas as the DÔME DES INVALIDES, TOMB OF NAPOLEON I. The cost to enter the museum was US $25.50, EU $19 for both of us.

Handmade spears were seen in the “old department.”   Huge decorative cannon. A suit of Armor on man and horse.

The walk to the museum was far, taking us an hour of actual walking time and another hour of checking out restaurant menus and other sites along the way. The weather was ideal, cool, in the 70F’s, 21C’s, making the walking easy.

Another huge cannon and cannonball. Could this be body armor for women? Full armor for soldier and horse.  That must have been one heavy load for the horse to bear.

The museum consists of an “old department” from the 13th to 17th century, the “modern department” Louis XIV to Napoleon III, 1643 to 1870, and to the “contemporary department,” the two world wars 1871 to 1945.  We saw them all.

Chain male.   Tomb of Napoleon I.

Surprisingly, the museum, although busy, wasn’t uncomfortably crowded, nor were the streets we walked. From what we’ve read, tourism slows down a little in August due to its usual heat. Since we arrived the hottest day was Friday at 86F, 30C which has steadily gone down a little each day. 

Beautiful alter in the area where the tombs were displayed in private rooms.

We love having all the time we’ve scheduled to be in Paris, leaving us feeling relaxed and unrushed, allowing ample time to write here each day and riffle through our zillions of photos from the prior day, in itself a time-consuming undertaking. By noon each day, we’re off, anxious to find the next treasure in Paris.

This ceiling is breathtaking.

Construction and artwork are amazing.

We’ll still have several days left to explore on own our attempting to walk to more points of interest. Perhaps, if we’re diligent and our feet hold up, we can see most of Paris on foot in our 16 days.

Tomb of Joseph Napoleon II.

Last night, feet tired, we decided to walk to a reasonably nearby Japanese Restaurant, ranked #1017 of 12585 restaurants in Paris. It may sound like a high number on the list but it proved to be in the top 8%, not too bad of a choice which we’d investigated in advance. 

More exquisite ceiling art.

Although Tom likes Chinese food (only the same certain dishes) we’ve had Japanese in the past both cooking for ourselves and dining out. The dinner was excellent and coincidentally it was the same cost as the prior night, to the penny as shown in these receipts below at US $54.38 (the exchange rate changed overnight) including the gratuity and all those pesky taxes.

The tomb of Sebastian Le Prestre de Vauban, “an engineer who revolutionized the art of siegecraft and defensive fortifications.

We enjoyed the dinner although, when we finally returned to our hotel to relax after another tiring day, I ate an entire huge bag of pistachio nuts, lasting through two episodes (sans commercials) of “Murder in the First.”  Tom had a similar meal to mine but with the big bowl of rice he managed to eat with his chopsticks, he was full.

Tomb of Marshall Ferdinand Foch, World War I.

This morning, the hotelier approached us as we sat in the lobby writing, offering us a complimentary breakfast due to the inconveniences of the leaking bathroom. Hesitantly, we accepted since we rarely eat breakfast (except on cruises when we have two meals a day). We wandered downstairs to the hotel’s café to an average breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and pastries.

Tomb of Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey, French Army General.

Napoleon II, King of Rome.

Tom didn’t touch a single French pastry, instead opting for toast with butter and jam, which he only eats on cruises. I laughed. Had I been able to consume flour, I’d have had a hard time eating only one or two of the yummy looking pastries. Oh well. Without my strict way of eating, I wouldn’t be in Paris let alone walk three miles in three days let alone 15 miles. Who’s to complain?

My sauce free but nicely seasoned skewers with tuna, salmon, scallops, and prawns.

The comprehensive menu at Japonaise.

The receipt from last night’s dinner all-inclusive at EU $40.60, US $54.51. By having a few less expensive dinners such as this, our budget will allow dining in three or four pricier restaurants.

We have many more photos to share with our readers as the days march on. As I wrote this we decided to head out again, after posting today’s story and photos, now that the rain has stopped.  Much more tomorrow!

Photo from one year ago today, August 4, 2013:

While living in Tuscany all last summer, we made a point of cooking using local ingredients as we often do. In this case, we made pan-fried chicken breast meat filled with ricotta cheese, spices from our garden, wrapped in pancetta from the amazing deli at the supermarket. For details from that date, please click here.