The Jetpacker

Imagine if the White House was lined with boutiques and restaurants.  If you can’t imagine that, then check out Paris’ Palais-Royal.

The Palais-Royal, located a stone’s skip from the Louvre, is home to the Constitutional Council, the Ministry of Council, and the Council of State.

That all sounds pretty boring, which is why it isn’t open to the public.  However, the courtyard, gardens, stores and cafes are open.

The courtyard is known for the Buren sculpture.  I don’t know why it’s called the Buren “sculpture” when it’s really 280 sculptures.  It basically looks like a guy took a pillar colored with black and white stripes like an old prison uniform, cut it up, and spread the pieces around the courtyard.

The gardens are impressive even during winter.  Somehow the French can make even dead trees look good.  I can’t even get my room organized, and they manage to organize a huge garden.

Is it just me, or does this fountain remind you of Titanic?

The fountain is the center piece of the Jardin du Palais Royal and it features various statues of people taking extended cold baths.