Bonjour and welcome to Paris! This was the beans second visit to the City of Lights, but this time they got to see a little more of the city. I also have to admit that I've had these pics for a while, but I'm just getting around to posting them now, so I apologize for my procrastination. But hey -- better late than never, right?

Anyway, here you'll see the beans looking straight up at the Eiffel Tower, where they keep waiting to see if someone will parachute off it (like James Bond) or perhaps bungee jump (like An American Werewolf in Paris). So far no luck, but from the obvious dent in the can, you'd think the beans had been doing a little leaping, wouldn't you?

So to get this party started, the beans headed down to the banks of the Seine River, where they discovered Musee du Louvre, the onetime palace for the kings of France. Nowadays (and for the past couple hundred years) the Louvre serves as a museum, housing some mighty cool stuff, like the original Venus de Milo statue and several of Leonardo da Vinci paintings, including the eternally-happy Mona Lisa.

The beans really enjoyed seeing this part of history, and spent a large part of the afternoon trying to get themselves placed in the Louvre. Alas, it wasn't to be...too bad.

Somewhere around 10 million people live in the metro Paris area - how many of them Americans who went for a vacation and never came back? We don't know... You know how it goes - come for a weekend of brie and the wine, stay for a year or two.

Anyway, the beans thought about being "An American In Paris", but eventually decided that they really should keep moving, since they never thought Jerry Lewis was all that hilarious...

So instead of looking for cheap laughs, the beans decided to head over to the Hotel Marsollier Opera, where novelist/poet/playwright Oscar Wilde spent his final years. While the beans thought this was pretty hip, they were doubly glad to see that ol' Oscar hadn't trashed his room.

From there, the beans went off to Notre Dame (Sorry - no Fighting Irish here...). They started building the world's most famous cathedral way back in 1163, but the one thing that Notre Dame is best known for is the bestselling 1831 Victor Hugo novel about a bellringer named Quasimodo. You know the one - I'm willing to bet you read it in 9th grade, am I right? (And if you haven't read it, you should try. But here's a warning - the book doesn't have that same happy ending that Disney gave it.)

Anyway, the beans had a great time here, although from looking at the dented condition of their can, they probably should've yelled "Sanctuary!" much sooner than they did...

Here's another shot of the beans at Notre Dame, where try as they might, they still weren't able to get any of the gargoyles to sing and dance with them. Phooey.

Now, be honest. You fully expected to see several dozen little circus clowns come pouring out of this car, didn't you? The beans know that they did. Regardless, the can of beans did like this car, especially since it isn't much bigger than it is.

Next up, the beans got to visit a local Parisian restaurant. Now, Paris is known world-wide as the culinary capital. Why, you can just about guarantee you'll find a 3-star dining experience nearby. So is it any wonder that they got to visit a place called "The American Dream?" Apparently from the mannequins on the outside of the place, the 'American Dream' is Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and the Blues Brothers. Gourmet dining or not, the beans did enjoy this little touch of home, even though they highly doubt you'll ever see the fancy places serving Buffalo wings or Jell-o shooters... But black beans? That's another story.

Continuing down le rue, the beans checked out the French parliament building, where you'll find the National Assembly of 577 deputies and the 321-member Senate arguing about something or another. The beans wanted to stay and get involved in world politics, but since they're in favor of everyone just getting along, it would've never worked out, so they kept moving.

Next up the beans decided it was time for some more culture, so they went to The Academie Nationale de Musique. Since the beans only true musical skills are limited to playing drums on the steering wheel when stuck in traffic, they weren't allowed inside, but that's okay...they did make several Euros on the street corner by showing off their 80's hair band Stratocaster whammy-bar-induced electric air guitar moves. Hey, at least the tourists loved it.

Of course, when you have to "go", and you really don't feel like landing in a French jail for public urination, the next best thing is to visit one of the convenient port-a-johns located on the streets of Paris. Drop in a few francs and you're all set. The beans thought this was a very considerate service to offer, and now wish that they can find a pay-as-you-go saute pan for heating up lunch.

Finally, the beans take one last glimpse of Paris as they ride off into the sunset. They had a blast in Paris, and were glad for three things:

  • French beauties. (Ooh la la!)
  • French bread (To go with the French cheese and French wine. Hey -- when in France...)
  • The fact that they somehow managed to avoid all mimes.

Perhaps one day the beans will be back for more Parisian fun. Until then, au revoir et voyez-vous bientôt!