Paris

May 15, 2025

Homeward Bound

Our flight was scheduled to leave at 1:40pm, so we got the airport at 10:00 am. Given how busy the airport was when we arrived on Monday, we weren't sure what to expect but it wasn't checking in and getting through the border and security in a half an hour. 

We settled in for the few hours wait, then found out our flight was changed to depart at 5:00pm. It was going to be a long day! When we were on the plane, the captain explained that the plane we were scheduled to be on suffered some wing damage so they had to wait for another plane to be available. There was also a medical emergency so that put departure behind a bit more. We did arrive just after 7:00pm. 

Ed and I really enjoyed Paris even though we didn't get to see everything we wanted to. The early mornings and late evenings in Africa tired us out more than I expected. Luckily, stopping in France en route to somewhere else is easy to do so we can go back and see the things we missed. Maybe we'll even do a trip that focuses on France. 

May 14, 2025

Louvre Museum , Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe Day

Following advise I'd had gotten from a web site, we booked entry tickets for the Louvre Museum for 9:00 am. When we arrived at 8:40am there were already lots of people in line. 

We're about to get in line to enter the Louvre through the Pyramid. You can also enter the Louvre through an attached shopping mall (we left that way). The website I read said it was more interesting to enter through the Pyramid and I have to agree with them. 

Obviously, inside the pyramid

Architecturally, the Louvre is amazing. I think I was more impressed by the building then I was by the art. 

Mona Lisa. I know this painting needs to be protected but it was a little underwhelming to see it in person. The painting is not very big and you are at least 15 feet away from.  Everyone is crowding near the barrier trying to take selfies with the painting. Does it make it more real to take a selfie with an object? Obviously, something I don't understand. 

I loved these rooms with ornate ceilings. 

There were some amazing porcelain and crystal pieces displayed in several rooms. 

The Rebellious Slave and the Dying Slave by Michelangelo

The Great Sphinx of Tanis

Winged Victory of Samothrace

Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss

The head of one of captives in the sculptures call The Four Captives by Martin Desjardins. Ed really like the detail in the man's face. 

This is another part of the Four Captives sculpture.

Underneath the pyramid

Arc de Triomphe Du Carrousel was built between 1806 and 1808 to commemorate Napoleon's military victories in the Wars of the Third and Fourth Coalitions. The Arc do Triopmhe, at the far end of the Chaps-Elysees, is about twice the size, designed in the same year but not completed until 1836. 

One of the large ponds in the Tuileries Gardens. 

Luxor Obelisk

A lot of fountains were not running, so it was nice that the Fontain des Mers was .

The Arc de Triomphe. I was told that you had to walk up the stairs to reach the top of the arc, so I was surprise when we were gathered into a group of 10 and taken up most of the way on an elevator (one person had some issues walking). We just had to walk up 46 steps.  

One of the great views from the top.

Looking down at the traffic. It was interesting watch vehicles trying

to maneuver their way around the circle. 

 

Back on the ground looking up at the Arc de Triomphe

La Grande Arche de la Defense

May 13, 2025

Eiffel Tower Day

In order to go up the Eiffel Tower we had to purchase a tour (all of the tickets for just going up the tower were long gone when we went to buy our tickets). This turned out to be a good thing as we learned a lot about the tower and the security around it from our guide. The guide led us to the 2nd floor, then we were on our own to visit the 3rd floor as well as the 2nd and 1st floors. 

There are 2 sets of elevators --- the 1st set takes you to the second floor and the 2nd set takes you to the third floor. This is a photo of one of the elevators that takes you to the second floor. The elevator has two floors and a dummy driver on the outside depicting where the driver sat originally. The "driver" is now on the lower floor of the elevator and just pushes some buttons.  

There were lots of people on the 3rd floor --- the highest spot tourists can go. Great views too!

On the third floor looking up. 

The views from the Eiffel Tower were amazing. This photo shows the river, the city and the Champ de Mars. Unfortunately, a lot of work is being done around some of the major attractions in Paris including by the Eiffel Tower. Much of the Champ de Mars was closed and fountains were not running.

Arc de Triomphe

Place du Trocadero, it's also under construction. 

I was surprised by the number of barges on the river. 

Basilque de Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre is the building on top of the hill. 

We talked a a couple of ladies from Washington state who walked up the over 600 stairs to the 2nd level (they said they had a trainer so that they were ready for the challenge). We took the elevator up but we walked down from the first floor.  

From the ground looking up. There was a spot of the ground so you knew where to stand to be exactly under the middle of the tower. 

The Olympics were held in Paris last summer. There are still a few reminders around the city. 

Located on Pont De Bir Haiem is a statue of Joan Of Arc known as La France Renaissante. 

One of the replicas of the Statue of Liberty that are in Paris. This one is definitely smaller than the Statue of Liberty in New York City. 

A vintage Citroen 2CV in the parking lot by the tour boat. We're not sure what was going on but it seemed like hundreds of people ran past us. Everywhere we went in Paris there were people running. 

We opted for a cruise down the Seine River, starting before sunset and ending when the lights were turned on. 

Just as we were about to dock at 10pm the tower started twinkling. What a show. The video will show it much better than this photo. 

The Arc de Triomphe

May 12, 2025

Paris France

After about 12 hours on the plane, we arrived in Paris. The flight was long but not bad. The woman, who sat beside me was from Cape Town, South Africa and she was going to Spain for business. We had some interesting conversations. 

We have no idea why, but getting through immigration was really slow. The automated machines were not being used and for 6:30am there seemed to be a lot of people arriving in Paris. By time we got to the luggage carousel, the luggage for the next flight was going round and round and round and our bags were no where to be found. So it was off to another line, this one for lost baggage. Good news, our bags had been moved to the area where oversized luggage was kept. Around 10am we finally made it to the hotel. 

Instead of following the itinerary I made (I forgot about it), we headed for the Arc de Triomphe. 

The next stop was the Eiffel Tower. I never take selfies but decided to give it a shot. 

The army museum. The dome in the background is from a church.

By this point in time I realized we were suppose to be visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral area and walking along the Seine River. 

So, we starting walking along the Seine River heading towards Notre Dame Cathedral. 

The Louvre Museum. 

That's still the Louvre Museum .... it's one big museum. 

Hotel de Ville (City Hall)

The front of Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. 

The back of Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. You can see the crane and the construction that is still ongoing on the outside of the cathedral. It was getting late and Ed and I were tired so we opted to pass on getting in line to go inside the cathedral. 

On the walk to our hotel we passed the Louvre Museum. We figured it wasn't as busy as it would be in the middle of the day so we stopped for a couple of photos. 

I couldn't pass up doing a "iconic" tourist photo. 

Interesting art work we passed on our way back to the hotel.