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Paris, France

Palais de Chaillot: located from the Eiffel Tower

The riots did not deter me from my Paris jaunt to cap off a fabulous two week Egypt and Jordan adventure.

I dropped by bags off at the hotel and explored. It was early November.

I walked to the Pantheon, built as a church to celebrate the recovery of Louis XV from a mysterious illness. A short walk is St-Etienne du Mont, a 16^th century church popes visited to see the tomb of Ste-Genevieve, patron saint of Paris.

My hotel is near Place de la Sorbonne with plenty of cafes. At Le Tabac de la Sorbonne, I ordered a meal and people watched. The attractive façade of Chappelle La Sorbonne provided a great view.

An early night was in order, after all I was awake since 3 a.m. in Amman, Jordan.

Starting at Rue du Vaugirard, I walked up Rue Tournon. I didn’t stop in any boutiques or old bookstores. Time was limited. I’m not a shopper. My first stop was at St. Sulpice, a church that took 134 years to build. Across is Fountain des Quatres Points Cardinaux (Fountain of the Four Bishops) (1844). “Points” means never. Four church leaders never made cardinals.

Blvd. St. Germain is bustling on this warm sunny day. I sat at Café Flore, once a popular spot for celebrities, especially writers, for a few moments. No one came to serve me, too early for a pit stop. Just wanted to say I sat there.

Continuing on I spotted St. Thomas d’Aquin church (1863). Napoleon’s coronation was held here in December 1804.

Crossing Pont de la Concorde, the traffic whizzed by as I waited for a break to snap a picture of Place de la Concorde where Marie Antoinette and thousands of others were executed. The Obelisk, given as a gift in 1833, was a reminder of my Egypt trip just over a week ago.

I took my time strolling up the left side of Avenue de Champs Elysees toward the Arc de Triomphe. Along the way I saw the statue of Charles de Gaulle, a nifty one seat silver car (couldn’t find out its name in the Toyota showroom), and Fouquets (where mom and I splurged 24 years ago). At the entrance of this expensive restaurant are gold blocks.

The Arc de Triomphe wasn’t done to welcome Napoleon’s troops but was completed 20 years later. There are underground passageways to get to its grounds. It’s awesome to see the sculptures and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier again. I had forgotten about Armistice Day. I’m leaving 11^th November and would have loved to watch the parade down the Champs Elysees.

Statue of Henry IV: located on Pont Neuf

The sky was crisp blue. I sat on the steps of Palais de Chaillot (housing 3 museums) gazing at the Eiffel Tower.

Leaves still gripping on the trees in Champs de Mar, I looked back at the tower, built 1889 by Gustave Eiffel. Almost torn down, can you imagine Paris without this steel structure?

Passing by Ecole Militarie, where Napoleon trained, I headed to Hotel des Invalides, built for Louis XIV’s wounded and homeless soldiers. The glittering golden Dome Church houses Napoleon’s tomb.

I watched a man carving vegetables into a work of art. Agreed to have his picture taken, I gave him money.

Wednesday it rained. My timing was perfect to take the tour of Chateaux de Loire Valley. Thursday, my last day, turned sunny and warm. What luck!

The 14^th century Conciergerie, once a palace, and then a prison (Marie Antoinette roomed in a tiny cell until execution), now functions such as concerts occur.

I crossed Pont Neuf, meaning new bridge, to get to Ile de la Cite (origin of Paris). Actually this is the oldest bridge (1607) in Paris. Behind the statue of Henry IV are the steps leading to Square du Vert-Galant. Peaceful from the bustling streets, I sat on the bench etching the colourful flowers and the view of the Seine into my mind.

I didn’t spend long at Place Dauphine, a V-shaped square laid out by Henry IV in 1607 only to see no.14, that avoided many restorations.

X-ray security was the order to enter the grounds (across are toilets, for free!). Saint-Chapelle, completed 1248, has a gorgeous spire rising 75m high. Inside are magnificent 15 stained glass windows. Once a royal palace, Palais de Justice now houses law courts.

I walked around the courtyard in Hotel Dieu, once an orphanage, now hospital. Here in 1944, brave Paris police resisted the Germans.

I crossed over to Ile St-Louis. Walking on the narrow cobblestone Rue St.-Louis-en I’lle, I found the baroque Eglise St-Louis en-I’lle. I was amazed at the gorgeous interior of gilding and marble then got shooed out. Found out later I was in off hours.

Near home base, I was on Blvd. St Michel. The beautiful fountain on Place St. Michel depicts a not so beautiful story of St. Michel killing a dragon.

Saint Chapelle: completed 1248

There was a pit in my stomach. I don’t want to go home. I spent what little daylight was left strolling in Jardin de Luxembourg.

The beautiful architecture of Palais du Luxembourg, was built to remind Marie de Medicis, window of Henry IV, her native Florence. Along with other Parisians, I wondered around this 60-acre park dotted with statues and an octagonal pool. The clouds began to roll in.

At Le Tabac de la Sorbonne I enjoyed a cappuccino and one last people watching.

One really can’t get lost in France’s capital. It’s fun trying. I won’t wait too long to visit the other unexplored Paris on foot.