We started the day with a little of the Paris lifestyle that I could really get used to – freshed baked goods! It’s true what they say about not being able to turn around without being poked in the eye with a baguette – everyone has one. Next door to our hotel is the Boulangerie de Pere en Fils with award-winning baked goods, including the chocolate bread and viennoise sticks we picked up and munched on as we made our way to the Metro.
On the whole, today was better weather than yesterday, but still damp so we tried to stay undercover as much as possible. Our first stop was the Bateaux Parisiene, a one-hour cruise from near the Eiffel Tower around the islands and back again. As you go you have the option to listen in on an audio tour of the attractions you are passing, with some pretty cheesey voice actors relating historical facts and the architectural significance of each.
This included, of course, the numerous bridges along the way, but also the palaces, schools and churches that are hundreds (sometimes thousands) of years old, and the transformations that illustrate the city and country’s history.
Our trip was mostly sunny and for a short while I also took in the sights from the outdoor deck above the boat. The boats are quite large and at different times of day they will also treat you to a meal. Many other boats of various sizes and opulence were also on the water – there are many choices you can tailor your trip to. The hour went by quickly and before we knew it we were back at the dock .
Back to the Metro (which we’re getting better at) we circled around to the Musee d’Orsay. This is one strop we hadn’t anticipated a long line for, but on a wet Tuesday afternoon we suppose everyone had the same idea – spend it indoors. The line here actually crossed the street so we were a little over an hour waiting to get tickets, but once we were in were rewarded with an afternoon of masterpieces.
Of course everyone will want to take in the Louvre while they are in Paris, but the Orsay is not to be overlooked, with a vast collection of classicist, impressionist, neo- and post-impressionist, and realist paintings taking up the majority of our time – major works by Degas, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Seurat, Van Gough and so many others.
Meanwhile, most of the lower floor is given over to sculpture and we spent the balance of our time roaming among the figures from Greek to modern times. I think we liked the polar bear the best, though it was fun to find Rodin’s The Thinker almost hidden in a giant sculpture of the Gates of Hell.
Eventually super-saturated with art, but with the skies starting to clear, we made out way outside and across the Seine. We strolled through the end of the Tuileries Gardens and then to the Place de Concourds – former home of the national razor. It is now a large open square with a traffic pattern running through it, so it’s odd to think about the cart loads of people being brought here for execution during the French Revolution.
Place de Concordes is also the start of the Champs Elysees, perhaps the world’s most famous shopping district. The glitter and brand names as evening set in reminded us very much of the Vegas strip, We stopped about half way along the stretch for a bite to eat at Le Deauville which was quite tasty before walking the rest of the way to the Arc de Triomph.
The Arc itself is just as impressive as you would expect, and perhaps more so when lit up at night. Circled by the insane Place de l’Etoile, possibly the world’s most dangerous roundabout, the Arc itself is accessible from an underground tunnel which puts you at the bottom of a spiral staircase all the way to the mini-museum near the top. A few dozen more steps puts you right on the roof and the view of the radiating roads and the nearby Eiffel Tower all reinforce the city’s reputation as the City of Lights.
I made that trek alone as Sharon felt the climb was more than necessary after all the walking we had done today, but unhappily when I got back to her she was feeling uncomfortable and very ready to get back to the hotel. We grabbed a cab and had the unsought thrill ride of getting through the Place de l’Etoile and while it reminded me of a similar ride in Kingston, Jamaica, no one was hurt or needing thier insurance by the time we were through (as far as we could tell).Twenty minutes later we were back to our hotel room and ready for bed.
