Wait, Wait! There's More
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
(Point at each photo to read the caption; click to enlarge.)
|
Saturday morning was the last official day of the Best of Paris tour, but we weren't leaving until the following Tuesday. So after saying au revoir to our new friends Lisa and Dan who were off to the south of France for a week, we set off on our own self-guided walking tour.
Our itinerary included taking the Metro to Place de la Concorde then walking along the Champs Elysees, on to the Arc de Triomphe, and ending up at the Tour Eiffel for our 5:30 reservation. Allons-y, d'accord? TOP LEFT: During the French Revolution many people including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were beheaded by the guillotine set up in the middle of the Place de la Concorde. BOTTOM RIGHT: Since 1836, the Obelisk of Luxor has stood in the center of Place de la Concorde. It is one of two obelisks offered to France as a gift in 1829 from Muhammad Ali Pasha, the governor of Egypt. |
ALLEE MARCEL PROUST
From Place de la Concorde, we crossed a very busy street and made our way to Allée Marcel Proust, a footpath that meandered quietly through the Jardins des Champs-Élysées. We followed the path stopping to read signs and take pictures of emerging flowers as well as several sculptures set amongst the gardens.
(Point at each photo to read the caption; click to enlarge.)
(Point at each photo to read the caption; click to enlarge.)
ABOVE: A big surprise was stumbling upon this display of The 2013 L'Oréal-UNESCO* Awards for Women in Science. The awards are designed to improve the position of women in science by recognizing outstanding women researchers who have contributed to scientific progress. There must have been 50 bigger-than-life-size posters as they were double-sided and in two rows. What a find!
* The awards are a result of a partnership between the French cosmetics company L'Oréal and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and carry a grant of $100,000 USD for each laureate
* The awards are a result of a partnership between the French cosmetics company L'Oréal and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and carry a grant of $100,000 USD for each laureate
CHAMPS-ELYSEES
The Champs-Élysées is THE most iconic street in Paris, but it certainly is not the "other Paris" that we had discovered in the other districts. Yet, it is definitely worth a walk simply to say, "I've been there!"
With that in mind, I tried to capture a few sights that made this leg of our walk memorable.
With that in mind, I tried to capture a few sights that made this leg of our walk memorable.
L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE
(Point at each photo to read the caption; click to enlarge.)
Equally as impressive as the monument itself, is the huge round-about that encircles it. This spot, also know as Place de l'Étoile, is the meeting point of twelve straight avenues, the Champs Elysees being but one. There are no lanes or markers, and cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses, sometimes up to 10 abreast,
enter and leave the circle in a noisy, un-choreographed dance of perpetual motion.
This is truly a sight to behold!
enter and leave the circle in a noisy, un-choreographed dance of perpetual motion.
This is truly a sight to behold!
LES JARDINS DU TROCADERO VIA AVENUE KLEBER
Avenue Kleber is one of the 12 major avenues that radiates from Place de l'Étoile, and according to our map, was the most direct route to the Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower. The street is lined with grand buildings in the Haussmann style seen throughout most of Paris. It is also home to one of the remaining 83
Art Nouveau Metro stops.
Art Nouveau Metro stops.
The Jardins du Trocadéro is an open space in Paris that overlooks the Seine and the Eiffel tower. The present garden was created in 1937 for the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne. The gilded bronze statuary stood out in bright contrast to the overcast and darkening sky.
We waited for the water cannons to do their thing, but cold and time kept us moving to our
final stop of the day . . . la Tour Eiffel.
We waited for the water cannons to do their thing, but cold and time kept us moving to our
final stop of the day . . . la Tour Eiffel.
LA TOUR EIFFEL
The Eiffel Tower is THE iconic landmark of Paris, which is why I wanted to see it up close and personal. We had made reservations online several months in advance, and even then only a few times were available for the date we wanted. And as it turned out, we could only go to the second level because of the wind.
Nevertheless, it was well worth it to look down on Paris from this most famous landmark.
(Point at each photo to read the caption; click to enlarge.)
Nevertheless, it was well worth it to look down on Paris from this most famous landmark.
(Point at each photo to read the caption; click to enlarge.)