After spending a few weeks back in the Kootenays visiting family & friends and managing loose ends, I travelled back to Calgary for a week before flying off to Paris.
I am staying at a hostel in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. Great access to the Seine and walking distance to Notre Dame and many other sites, in-fact I actually walked all the way to the Eiffel Tower from here yesterday! A highlight for me is definitely the many people out enjoying themselves. Many of the main attractions are really busy and require pre-purchased tickets to enter, but I was fortunate to stumble upon Notre Dame at 8am on my first day exploring and found only a few people in the line.
The city is vibrant, has a huge cafe culture, stunning architecture, great public transportation, and really wonderful people.
First meal in Paris at La Favorite Saint-Paul.Tried to order Charcuturie, but it was actually called a Planche Mixte.Sunset over the Siene. A block from the hostel. Found myself here most evenings for a drink, sharing great conversations with people from all over the world.Les Nautes brewery had IPA pints for 10 euro, but the next day I found la Goudale at the shop across the street for 2 euro.Enjoyed baguette sandwich and beer at the base of the Eiffel Tower for lunch a few times. People watching was always entertaining!Eiffel Tower in the evening.Arrive at Notre Dame early. No line up when they opened at 8am!Mass was being held first thing in the morning.Glass pyramid of the Louve. Arrived early to get a ticket, but it was fully booked for days. Need to plan ahead!Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel at the Louve, I originally though this was the Arc de Triomphe, until I stumbled across the actual Arc de Triomphe and realized it’s scale. Regardless, the carving detail is impressive.The Olympic Couldron Ballon resting atop the Egyptian Luxor Obelisk in the Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris where more than 1300 people including King Louis XVI and Marie Antonette faced the guillotine during the French Revolution.Balloon captured later in it’s normal resting position.Grand entrance to the Petit Palace. Housed a free museum that was well worth the visit.One of the many exhibit halls in the palace.Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmarte. Was not able to enter due to the long queue but really enjoyed the walk up the hill and views looking over Paris.The actual Arc de Triomphe. Very impressive!Each evening I could hear music and see people dancing across the Seine from the hostel. I walked over on the third night to find several of these small semi-circular amphitheaters. Each one features a different dance style with recorded or live musicians, including Salsa/Bachata, Tango, Waltz, Swing and Afro-Caribbean. Continued each night well into the early morningSitting in a cafe, watching two Italian boys thrilled by the air vents blowing their ball caps high into the air.
Leave a Reply