Paris

It was our first full day in Paris.

The six of us originally booked a day tour to see the palace of Versailles. After thinking about it, we decided we would really like to see more of Paris proper so we cancelled the tour. 

Joe and Alan has been to Paris before and they decided to go ahead with the tour. 

They left the apartment just after 8AM. Their tour lasted about six hours and they thoroughly enjoyed it. 

The Palace of Versailles is one of the most famous and opulent palaces in the world. 

The palace became the seat of political power in France from 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789 and is a symbol of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime, showcasing the grandeur and power of the French monarchy.

The palace is home to numerous works of art reflecting the artistic achievements of the time and is surrounded by expansive and meticulously designed French gardens.

The Palace of Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracting millions of visitors each year by offering visitors a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the French monarchy and the history of France.

Bryan, John, Larry and I had a bit more relaxed of a morning, had some breakfast and decided to take a hop on-hop off around Paris. Its a great was to get accustomed to the city and see the landmarks. 

We had a casual 30 min walk from the apartment to our pickup point for the tour at the Notre-Dame Cathedral. This iconic Gothic masterpiece has stood for over 800 years and is a symbol of Parisian heritage. Despite the 2019 fire, efforts to restore its grandeur are ongoing.

It was still surrounded by scaffolding and construction cranes. There are bleachers setup in front where people can sit all day and stare at it, not sure why. 

A priest was doing some kind of service off to the side and the devout were there listening and participating by giving the sign of the cross and kneeling and praying as countless number of tourists walked between them taking pictures as if it were some side show. 

The Seine River runs through the heart of Paris, dividing it into the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) and the Right Bank (Rive Droite). The Notre-Dame Cathedral is on a small island. Here the Seine divides as if to give homage to the mighty cathedral and then joins once again on the other side to continues its journey through the city. 

We boarded the bus and began our 2 hr journey.

Just up from the cathedral we saw the location of the famous “Love Locks”. Until recently, couples would attach locks to the Pont des Arts bridge as a symbol of their love. The practice was halted due to the weight damaging the bridge. An entire section of the rails collapsed under the weight and fell into the Seine. 

Paris is known as the "City of Light" not only because of its role in the Age of Enlightenment but also because it was one of the first cities to adopt street lighting. From the second floor of the bus we had a close view of some of the original street lamps up closely. 

The Champs-Élysées is a famous avenue that leads to the Arc de Triomphe, which honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

We got off the bus here at the Arc. One of Paris's most iconic landmarks. It was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon I in 1806 to honor the French army’s victories and those who fought and died for France during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

The arc is adorned with intricate reliefs and sculptures depicting various battles and figures from the Napoleonic era. Engraved on the inside walls are the names of significant battles and 660 generals, with those who died in battle underlined.

Beneath the arc lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It honors the unidentified soldiers who died in World War I.

We had lunch in this area and decided on McDonalds, a place where we would rarely eat at home. They had the usual stuff but also some different foods on the menu. 

The restaurant was quite large. All the ordering was done on self service touch screens. The men’s bathroom had a grill with running water under all the urinals. I suppose it was a good idea for keeping the floors clean but made me wonder about the fish for their sandwich. 

Back on the bus, we next drove by the most iconic of all landmarks jn the city. Built for the 1889 World's Fair, the Eiffel Tower was initially criticized but has since become a global icon and an enduring symbol of Paris. It offers breathtaking views of the city.

Next was drove through the world’s largest and most visited art museum. Once a royal palace, the Louvre Museum is home to the Mona Lisa and countless other masterpieces. The building of the complex went on for blocks. We got to see the famous pyramid, a modern architectural wonder.

We decided not to get off with the millions of other people already in line. This would have to be another trip on its own. 

We exited the bus back where we started at the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The temperature felt as it was dropping and people were starting to bundle up.

We walked back to the apartment where we reconnected with Joe and Alan. It was early, only 5:30 and there were no restaurants open for dinner yet so that gave us some time to do some research on where to eat. 

We decided on a location and again had the same experience from the prior evening. People were scurrying everywhere before dinner but afterwards the cafés were full and the streets were empty. 

We were going to make an early night of it since the next day we had a 13 hour tour scheduled.