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Paris October 2012

Paris: Oct 2012

Wow! Our first trip to Paris. 

It starts on the Thayles train - an easy 3 hour trip from Koln to the Gard Nord in Paris. No airports, no security, no passports - yay! Finally got to attempt our aging French language learned from many years ago. Occasionally we would get the comment, “Do you want to speak English instead?”

Walking, walking, walking all over Paris we take in the different neighborhoods and sites. Our hotel is very simple - a small room in an old building, but clean and in a fun little neighborhood close to the metro. There is a small market by the hotel where we purchase breakfast rolls and munchies. We found an Indian food restaurant that was so good we went twice! We had to have crepes one evening. The hop on - hop off bus gave us great access to the main tourist points.

First stop, the Arc de Triumph. Photos on the outside, then up the stairs to the top to get a view of the surrounding boulevards.

The Eiffel Tower is just as cool in real life as in all the photos. We walked up the stairs up to the top observation area which was on the second level and what a view of the city! The “Buddy Bear” exhibit was visiting with colorful bears from each country. Really interesting to see how each country chose to decorate their bear - the US was the Statue of Liberty bear - not so creative - many countries were much more colorful.

It was fun to walk along the River Seine and take in the small book stores lining the shores, the boats tied up on the sides, the old bridges across the river and all the beautiful buildings around.

Montmartre was stunning, sitting up there on a hill above Paris. What a combination of experiences - from a busy neighborhood selling a million tourist items, to a quiet church inside to a performer at the top doing amazing stunts on a pole with a soccer ball. 

Walking, walking, walking... the mini Statue of Liberty on the Seine, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Louvre. The Louvre was the only disappointing part of the trip - it was SO crowded that it was hard to see anything. You had to physically push into the crowd to get close to the Mona Lisa. Yet, it was pretty amazing to see in person the picture that I have seen in reproduction a million times. It was very small by the way!

Yes! We want to go back!!

Picture
Picture

Photo Gallery: click on each to see a larger image.

Arc de Triumph
Admiral Ferdinand Foch Place de Tracadero
From the tower
The city!
Up the tower
A mosaic of steel
Walking up
The icon!
China bear from the bears of the world exhibit on the lawn at the Eiffel Tower
Brightly coloured bear
Another view
Soccer ball stunts
Amazing performer!
Montmartre
Neighbourhood near Montmartre
Love the street signs
Mini statue of liberty in the Seine
Love on the Seine
Metro takes you anywhere
Back side of Notre Dame
Notre Dame
Panorama of Seine
Louvre
Winged Victory
The Lady!
Our hotel
Market near the hotel
Love locks on a bridge over the Seine
Indian food dinner - yum!

  • Home
  • 2025
    • Vieques
    • Costa Rica >
      • Tour Part 1
      • Tour Part 2
      • Our Costa Rica Getaway
  • 2024
    • Canoe Trip
    • Erie Canal Bike Trip Part 1
    • West Coast
    • Erie Canal Bike Trip Part 2
    • Little River
    • All the Rest 2024
  • 2019-2023
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      • Siem Reap
      • Water Sanitation
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    • Super-Blue-Blood Moon
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    • Texas Motorcycle Trip-1
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    • Short Travel Videos
  • 2014-2016
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      • Nakhchivan May 2016
      • Quba Apr/May 2016
      • Museums Feb 2016
      • Friends & Gatherings Baku
      • House and Plants
      • Around Baku
      • Qax June 2015
      • Billy's Decade Party
      • Ganja & Goygol Oct 2015
      • Lahij Feb 2015
      • Yanar Dag/Ateshgah
      • Petroglyphs/Mud Volcanoes
      • Oguz, Xal Xal: Oct 2014
      • Absheron Park: Sep 2014
      • First 2 Wks Baku: Aug 2014
    • Turkey >
      • Cappidocia Nov 2015
      • Trekking Lycian Way >
        • Overview
        • Kayaköy
        • Ovacik-Faralya
        • Faralya-Alinca
        • Alinca-Gey
        • Gey-Sidyma-Gey
        • Patara Day 1
        • Patara Day 2
        • Patara Day 3
    • USA >
      • Amtrak Cross US Nov 2016
      • Summer 2016 >
        • Vermont 2 Trips
        • Long Island, Connecticut
      • Summer 2015 >
        • OR, WA, IN
        • Long Island, Connecticut
      • 2 Birthdays: Jan/Feb 2015
      • Long Island Winter 2014/15
  • 2011-2014
    • Germany: 2011-2014 >
      • Berlin & Koblenz 2014
      • Year End Summary 2013
      • Romantic RoadOct 2013
      • Jan - May 2013
      • Ahr - Blankenheim Oct 12
      • Aug - Dec 2012
      • Trier, Luxembourg: 2012
      • Nov 2011-March 2012
      • Mainz Frankfurt: Feb 2012
      • Windeck: Oct 2011
      • Eifel Park & Ahr: Oct 2011
      • Vineyard Tour 2011
      • First Impressions
    • France: April 2014
    • Netherlands: May 2013
    • Ireland: July 2013
    • X-Country Motorcycle: 2012
    • Paris: Oct 2012
    • Spain: Oct 2012
    • USA >
      • Summer 2014
      • Motorcycle MA & VT: 2014
      • Mom Memorial: Feb 2014
      • Wedding & Ft Wayne: Feb 2012
      • Greg & Jess Wed: July 2011
      • Summer 2011
  • 2008-2011
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    • An Hui Province: Apr 2009
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    • Habitat Humanity: Nov 2008
    • Chinese New Year
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      • Summer 2009
  • 2006-2008
    • Zambia >
      • Northern Zambia 2006
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    • Honda Goldwing GL1800 >
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    • BMW K1200GT
    • 1984 Honda V65 Sabre
    • Chang Jiang 750
    • Rocky SX Daihatsu
    • Honda NightHawk 750cc
    • Nutmeg: 1971 Super Beetle
    • Volvo C70 T5
  • Mom & Dad
  • Seattle & Bellingham