Editor's Pick
MARCH 9, 2009 1:11AM
Rate: 9
Paris. Just the name seems to induce a heavenly sigh. The anticipation of something wonderful. An adventure. It does not disappoint. There is no place in the world like Paris. The city is full of everything for everyone. To explore Paris could take a lifetime or more. I wish I had the time.
I do know that just living there for a short short time was an experience that I never anticipated. People in my tribe never traveled much past Utica. I got to be anything I wanted to be in Paris. Ok, as much as I wanted to be with two small canines attached to me. But since Paris is a city that thinks canines are as normal to have in tow as are children, we enjoyed the city together.
This picture is from one of our first nights in Paris. We signed up for one of those silly boats rides down the Seine and picked one that allowed the dogs. Lulu had a front row seat because she was the shortest one on board. And might I say, one of the best behaved. The bridges just can't be admired any other way than on the water. They are works of art.
It is an easy hop over to Notre Dame on the Metro. We thought a concert would be a fine way for a nice Jewish girl to explore the famous church without having to light a candle. The inside is a little coffin like, but a smidgeon larger. Frankly, it was slightly unnerving. But beautiful in that historic way. When entering you can see the marks on the sides of the stones up to about your knees where the animals who once sheltered in the building, stained the stone with their waste. The Cathedral is just immense. These photos were taken the same evening, just hours apart - in full light and then again when the light was fading. The color of the stone in the changing light is beautiful. It is hard to fathom standing in the same spot where the Crusaders ventured on their way to war.
We lived in the 8th arrondissement, near La Opera. The building was undergoing some renovation that should have been finished long before we left, but since this is France, things move at the speed of bubble gum stuck to the sidewalk on a warm summer day. Even 6 months after we left it still was not finished. This Opera Garnier should never be confused with the modern Opera house that is well, not this.
Le Louvre is a museum you have to visit more than one time to take it all in. It is a most interesting place with a long sordid history, some of which is still evident in the lower regions of the building. I actually had a tough time down in the lower levels - something about the air perhaps. Those middle ages were a killer. Wandering the upper levels and viewing the inner courtyard it is easy to imagine the immense structure as the palace it once was. These days there is a great restuarant at the very left edge of this photo on the porch called Marly's Cafe. We spent many evenings there. Something about sipping wine, eating wonderful food on the porch of Le Louvre gazing at the structure.
There is nothing like Tour Eiffel at night. Taken from Trocadero Eiffel is just magnificent. The very first time you arrive via Metro to Trocadero and enter the plaza, stepping past the first building to the open space, the view of Eiffel will make you stop in your tracks. It is that stunning.
Paris is a place that I can return to and pick up like we never missed a beat. Just like a good friend, the passage of time falls away and it feels like we were never apart. That is the kind of place I call home.
I do know that just living there for a short short time was an experience that I never anticipated. People in my tribe never traveled much past Utica. I got to be anything I wanted to be in Paris. Ok, as much as I wanted to be with two small canines attached to me. But since Paris is a city that thinks canines are as normal to have in tow as are children, we enjoyed the city together.
This picture is from one of our first nights in Paris. We signed up for one of those silly boats rides down the Seine and picked one that allowed the dogs. Lulu had a front row seat because she was the shortest one on board. And might I say, one of the best behaved. The bridges just can't be admired any other way than on the water. They are works of art.
It is an easy hop over to Notre Dame on the Metro. We thought a concert would be a fine way for a nice Jewish girl to explore the famous church without having to light a candle. The inside is a little coffin like, but a smidgeon larger. Frankly, it was slightly unnerving. But beautiful in that historic way. When entering you can see the marks on the sides of the stones up to about your knees where the animals who once sheltered in the building, stained the stone with their waste. The Cathedral is just immense. These photos were taken the same evening, just hours apart - in full light and then again when the light was fading. The color of the stone in the changing light is beautiful. It is hard to fathom standing in the same spot where the Crusaders ventured on their way to war.
We lived in the 8th arrondissement, near La Opera. The building was undergoing some renovation that should have been finished long before we left, but since this is France, things move at the speed of bubble gum stuck to the sidewalk on a warm summer day. Even 6 months after we left it still was not finished. This Opera Garnier should never be confused with the modern Opera house that is well, not this.
Le Louvre is a museum you have to visit more than one time to take it all in. It is a most interesting place with a long sordid history, some of which is still evident in the lower regions of the building. I actually had a tough time down in the lower levels - something about the air perhaps. Those middle ages were a killer. Wandering the upper levels and viewing the inner courtyard it is easy to imagine the immense structure as the palace it once was. These days there is a great restuarant at the very left edge of this photo on the porch called Marly's Cafe. We spent many evenings there. Something about sipping wine, eating wonderful food on the porch of Le Louvre gazing at the structure.
There is nothing like Tour Eiffel at night. Taken from Trocadero Eiffel is just magnificent. The very first time you arrive via Metro to Trocadero and enter the plaza, stepping past the first building to the open space, the view of Eiffel will make you stop in your tracks. It is that stunning.
Paris is a place that I can return to and pick up like we never missed a beat. Just like a good friend, the passage of time falls away and it feels like we were never apart. That is the kind of place I call home.
Comments
Mon dieu! Qu'une belle ville, je suis si jaloux ! Premier mon frère et ma belle soeur alors vous faites ! Merci beaucoup pour ces images marveilleux!
(Okay, so I'm showing off, but I've got an itch to go to France....that's getting worse all the time!)
(Okay, so I'm showing off, but I've got an itch to go to France....that's getting worse all the time!)
Oh my ... the move is getting to you isn't it? I believe I would be doing the same thing ... daydreaming of paradise where it doesn't matter exactly where you live, because the environment as a whole is perfection ...
Hang in there love ... everything is going to be fine.
:) Ann
Hang in there love ... everything is going to be fine.
:) Ann
Oh, L & P, we took le bateaux mouche on the Seine too. It was a lovely tour and silly me, I had no idea that a miniature version of the Statue of Liberty was installed next to the Pont de Grenelle! As I understand it, it was erected by American expats in the late 19th century. I agree, the view of the Eiffel is stunning as you exit the Trocodero metro stop.....it hits you in the gut, because you are not expecting it. You stayed in a wonderful location....we were in the very residential 15th arrondissement....but still happy because of their excellent metro system, we got to see everything that we wanted and more. Great post and rated!!
Mercie beaucoup, mon amie. Tres fantastique! Zut alors! la rated.
Thanks for a little Paris. I've been there once and yearn to go back. In my eight full days there, I went to the Louvre three times and barely scratched the surface. Also took the bateaux mouche...at night...especially beautiful with the lights shining on the Seine. It's all magic to me.
Lovely mini-tour with outstanding photos. Thanks!
Thanks everyone. Oui, oui. I miss Paris very much.
Ann - you know me too well. Overwhelmed is an understatement right now.
Metro is wonderful, isn't it? The dogs were regulars on there.
Le Louvre can takes weeks to crawl through. There is something about the ghosts in that structure that is a little bit odd. And I hate the pyramid. But to sit there and stare at it is a treat for the soul.
Trucodero is the way to see Eiffel the first time, yes? It does stop you right in your tracks.
Ann - you know me too well. Overwhelmed is an understatement right now.
Metro is wonderful, isn't it? The dogs were regulars on there.
Le Louvre can takes weeks to crawl through. There is something about the ghosts in that structure that is a little bit odd. And I hate the pyramid. But to sit there and stare at it is a treat for the soul.
Trucodero is the way to see Eiffel the first time, yes? It does stop you right in your tracks.
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