Not so Gay Paris

After an all day train trip we arrived in Paris in the early evening.  We made the long trek from Gare de l’Est to our hotel in Montmartre through congested streets filled with immigrants and small bargain shops.  We dropped off our bags at our fairly ordinary hotel and hit the streets to find someplace for dinner.

Tempting but perhaps not for dinner

The next morning we hopped on the excellent metro system to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées.  When we arrived we found the entire boulevard closed off and a massive machinegun toting police and army presence.  We never realised this was the day for the finish of the Tour de France bike race.  There was no way could cross the Champs–Elysées to see any of the sights.  I know the strong police presence is for security but I found it very disconcerting and the presence of so many guns me feel extremely insecure.  So we walked away from the boulevard, found a metro stop and went to the southern side of the Seine, the Latin Quarter and finally to the delightful Luxembourg Gardens.  The garden was a lovely place to sit and eat our sandwiches while admiring the beautiful flower beds and sculptures.  

Pont Alexandre III

Flowers and Sculptures of Luxembourg Gardens

 

In the Luxembourg Gardens was a great little sailing boat pond where people could hire boats flying flags of different nations.

NZ catching up to Canada - Take note Onyx and Three Sheets!

Then back across the river to the Notre Dame cathedral.

The bells, the bells! - The queues, the queues!

The next day we explored the sights around Montmartre including Sacre Coeur and the Montmartre Cemetery.  The cemetery was tucked between and under some busy roads but was still a nice respite from the city.  We found the graves of Degas, Berlioz and Adolfe Sax amongst others.

Sacre Coeur

The afternoon was spent at the Eiffel Tower.  We climbed up to the second level – that’s a lot of steps!  Then took a lift to the top.  We had magnificent views as we watched a thunderstorm move across the city.

 

 

Montmartre and Sacre Coeur in the distance

Arc de Triomphe

The Seine

Our final day in Paris was spent at the Rodin Sculpture Garden and walking along the Champs-Elysées just enjoying it all. 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob found the Shakespeare and Company Bookshop, which he first discovered in 1974.  This bookshop was the place for the literati of the Left Bank between the Wars.  It closed during WWII but was reopened in the early 1960's.  For me it is the quintessential bookshop - perfect.  

 

Some words of wisdom scattered around the Bookshop

 

I know most people love Paris but the city did not really grab me.  There were certainly some wonderful sights and I am glad I spent a few days there, but the overall vibe of the city left me a bit lukewarm.  To be fair, France has had a rough time of late with all the terrorists’ attacks so perhaps the usual joie de vivre was a bit suppressed.