So...on Monday, we decided to forego our plan to do a Discoverwalks in Monmartre. It was our last day in Paris and we wanted to go to the Rodin Museum, the Eiffel Tower, and do the Vendettes de Pont Neuf boat ride on the Seine. It was a mildly cloudy day and off we went on a nice walk through the 7 th arrondissement to the Rodin Museum. In my haste to get going, I neglected to check my list of days on which museums are closed....you got it, our only views of Rodin sculptures was the back of the Thinker over the wall and from across the street and one other piece through a glass window :(. Since this was the most important place on Art's list, I was mortified! So instead we walked across the street to Les Invalides to view Napoleon'ss tomb in the main Chapel ( quite a magnificent building and amazing memorial. Then we used audio- guides to traverse French history from Louis the 14th through Napoleon the III. Really a wonderful exhibit. Les Invalides is such a large museum that it would take many trips to see it all. We left to walk to the Eiffel Tower which we had seen from a distance from our first day and almost every day. It was much larger than expected and quite an engineering and architectural feat. Current renovations are underway to create a new first floor. But took lots of pictures anyway and the walked across the bridge to Trocadero ( for the best views of the whole tower). It was getting cold and very gray so we decided to walk to the nearby Branley Museum ( covered with lots of foliage and a garden in front). Guess what? It was closed on Mondays as well! Our list of what to see on a return visit gets longer :)
We walked back to the Place de la Concorde along the Seine stopping to admire and take photos of the Pont Alexandre along the way. By the time we reached the Rue de Rivoli ( near our hotel), our feet and tummies were complaining loudly. To quiet them down, we decided to have a late lunch at the Imperial Cafe ...wonderful decision! I had a Kir Sauvignon and Onion Soup and Art a Croc Monsieur ( decadent fried ham and cheese sandwich) with, of course, French fries - which tasted like American fries :). Delicious, excellent service and outrageous bill worth every penny.
Back at the hotel, we found that Internet service was still out, packed up, make arrangements for a 6:45 AM taxi to Orly for our flight to Barcelona and a 5:45 wake-up call :( Then we walked over to the nearby boulangerie for sandwiches and pastries for dinner in our room. All in all a busy, fun day despite missing some sights. Certainly wish that we had a few more days...but already planning for "next time".
Since the Eiffel Tower's lights sparkle for 10 minutes on the hour, we walked back over to the Place de la Concorde (about a 10 min. walk) to find a place to watch. It was a cold night but perfect for watching the tower sparkle even though we were a distance away. A perfect ending to a very good day!
Today's pictures:
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