une Canadienne en France

On the first weekend in February I went to Paris, to see the City of Love for myself. It was much more stunning than I had expected. The city seemed to exude romance and beauty. At every turn, I think I had my camera out and was taking a photo of something. I was skeptical before arriving too, “How can a city be beautiful?” But it really was. Maybe all of my previously conceived notions and pop culture connotations influenced this perspective; whatever it was though, I was in awe of the city.

I arrived early Saturday morning to find myself in brilliant sunshine. I found my Hostel, which is located in the Latin Quarter of the City about a 20min walk from the train station, without getting lost. Once I had dropped off my bag I started walking through the City. I walked so much this first day, my legs are still hurting today. Serves me right though for obeying fashion over practicality!

First I visited the Notre Dame Cathedral. The Cathedral is located on a little island in the middle of the Seine River called the Île de la Cité and is the middle of Paris.

Photo from the bridge I am crossing to get to Notre Dame.

The Cathedral

Sightseers everywhere

Stunning blue statues against the dark Gothic exterior

Christmas in February? Tree in the courtyard in front of the Cathedral

I think only children love pigeons

What an entrance!

I didn’t go into the Cathedral because I wanted to see as much of Paris as I could in the sunshine. From Notre Dame I wandered through the streets in the general direction of the Eiffel Tower.

Now this woman knows how to kick butt. Statue and fountain across the Seine from Notre Dame.

How many feet have walked along these cobblestones?

I can think of no street in Vancouver that ends with a view like that

I stopped for lunch with the tip of the Eiffel Tower in view. I dined in the typical Parisian style: small table faced towards the street, red wine, and sunglasses, fur coats and cigarette smoke everywhere. What a wonderful context for lunch, no? It felt as if I was dining in heaven.

Afterwards, I headed to “the” Paris landmark: The Eiffel Tower. I was astounded by it’s elegance and presence. For a structure composed solely of iron, it was breathtaking.

My first look

Would you take a photo for me?

Amazing, I know

The intricacy

The people look like ants

Une Canadienne en Paris

After plenty of staring at the Eiffel Tower, I started towards the Champs Élysées.

Crossing the Seine

Look, a tribute!

Gold statues?! No…

Can you imagine walking by this everyday?

Or driving across a bridge to this every morning?

I know, stunning

Le Grand Palais

Le Petit Palais

Oh, Champs Élysées!

Another look back

Huge Plaza between the Champs Élysées and the Jardin Tuileries

At the end of the Champs Élysées, the Jardin Tuileries begins. This is the large garden behind the Louvre. I stopped for a crêpe and then wandered through the garden. It’s winter starkness was quite striking in it’s minimalism.

One of two ponds in the garden

Pond No. Two with sailboats, mallards and all

One wing of the Louvre

My close-up

Through here, the Louvre

The famed museum

I did not go into the Louvre on this day, as with Notre Dame, I wanted to see as much of Paris in the sunshine as I could.

The outside wall of one of the entrances to the Louvre courtyard

The Louvre to the left

The Seine to the right

One of the many fabulous bridges

Walking across the fabulous bridge. Eiffel Tower to my right

Notre Dame and the Île de la Cité to my left

The Louvre to my back

And the Bastille to my front

Only in Paris would you find yourself with four landmarks, one to each side

After a long day of sightseeing, I headed back to my hostel and took an hour or two to relax. Before I knew it, it was dark outside and time to head out again. Even though my legs were hurting a little bit from the day of walking, I wanted to go see Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower at night.

Here is the street that my hostel was located on.

The Cathedral

It felt much more Gothic at night

I decided to venture inside , now that the day’s crowds were gone

Light from above…

It is no wonder that the church inspired worship 100s of years ago; I was completely marveled

Awe-inspiring

I returned to the same bridge as earlier, with each of the four points offering a landmark of a view.

The Eiffel Tower to my right

Notre Dame and the Île de la Cité to my left

The Louvre to my back

The Bastille to the front

Self-portrait No. 15

I then headed for the tall light in the distance – the Eiffel Tower. It felt like it was always within “the next block.” Paris is deceptively large and it took me over a half an hour to walk from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower at a fair pace. The chilly winter air helped keep me moving.

I can’t decide if it is more breath-taking in the day or night

On the hour, lights placed all over the tower flicker. It is dazzling – it looks like it is sparkling

After this, I had to taxi back to the hostel because my legs were in so much pain. It didn’t help that I was wearing shoes for their beauty not for their practicality. I had a gegret at dinner of mussels, lamb and potatoe gratin with a group of Scottish University students. We ate and drank until well past midnight. I was so tired from my day of walking (and my legs were aching) that I went right to bed upon returning to the hostel.

The next day I was relegated to my runners and I set off for the Louvre. I was reading for some serious art viewing!

French houseboats

Another sunny day, thank goodness

The Louvre. It is difficult to appreciative the enormity of the museum from only photos

Just massive, so massive

Can you take a photo for me?

Once inside the Louvre I was met with chaos. On the first Sunday of the month it is free to get into any museum in Paris so there were hundreds of people there. I was only there for about an hour and a half before the crowds were too much. I resolved on going back the next day so that I would actually being able to enjoy the art. There were so many people milling everywhere, talking loudly to their companions, on their cell phones, taking photos with their cell phones…I know, how ridiculous. I think that the people that go to museums on free days are people that would never consider paying admission to go to a museum. Ergo – no real appreciation.

Here are a few photos that I took while I was there though:

I really loved the juxtaposition of modern architecture and ancient history

This sculpture reminded my of mom – it is a group of children playing with a goat. It made me smile with thoughts of Purdy

The Mona Lisa. This is as close as I got on Sunday. Can you believe how many people are in this room? How can they see anything?

After the Louvre, I just shuffled down the Seine and bought a few postcards and two little posters/prints. It was sunny again today and just gorgeous outside so I had no complaints about spending the afternoon outside.

Roller skaters/bladers performing for the tourists

Their footwork was astounding

That night I bought a few things from a sidewalk market and had dinner hunched over my book. It is getting so good, that I just can’t put it down. That night I found a cool little bar where I enjoyed Strongbow and some Norah Jones. It was awesome. With all of the sightseeing done alone, it was so nice to be with people. Even though I was technically by myself, just to be in a social atmosphere was nice. And no football, thank goodness, even though I was propositioned numerous times by the American’s staying at the hostel.

The next day, my last day in Paris, was dreary and wet. But (as Dana pointed out) there is something striking about the city when it is shrouded in grey. It almost seems more appropriate. My train left at 7pm so I spent the day wandering down streets I hadn’t been before, eating street vendor crêpes (crêpe avec sucre and citron = heaven) and tried to brave the Louvre again.

As I approached the Louvre I was happy to see no line-up curved around the pyramid, but once I got inside I was met by massive crowds again. My legs were in too much pain to spend the day dodging people, so I didn’t pay to get into the museum wings. I know that I will go back to Paris, it has too much too offer not to, so I will try the Louvre again. Next time I will try for mid-week, or perhaps later at night…

Here is Paris in the fitting grey:

The Louvre

Self-portrait No. 21

View from the Jardin Tuileries looking towards the Champs Élysées

The Île de la Cité

One of the few occasions in which I have needed to use an umbrella in France

I ended my trip to Paris with tapas in a Spanish restaurant. The Gare de Lyon is a short metro ride from downtown Paris and before I knew it I was back on the train headed for Grenoble. Ahh, Paris; you won over a little part of my heart.