Walking Around Paris

My main mode of transportation around Paris was by foot, so I came across many interesting things as I made my way from location to location. I've included many of these photos in the hopes of giving blog visitors a sense of what it was like to walk around the city. Photos in this post are chronological and from both Monday and Tuesday.

A corner near Champ de Mars, on my way to la Tour Eiffel.

This photo was taken from Pont d'Iéna on my way over to the Trocadéro after visiting La Tour Eiffel.

I have a thing for subway signs, I guess. This was near the Trocadéro.

Street corner near the Trocadéro as I begin working my way east toward the Louvre.

Another street corner.

Same corner as above, different angle.

Self explanatory.

I was hoping to get a decent French flag photo, and got it at the Grand Palais. Almost half way from the Trocadéro to the Louvre.

I came across a statue of the Marquis de Lafayette; this was what was written. I think most Americans have forgotten that we would have lost the Revolutionary War had it not been for the French, especially Lafayette. And that's about as political as I'll get on this blog.

Additional inscription on the statue base.

Statue of the Marquis de Lafayette.

Marquis de Lafayette.

Pont Alexandre III. Learn more about this bridge at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_Alexandre_III.

Details on Pont Alexandre III.

One of the corners of the Grand Palais.

Entry to the Petit Palais.

The Petit Palais.

Closer detail from the corner on the Grand Palais.

Looking down the Avenue des Champs-Elysées at l'Arc de Triomphe. This photo was taken near the Grand Palais at Avenue Winston Churchill.

The Obelisque de Louqsor in the Place de la Concorde.

Place de la Concorde.

Looking down the Seine with La Tour Eiffel and Pont Alexandre III in the background.

A building I liked across the river as I continued to walk to the Louvre.

Musée d'Orsay. Last photo before reaching the Louvre.

I took this photo Tuesday morning on my way to Notre Dame. On the left is Ile St-Louis, and on the right is Ile de la Cite. I'm on a bridge on Rue d'Arcole heading mainly south from the Hôtel De Ville Metro Station.

A street on Ile de la Cite, only a block or two from Notre Dame.

After Notre Dame, I took this photo just before lunch at a corner cafe just out of the photo on the right.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Another must-see location is the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris. Fortunately, I was able to go inside while a choir was practicing. It was magnificent. Again, the sky was mostly overcast, so the photos are a little dark.

The front of the Cathedral.

Main doors.

Close in on the middle third of the front.

Tower detail.

Detail on the center door.

Statuettes next to one of the doors.

Inside from near the entrance.

Looking up toward the ceiling.

Along the sides there are many of these vignette-like rooms.

One of the great windows.

A model of the cathedral.

Another window.

More interior detail.

Altar area.

Back outside again, the spire.

Exterior detail.

More exterior detail, this time showing some of the flying buttresses.

Exterior of one of the great windows.

Another exterior.

The back of the cathedral.

The Louvre

After the Trocadéro, I walked the 2.5 miles to the Louvre. Unfortunately, it had closed for the day, and I was out of luck for tomorrow, since it's closed every Tuesday. I'll have to wait until my next trip to Paris to see inside the Louvre. It was quite late, and quite overcast by this point, so the photos tend to be a little dark. I'm not an expert on the Louvre, so make sure to follow the link in the French Landmarks I've Visited section for proper information.

Part of the Palais du Louvre.

The easternmost part of the Jardin des Tuileries.

Looking through the Jardin Des Tuileries, one can see l'Arc de Triomphe far off in the background.

Palais du Louvre.

Palais du Louvre.

Palais du Louvre.

The Pyramide in front of the Louvre.

Wide angle view.

Detail at the top of the Arc du Carrousel.

The Arc du Carrousel.

Palais du Louvre with La Tour Eiffel in the background.

The Pyramide.

Palais and Pyramide.

The Pyramide.

Pool next to the Pyramide.

The Palais du Louvre reflects in the pool.

Another pool view.

Part of the Palais.

One for my window photo collection.

Final Palais and Pyramide shot.