See the blog of Day 1 at Paris at -http://harshad-datar.blogspot.com/2018/05/three-days-in-paris-self-planned-europe.html?m=1
Our second day of the trip and also second day at Paris were expected to be action Packed as this was our one clear morning till evening day we had (previous day we arrived and we were to leave for Ghent next day post lunch).
After having Breakfast we took a metro to Chatlet, station serving for Notre Dame Cathedral. It was a pleasant walk to Ile De la Cite, island where the cathedral is located. As we reached Cite island, we came across a very charming flower market selling flowers, plants and seeds.
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| Flowers in the Flower and Plant Market |
After spending some time in this market, our son very confidently took us on the (so called) route to Notre Dame. We walked through having a look at the palace Dauphine (present day Police HQ) and other historical buildings.
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| Police HQ |
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| A grand building with Fountain |
We were enjoying the walk and wondering that is is very long walk till we realised that we had gone though the whole island where as the Cathedral was further down the road from the flower market. But the walk was fun.
Notre dame is a grand Cathedral with imposing and beautiful building from out side and even more beautiful from the inside. See for yourself.
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| Notre Dame |
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| Opulent Inside |
Once we finished visiting Notre Dame, We walked down to Chatelet Market. A big market with many eateries and other shops. While walking down to the market we came across a tower (Tower of Saint Jacques) n a garden.
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| Cherry Blossom in the Garden |
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| Tower of Saint Jacques (See the Aircraft Plum in the clear Sky right of the tower) |
We had Mediterranean Lunch in this market and then moved on to look at Saint Eustache Church. A old and grand Church, not as famous as Notre Dame but almost as Grand as Notre Dame. It was a chance find of our son who had some how reached this place while roaming around in Chatelet Market. The biggest advantage is, there is hardly any one here. That helps getting time to enjoy the beauty inside and outside of this Church. See the grandness and Beauty for yourself
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| Plan of the Church |
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| Grand Facade |
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| Grander Interiors |
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| The Arched Roof |
There is a Public Garden opposite this church. This stone art was right opposite the church in the beginning of the garden.
This garden is part of Les Halles, old vegetable market of Paris which was demolished and a modern market built in its place called Forum Des Halles (Not in Picture).
A small walk from Saint Eustache / Forum Des Halles took us the a grand Palace complex called Louvre Palace, which has a beautiful courtyard and a museum in the next part of it. Even before we entered the Palace, we came across this yet another beautiful Church across the road called Saint Germain l'Auxerrois. Due to shortage of time we were just happy to photograph it from a distance. Here is that photo.
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| Saint Germain l'Auxerrois |
Now coming to Louvre Palace. the size of the palace is imposing and grand. Even grander is its facade as seen below
This is how the main entrance on this side (and the courtyard has three more entrances) looks like. The door does not open there are entrances to either side to get into a archway leading to courtyard.
This is how beautiful the archway walls are
The next photo shows one side of massive courtyard
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| Exit on another side |
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| Look at the expanse |
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| Carved Door |
After soaking in the grandness and beauty of the Louvre and its massive courtyard, we moved to the Museum part. The museum is so vast that one day is generally not enough unless one just wants to tick his visit. We did not visit the museum but did go to its courtyard to see the famous Glass Pyramid which covers the entrance to underground part of the museum. This Pyramid was inaugurated in 1989 to mark bicentenary year of french revolution.
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| The Glass Pyramis |
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| One of the Decorative gates of this ection |
Having finished this wonderful place we went to Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden), a very large public garden in existence from 17th century which has many statues, etc. There is a victory gate in a circle between the Louvre and the Garden.
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Arc de Triomphe with its Carrousel
Public gardens are where French people enjoy a good picnic with wine / beer and food. A warm and sunny day is a perfect day for it. We being "Maukaterians" or opportunists, also utillised this visit to sit around and have our french wine and food.
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| Fun Time in Tuileries Garden |
After our picnic in Tuileries Garden, we took a metro (called RER B) and went to Arc de Triomphe (not to be mistaken with the previous one next to Louvre). This Arc is a War Memorial for unknown soldiers who died in various wars that France fought including World War I. The Bastille day Parade passes around it. There are various Sculptures on the Arc. It is a befitting memorial for scores of French military men who died in many wars that France fought.
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| Majestic Arc De Triomphe |
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| Dusk Setting in |
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| Memorial to Unknown Soldier |
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Beautiful Carving
It is a big traffic circle around Arc De Triomphe where there are 12 radials.. Major road is of course the famous Avenue De s Champs Elysees. It has all the major "Who's Who" of fashion and other brand.
After a quick dinner, we rushed to the Eiffel Tower by a Cab (its not far but we had our share of walking through the day and hence decided not to Walk). We wanted to see the Eiffel Tower in its night mood and also wanted to watch hourly Sparkle Illumination Show when all other lights are switched off and Sparkle lights come on.
And the Sparkle show is in the clip below
After this show, it was time to call it a day. We returned home after having dinner on the way and slept off.
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