- Orsay Museum
- Rue Cler (for lunch)
- Napoleon's Tomb and the Army Museum
- Eiffel Tower
We heard that Musée d'Orsay was a better museum to visit than the Louvre. This museum focuses on the Impressionist era; it's not as overwhelming. However, the security was much more intense than at the Louvre; the line was also longer than the one for getting into the Louvre.
Fortunately, we read about pickpockets and scam artists before our trip. A man tried to pull "the lost ring" scam on me was we walked to the museum. I just ignored him and continued walking.
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| Man in the white pants tried to pull the "lost ring" scam on Ben |
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| Paul Cézan's The Bathers |
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| Paul Gauguin's Tahitian Women |
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| Eduard Manet's Serenity |
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| Vincent Van Gogh's The siesta |
Rick Steve's recommended taking a walk down Rue Cler. This street is closed to traffic; it is more of a traditional Parisian street. We found a nice brasserie that served sandwiches; little pizzas and quiches. A young man in his 20's helped us order 6 lunches from the counter to eat at a tables outside. The girls (and Renae and I) enjoyed the apricot tarts and chocolate éclairs that came with lunch. Sarah purchased meringue to enjoy while we walked to Napoleon's Tomb.
At Napoleon's Tomb (officially called L'Hôtel national des Invalides because it was eestablished to care for hurt veterans of France's wars), we arrived right at the start of rehearsal for a military ceremony. The 3 areas in the Musée de l'Armée we focused on were:
Interestingly, The WWII areas focused on how the French inflicted great damage to the German army during the defeat of June 1940. Not surprisingly, there was also a focus on the Free French forces in action in the colonies.
We ended the day with a stop back by Rue Cler for more bread and desserts and the Eiffel Tower! (You would be correct in surmising that the we're making more exceptions to the South Beach diet as continue our trip.)
Fortunately, we only waited in line for 5 minutes to get tickets. Even at 5 p.m. in the middle of the week during the off-season, it was still crowded. Sarah and Ruth wanted to walk the 700+ stairs to the 2nd level, but we all took the elevator to the top.
Rick Steves suggests the view on the 2nd level is better, but I think the view from the top is best.
With a long line for the elevator down from the 2nd level, we took the stairs. As Renae commented afterwards, she's glad we took the elevator up.
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| The young man who helped us order our lunch for 6 and Renae |
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| Lunch on outside tables on Rue Cler |
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| Fruit and vegetable stand on Rue Cler |
- Franco-Prussian War
- WWI
- WWII
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| Renae and the girls in front of Napoleon's Tomb/Army Museum |
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| Chapel at the museum/monument |
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| French soldiers rehearsing for a ceremony |
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| Napoleon's Tomb |
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| Charles de Gaulle's victorious march into Paris |
The gardens at the south entrance to the museum were stunningly beautiful.
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| Ben and the girls in the garden at Napoleon's Tomb & Army Museum |
Fortunately, we only waited in line for 5 minutes to get tickets. Even at 5 p.m. in the middle of the week during the off-season, it was still crowded. Sarah and Ruth wanted to walk the 700+ stairs to the 2nd level, but we all took the elevator to the top.
Rick Steves suggests the view on the 2nd level is better, but I think the view from the top is best.
With a long line for the elevator down from the 2nd level, we took the stairs. As Renae commented afterwards, she's glad we took the elevator up.
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| View from the top of the Eiffel Tower |
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| View from the 2nd Level of the Eiffel Tower |
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| Sarah showing her Agape Spirit at the Eiffel Tower |
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| The B girls are excited to be in Paris |
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| Everyone is glad we went to the Eiffel Tower |
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| Ben and Renae in front of the Eiffel Tower |
3 comments:
I'm enjoying all your great photos and comments about the places you are visiting. It's especially fun to see photos from Paris as Bobby and I were there 12 years ago. Glad that you are having such a wonderful time. Keep enjoying the pain chocolat! :-)
We stayed at a hotel right next to Rue Claire called Hotel Motte Picquet. Karl would go out every morning for pastries, juice, and fruit. Yes, we had read Rick Steves and picked our hotel accordingly.... It was within walking distance to the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars.
We have a book about the Musee d'Orsay and I LOVE it. I bet it was inspiring to see it in person.
-Olivia B.
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