London–Paris. Part 2. Paris. Oct. 2014

Ah, Paris, Paris... I already wanted to come back again while I was still there... But, as usual, let’s take it from the beginning. We travelled from London to Paris by high-speed train and arrived in just two hours... 

You can read about our trip to London here

Day 5

We made our way along the Champ de Mars to Les Invalides (Hôtel des Invalides). This architectural landmark was built on the orders of King Louis XIV. At the time, in 1670, it was one of the first homes for disabled soldiers in Europe. Even today, military veterans live on the grounds, and several museums are located here. The golden dome of Les Invalides can be seen from many parts of Paris.

Our next stop was the Pont Alexandre III. The bridge spans the Seine and was built to commemorate the Franco-Russian alliance under Emperor Nicholas II. It was named after his father, Alexander III. The bridge is considered the most ornate and decorative bridge in Paris

Directly behind the bridge is the Petit Palais, home to the city’s Museum of Fine Arts (Musée du Petit Palais). Here is a view from the museum’s inner courtyard. Across from it stands the Grand Palais, which also serves as an exhibition centre. This is where many of the major exhibitions in Paris take place 

The avenue ends at the Arc de Triomphe. This monument was commissioned by Napoleon to commemorate the victories of his army. Many important events have taken place beneath its arch. In 1840, a funeral procession carrying Napoleon’s ashes passed under the arch. During Victor Hugo’s funeral, the writer’s coffin was placed beneath the arch so that everyone who wished could come and pay their respects. And in 1940, German troops marched in a military parade beneath the arch...

The Arc de Triomphe stands in the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, in the middle of one of the largest roundabouts in the world. Twelve roads meet at this enormous intersection. I watched for quite a while, but I still couldn’t figure out how all those cars managed to circle around without traffic lights or road signs.

It was already dark. The perfect time to return to the Eiffel Tower and capture it in all its nighttime beauty.

And then we took a cruise along the Seine. We sailed along the river, admiring the sights of Paris at night

Day 6

And here comes an early morning. The perfect time to enjoy a cup of cappuccino and a croissant, pastry, or baguette

We were staying in a very convenient area for tourists. In just 10 minutes, we could walk to the Louvre as well as Notre-Dame de Paris. It was right near the cathedral that we met up with a group of fellow tourists to explore the city on bicycles...

We cycled through many interesting places that tourist buses usually don’t visit and also heard some fascinating stories from our guide. For example, this little rat-catcher’s shop. Remember the movie Ratatouille? Well, here is the real-life inspiration! By the way, the shop window didn’t seem to bother the customers at the café next door at all—they were happily enjoying their food just a meter away from this “beauty”

Of course, apart from the rats, we saw plenty of other interesting things.

For example, this Lovers’ Bridge, covered with love locks. According to a now well-established tradition, couples attach their own special padlock to the bridge and throw the key into the Seine, symbolically sealing their love forever... By the way, all those locks have added quite a bit of weight to the bridge, so the city authorities have to periodically remove them.

We also saw the smallest apartment in Paris — the tiny one squeezed into the narrow space between two buildings

We saw the July Column (Colonne de Juillet). During the Revolution of 1830, the French fought for three days to change the government. The government led by King Charles X was overthrown and replaced by the “people’s king,” Louis Philippe I. Almost 20 years later, this king was overthrown as well, and his throne was burned at the foot of the column. At the base of the column is a crypt containing the remains of many of those who died during the revolution.

We also visited the Centre Pompidou, a centre of modern art. It is the third most visited attraction in Paris, after the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. The building itself is very unusual. All of its technical elements — pipes, structural framework, and electrical wiring — are located on the outside of the building.

We took a short break, and I checked my messages near the Hôtel de Ville, Paris’s city hall

And here is the famous Louvre. The museum occupies an enormous area, and we spent quite a lot of time exploring its surroundings, both during the day and at night. By late afternoon, newlywed Chinese couples would arrive at the Louvre for their wedding photo shoots. All the brides looked more or less alike 

Day 7

Today we headed to the most bohemian district of Paris — Montmartre. Montmartre is also considered the most romantic neighbourhood in Paris. After all, this is where the Parisian bohemian spirit comes alive, where carefree girls stroll the streets, and the lights of countless cafés, cabarets, and other places of entertainment beckon visitors...

Leaving the church, we headed towards the top of the hill, where the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is located. I’ll tell you more about the basilica a little later, but there were still several interesting places to see along the way.

For example, the Moulin de la Galette. It is one of only two surviving old windmills on Montmartre — there were once around 30 of them. When the mill stopped making money from grinding flour and pressing grapes, its new owner turned it into a tavern and dance hall. Many famous artists, actors, and other members of Parisian bohemia became regular visitors. The mill was also immortalized in paintings by Renoir, Van Gogh, and Picasso.

Today, the windmill stands on private property, so it is impossible to get very close to it.

We continued on our way and arrived at Place du Tertre. This is where you can find crowds of tourists. After all, Renoir, Picasso, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and many other famous artists once lived and worked here. Even today, artists fill the square, painting portraits, while cafés are packed with visitors and little shops with tourists.

And where else, if not Place du Tertre, could you find such charming little restaurants?

After coming down from the hill, we headed to a rather unusual place with a monument to the writer Marcel Aymé (Place Marcel Aymé). In one of the writer’s stories, his hero possessed an incredible gift — he could walk through walls. His beloved was locked inside by her jealous husband, but our hero could visit her without any trouble... until one day, he became permanently stuck in the wall.

We also stopped by the bust of the singer Dalida. The monument was erected on the 10th anniversary of her death. Dalida became the third Parisian woman, after Joan of Arc and Sarah Bernhardt, to have a monument dedicated to her.

We continued wandering through the charming little streets of Montmartre...

And here we are at Au Lapin Agile, the famous little cabaret known as the “Agile Rabbit.” It was once a favourite gathering place for famous artists such as Renoir, Picasso, and Van Gogh.

At one time, the owner of the cabaret would place a large pot of soup right by the entrance so that poor, struggling artists who had not yet become famous could at least have something to eat...

And right across from the Rabbit is one of the last remaining private vineyards in Montmartre

We made our way down the narrow streets and headed towards the red-light district. This is where you’ll find numerous adult entertainment venues, sex shops, and cabarets. And here is the most famous cabaret of them all — the Moulin Rouge. It opened in 1889, and a few years later, one of the dancers famously undressed on stage, helping to give rise to striptease as a form of entertainment