Paris in the Springtime: Jour Deux

Sorry about the delay but here's what happened on Day 2 of my amazing Paris weekend!

Beth and I got up and went right to work. Lucky for me, Beth is just as addicted to running and wouldn't tease or make fun of me for wanting to run on the weekend while on 'vacation'! Plus, I convinced her to run the 1/2 marathon in Luxembourg so she needed to do a long training run. We rode the Métro into the city, climbed up the stairs and ran about 1-1.5 miles right along the Seine, turned back and ran up along Musée d'Orsay and then cut back over the Seine to the Touliries Garden, all the way up Champs-Elysée past the Arc de Triomphe and all the way down Ave de la Grand Armée across the Seine and into le Défense to our hotel. All in all it was a 56 minute run and so run right next to the Seine and so many famous places in Paris! We cleaned up and ate a glorious buffet breakfast at our hotel serving fresh bread, jams, nutella, PB (yes they had peanut butter, and it was freshly ground too!) eggs, salad, yogurt and granola ... it was wonderful. By the time we were done with  our run and breakfast (okay maybe more like brunch) it was about 11:30 and we were ready to really explore Paris.

Just a view of a street in Paris after coming up from the Métro and starting our run.

Running up Champs-Elysée, past the Louis Vuitton store!

The Arc de Triomphe

The infamous shot of me in front of the Arc. I was trying to show just how large and massive it was. But the guy behind me totally ruined my picture. I don't really think he was taking a picture of me people!!

We actually took the Metro into town to save us some time since it was already so late in the morning. We got off and started our tour at the Place de la Concorde which is at the very end of Champs-Elysée. It marks the spot where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded and the beginning of the French Revolution. From there we continued heading southeast into the heart of Paris through the Tuileries Garden. This garden stretches out in front of the Louvre and was so cool to walk through. There were tons of people out walking the paths, sitting on benches or in front of the pond, enjoying the fresh spring air, sun, and blooming flowers. It was so cool. I was a little surprised that the walking path was basically a gravel path as opposed to a stone or concrete walking path like we have in the parks and gardens. Everything just seemed sort of dusty and hazy as we were walking along.

A little map to show you where in the city I went and where the next set of pictures are coming from.

This is my favorite of the many bridges that cross the Seine. This bridge is located at point A on the map and leads to Les Invalides on the other side. I love the gold accents, shimmering in the bright sun, the very French/Parisian lamp posts and the Eiffel Tower in the background. It was such a cool sight!

Another shot of the bridge.  If I remember correctly, this bridge was added to the city in 1908 for the World's Fair. The domed building in the back round is Les Invalides (old hospital for WWII veterans and were Napolean was buried).

Looking up Champs-Elysées toward the Arc de Triomphe. The bridge above is to the left. 

Place de la Concorde; point A on the map. This monument had egyptian hieroglyphics on all sides, but to me it reminded me of a miniature Washington Monument! Just to the left, where the people are standing, is a square that marks the site of the guillotine where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were killed.  (Bridge is behind me know)

A water fountain @ Place de la Concorde

Walking through the Tuileries Garden on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  The path was basically a very fine gravel so it was a little dusty/hazy with all the people walking. 

Large Pond in the midst of the Gardens. See how they just hang out, soak up the sun and relax? I could get used to that kind of life! ;)

Tuileries Garden with the Louvre sprawling out in the back. We've continued through the gardens, so the pond that was pictured above is behind me know.

Gardens and part of the Louvre

Hanging out, enjoying being in Paris! Yes, that is the Louvre behind me. :)

The Louvre, point C on the map above. Can you make out the famous clear triangle? That is the main entrance to the Louvre. 

Once we passed through the gardens we arrived at the Louvre, snapped a few pictures but continued walking. (Don't worry we made it back the next day to actually go inside and see a little bit of the art housed inside). We continued walking into the center of the city by walking along the banks of the Seine and eventually crossed over to Ile-de-la-Cité and found the Notre Dame. It really wasn't that hard to find with all the people but it was pretty cool to stand in front of it! We briefly waited in line to enter in the church and took our time walking through the church. After seeing the inside we attempted to climb up the Notre Dome but the next entrance wasn't until 2:30. It was only like 12:45-1:00 so we continued on to the little church across the street called St. Chapelle. This church is home to a collection of 15 floor to ceiling stain glass windows and was so pretty inside with the sunlight coming in. The city is in the middle of a restoration process to the windows, but was primarily completed so the sun glimmered spectacularly while we were inside this tiny chapel. After this we headed north to check out the Modern Museum of Art because I had heard the building had an intriguing design. It most certainly did, but because of my last visit to a modern art museum in Munich, we just looked at the outside and continued on our way. 

Next Set of Walking Routes so you can see where in the city we were. 

Point B. Notre Dome!

Front of Notre Dome. Up close and personal.

One of the Famous Rose Stain Glass Windows in Notre Dome. It was up pretty high and hard to see what what being depicted within the window.

Joan of Arc. She was reinstated as a saint here at Notre Dome several years after her famous burning at the stake. 

The other rose window on the opposite side of the building as the one above. 

Side of Notre Dame, I was attempting to show the gargoyles on the building but the picture doesn't really capture the building very well. 

Inside Saint Chapelle (point C). The windows were amazing!!

Close up on the some of the windows at the front of the chapel.

Rosary Window in St. Chapelle @ the back of the chapel.

Musée National d'Art Moderne (point D). That was the staircase to get to all the floors, on the outside of the building. It sure was interesting looking!!!

Opposite side. The building was built inside out I think!

After this, we went on a mission to find my Beth some Parisian lingerie (how cow, I never new underwear could be so expensive!!!). By this time it was about 3:00 and we were starving. My friend Meghan, who spent a few weeks studying abroad in France during college recommended a crêperie so we hiked back to the other side of the Seine and found the restaurant tucked back in the shadows of the surrounding buildings. It felt so good to sit down and rest for a few minutes. We indulged in some savory cheesy crêpes before heading back out. We headed back to the Notre Dame to climb up to the top and see the city. On the way we found a great little scarf shop that we just had to stop in...;) By the time we finished this and walked back to the Dame it was about 4:00. Unfortunately, they were no longer allowing people to enter so that they could close promptly at 5:00. We grabbed a cool refreshing sorbet cone and walked back along with Seine to Musée d'Orsay (point D on the map below) to see some Monet and Van Gogh paintings. Well by the time we made it there they weren't letting anyone in either!!! boo...so we looked in our tour books to figure out what would be open. We found out that the Arc de Triomphe (point E) was open to climb until 7:00. That was perfect so we walked by the Louvre, through the Toulieres Garden (stopping to enjoy the park, setting sun, and rest our feet at one of the many park benches), up Champs de Elysée. To get to the center of the arc you have to cross a 4 or 5 lane round-a-bout, so they conveniently have a walking tunnel underneath the road to save pedestrians and drivers from headache and injuries as we try to get to the Arc. We checked out the cravings and tomb of the unknown solider and then tried to find the stairs to climb to get to the top. Just our luck, there was a sign taped to the door stating the Arc was closed to visitors that day! Of course right?! By this time it was 7:30-8:00, we were ready for dinner and definitely didn't want to walk all the way back to the restaurants. So we grabbed some delicious sandwiches made on fresh Parisian baguettes and then walked back to our hotel room. 

A view of our afternoon walking adventures.

Crêpes!! I had a Tuscone version with mozzarella, meat, tomatoes, fresh basil, and drizzle of olive oil. Beth had goat cheese, almonds, and honey. They were pretty good! (point B on the map)

Hotel de Ville. We didn't go inside but we walked by it a couple times and I just thought the building looked so cool and I love the pink flowering trees!

Front of the de Ville. I think this building is used for various offices and functions with the government. aka City Hall, but I can't be too sure. 

Just a view of the city and the Seine. I think the Louvre is behind me as I took this but I can't remember now!

Looking down the Seine at Ile-de-la-Cité.

Deliciously refreshing sorbet: fraise et mangue. mmmm

The walking tunnel underneath the road to get to the Arc

Fast forward a few hours to the Arc. This is the tomb of the Unknown Solider at the base of the Arc. 

Inside the Arc

One of the sculptures on the front of one of the 'legs' of the arc.

My baguette sandwich for dinner. Nothing spectacular in terms of presentation but it tasted good!

The Arc @ Dusk. I'm not sure how I did it but I like that the cars are blurry as they circle below.

From the Arc to the Hotel: a straight, buy fairly long walk; especially when you are exhausted. But Paris is an excellent city for walking and I wouldn't have done it any other way. 

It was such a fun day and I fell in love with Paris.  All the running/walking all over the city wore me out and I literally collapsed into my bed and slept so good! :)