Full-day of Sightseeing in Paris, France

Before I delve into today's Paris post, I wanted to wish you a happy National Pumpkin Day.  I celebrated this morning with Pumpkin Oatmeal and a Pumpkin Doughnut.  Enjoy celebrating today!

Paris, the City of Light, is a beacon of culture, art, fashion, food, literature and innovative ideas.  As the Capital of France, it's also poetically known as the City of Love and Romance.

We were only there one full day and two half days which was barely enough time to scratch the suface of things to see and do, but what we did get to see was wonderful.  The weather was clear skies and 87 degrees!

The day began with a delicious breakfast at our hotel.  Wonderful Earl Grey tea, and croissants to die for.  Light, flaky and buttery.  Far better than any I've ever tasted in the United States.

The French version of the traditional English Breakfast - Eggs, Zucchini & Tomatoes and Beans.  Yum!

With full tummies we departed from our hotel on the left bank, and walked to the Louve on the right bank.  We had to walk across Pont [bridge] du Carrousel to get there.  On each of the four corners of the bridge are allegorical sculptures by Louis Petitot representing Industry, Abundance, The City of Paris and The Seine.  The sculpture in the photo below represents The City of Paris.  It's situated on one of the left bank corners.

~ Walking across the Seine from the left bank to the right bank ~

~ Seine River as seen from Pont du Carrousel ~

Palasis du Louve was a beautiful Renaissance Royal Palace that was built in the mid-16th century and before that it was a fortress at the western edge of the city.  Now it's home to Paris' top museum and one of it's key landmarks.

~ Walking towards the Louve Museum Entrance ~

We didn't tour the Louve Museum because we were told it takes a day to go through it.  It's Europe's oldest, biggest, greatest, and second-most-crowded museum after the Vatican.  The former 16th century U-shaped palace, has the iconic 20th century glass pyramid in the courtyard.  It's where we purchased our tickets for the Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus tour.

Pavillon de l'Horloge [Clock Pavillon] also known at Sully Pavillon at Palasis du Louve.

We walked through the pavillon opening into Cour Carrée - one of the main courtyards of the Louvre Palace.  It's always open and free.

Then we walked through another arch that took us to Quai Voltaire [a street] where we boarded our Hop-on, Hop-off bus.  The full bus loop was 2 hours and 15 minutes and we opted to do that first to see all the sites before getting off at particular stops.

~ Institut de France ~ 

~ Saint Germain l'Auxerrois Catholic Church ~

Notre Dame [Our Lady] Cathedral is 850 years old.  It sits on a small island called Île de la Cité.  The pair of 200 ft. tall bell towers make it easily visible along the Seine.  It's the country's most famous church. It's still under reconstruction from the devastating fire in 2019, so it's not open for tours. 

A replica of the Cathedral in a building on the square.

We went across the Pont de l'Archeveché which has become the 'new' love locks bridge after it became prohibitive to put them on the Pont des Arts.   The personalized padlocks are attached to the railings with the key thrown into the Seine as a symbol of lasting love.  Collectively, the padlocks become very heavy and compromise the structure of the bridge.  The locks at Pont des Art - the most famous love locks bridge - weighed 45 tons [the equivalent to 20 elephants].  The city saved all the locks when they were removed and it's said they'll be repurposed, but how hasn't been revealed yet.

Notre Dame as seen from the left bank.  The reconstruction is visible from this side of the Seine.

After going by the Musée D' Orsay [which I posted pictures of on our Seine Riverboat Dinner Cruise], we passed the French National Assembly building before crossing the Seine to the right bank again where the bus tour took us up Avenue des Champs-Elysées, one of the world's grandest and most celebrated avenues. Notice the perfectly manicured trees along the avenue.

~ Avenue des Champs-Elysées ~

The Laudrée tearoom caught my eye.   The indoor salon is currently closed for renovation hence the signature green Ladurée 'gift box' concealing the renovations, and the street-side tearoom/café.

There's even a 'lowly' McDonald's on Champs Elysées amidst the stylish, haute couture luxury shops such as Louis Vuitton, Hermés, Swarovski, Gucci, Chanel and Christian Dior to name a few.  Patrons can go inside to eat or dine in the street-side retaurant. Parisians like McDonalds so much that outside of America, France has more McDonalds restaurants than any other country in the world.  Who knew!

And at the end of the avenue is a hair-raising 12 lane roundabout where the famed Arc de Triomphe sits.

to be continued...