Europe – Day 5

You can live a lifetime in Paris and not see all its wonders.  We’re lucky we’re getting to visit as many as we have!

Today we had a full day…..I’d know how many steps I’ve taken but I forgot my phone at the Air BnB.  But it was a lot my left knee tells me. We started at the Musee D’Orsay, an old railway station that has been transformed into a haven for Impressionist art.  It’s great.

Part of the temporary exhibit: Le Modèle Noir de Géricault a Matisse

We then walked a short distance beside the Tuileries where a special expo was on featuring innovative garden accessories and furniture.  And for some reason, a synthesizer.

Into the Musee de l’Orangerie, the home of  Monet’s giant Water Lilies series.  They are presented in two oval-shaped rooms, the daytime lighting coming from skylights filtered through gauze.  This means that when clouds move across the sun, the lighting changes, and so do the colours in the paintings.

The downstairs features a collection of impressionist art from a noted collector, art dealer and friend and mentor to many of the artists:  Paul Guillaume.

But we wanted to get all we could from our Museum Pass before it expires at midnight.  So we walked from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.  First we had to backtrack nearly to the Orsay because the police/military had blocked off access to the Place de la Concorde from the terrace outside the Orangerie.  Rumours abound, but apparently they were expecting a demonstration by the Gilets Jaune  

The uniforms were out in force, water cannons and all, and although we managed to slip through the cordon and walk up the Champs Elysees to the Rond Point (the roundabout) we didn’t feel it would be ….. prudent …. to take any snaps.  There were no protestors and no press that we could see, so it looks like it may have been a tempest in a teapot.

Speaking of teapots, we were caught in a brisk Parisian shower as we neared the Rond Point, so we ducked into a sports bar for a cafe creme and a tea.  Then we were on our way, walking hand in hand up the Champs Elysees.

That was cool.  We made our way to the Arc de Triomphe and due to our Museum passes, by-passed the line up for tickets to the interior.  We then were offered a ride up in the elevator (because we had Museum passes) and spent some time on the rooftop viewing gallery, seeing Paris spread before us for the third time (after the Eiffel Tower and the Sacre Coeur).

At the end of this street is a modern arch in a cluster of skyscrapers

Sacre Coeur from atop the Arc de Triomphe

the first view we had of Paris was the Eiffel Tower from the plane. Plus we’ve seen the city from its top. So it’s our “North Star” to guide us in Paris

Unbeknownst to us, the Metro Stations in the immediate area of the Place de La Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe had been closed.  So it took us a little while to find one open that we could connect with our line.  It was Kleber Station, with its Art Deco Metropolitain signage, and we got home safe and sound and tired.

And late!  Because of our perambulations we were late getting to the Air BnB where we were slotted for babysitting duties while DD went to an event.  All is well that ends well, though, she managed to make it and had a good time.