Hello? Is anyone still there? So I know it’s been a while since my last post and I don’t really have an excuse but I hope to post on a more regular basis from now on, so please stick with me!
So last we left off I had just finished posting about Loire Valley. After 4 days in France, the hubs and I were more than happy to get on with the Paris part of our trip. Don’t get me wrong, Loire Valley was beautiful and a lovely place to visit but we were just so darn excited for all the great restaurants I booked in Paris, which I’ll go over in my next post.
While the focus of our Paris trip was food, we still had to plan some activities to space out our meals so this post will focus on all the sights we visited. The hubs and I had already visited Paris before (twice for me, once for him) and had done the major attractions like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur, and Musee D’orsey so this time we focused on the lesser known attractions.
Musee Rodin – Dedicated to the works of Auguste Rodin, this museum and surrounding gardens was used primarily as Rodin’s workshop during his life. The house itself is manageable and includes lesser known works of his as well as from Camille Claudel, another french sculptor who was Rodin’s model and lover. What is special about this museum is the serene gardens with Rodin’s sculptures scattered throughout, including the famous The Thinker, The Kiss, The Gates of Hell (inspired by Dante’s Inferno), and The Burghers of Calais.
Palais Garnier – Known as the Opera Garnier or the Opera de Paris, this was the premier Opera house during 19th century Paris and was famous for its opulence and grandeur. Being a huge fan of Phantom of the Opera, I had to visit the famous opera house that was the inspiration for the novel and later the musical. I’d highly recommend taking the guided tour of this opera house to gain a better appreciation of the architecture. The guides are wonderful in their descriptions and do a great job letting the visitors imagine what it was like to be a member of the elite going to watch an opera and walking up the grand staircase. The Opera house is absolutely beautiful and a must see for anyone who appreciates great architecture and storytelling.
Musee de l’Orangerie – This intimate museum permanently houses Monet’s famous Water Lilies murals. Located in 2 rooms are 4 giant panels of the Water Lillies canvas, each panel depicting a different time of day and season. The rest of the museum has a good collection of other impressionist works. I particularly liked this museum because of the well curated impressionist paintings and the size of it was very manageable. The museum is also located at one corner of the Tuileries Gardens, which is a lovely place to stroll afterwards on a nice day.
Arc de Triomphe – While the Arc is one of the most well known landmarks in Paris and we certainly saw it each of the previous times we were in Paris, we never actually climbed to the top. The climb to the top is slightly strenuous but well worth it for the views. You get a wonderful view of the layout of the city with the avenues radiating out from the arch. You can even see the new arch from up there, the Grande Arche de la Defense, which is the 20th century version of the Arc de Triomphe.
Memorial des Martyrs de la Deportation – This site won’t take much of your time but is worth a visit. It’s located right across the street from the backside of the Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris and is free so please stop by if you are already in the area. It’s a memorial dedicated to the 200,000 French citizens that were sent to Nazi camps and murdered during World War II. Each of the 200,000 lights in the above picture represents a victim.
Pont des Arts “Paris Locks Bridge” – While not an attraction per se, this pedestrian bridge is still worth a visit for the beautiful sunsets. Come half an hour before sunset with a blanket and some wine and snacks and enjoy the sunset amidst Parisians and tourists. And if you happen to be there with your loved one, consider purchasing a padlock, affixing it to the bridge, and throwing the key into the river as a symbol of your everlasting love!
It seems like we didn’t see a whole lot for being in Paris for 4 days but we did do a lot of walking around neighborhoods and of course we also spent lots of time dining as well. We particularly enjoyed walking in the St. Germain de Pres (6th arrondissement) and Le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissement) neighborhoods for the lively cafes and shops. We also spent some downtime resting at various neighborhood parks, which was a wonderful way to people watch and catch a glimpse of daily Parisian life. Also, I’d highly recommend visiting the famous sights in the evening as well to see them all lit up. It’s a great way to 1) digest after a heavy dinner 2) take beautiful night pictures, and 3) enjoy the sights without all the crowds.
Lastly, for a great unobstructed full view of the Eiffel Tower, day or night, head to Place du Trocadero.
A Sprinkle of Adventure 
Beautiful! I can’t wait to go back to France. Cox
sounds lots of fun! Looking forward to reading more 🙂
Thanks Ying!