Versailles in the Spring (part 1)

Another early, early morning. We were up and at the Les Halles metro stop in time to get to Saint Michael station and the early morning train to Versailles.

The inside of the Chateau was in great condition, and crowded.  The exhibit that was on display contains thrones from around the world.  Pretty cool to see all of the differences.  I also am really sure that a new room is now open because I don't remember seeing it.  I've added a few pictures below. 

Angelina's Restaurant has a room here.  Interesting how wide spread they are. I either didn't notice before, or this is all new.  Ladauree also has a little shop. 

The most amazing part of the trip? The fountains!  Disregard grey and rainy skies. Disregard lack of sunshine.  I've added a few videos so that you can experience the full music and sound impact along with the visual with moving water.

The front of Versailles, all shiny and golden.

The front of Versailles, all shiny and golden.

I think that they are working their way around the building.

I don't remember this gold paint a few years ago.

I think that they are working their way around the building.
I don't remember this gold paint a few years ago.

Thrones

Thrones

The Hall of Mirrors.  

When I was here in 2007, not all of the chandeliers were

refurbished and the end of the hall was blocked

off. Now?  All complete and twinkly.

I think that they are fixing this painting. There were patches

of some sort of square material.

I hadn't seen this room before.  It is like the Hall of Mirrors.

Laduree's pretty pastel macaroon shop.

Paris - Chez Francis

Tina and I stopped for dinner at Chez Francis after our long walk to the Eiffel Tower and boat ride on the Seine.  Actually, "long walk" puts it mildly.  I told Tina that I would map out our journey for the day, and here it is.  Our path took us to Place Vendome, through The Tuilleries, Musee d'Orsay, Rodin Museum, Les Invalides, Eiffel Tower, Place d'Alma (where we took the boat ride on the river), then to Chez Francis.  Links to all of the blog details for these other places are listed at the bottom of this post. Click (or double click...one or the other will work) on the map to see it a bit larger. Then you can appreciate this little stroll.  Tina thought that we had walked 57 miles, but I think that she was being just a tad bit dramatic. It was a very agressive agenda today, and turned out to be a bit much. We took the Metro back to the apartment.  Good idea!

A good meal, and then we were delighted with the Twinkle light show.

The Google map gives you an idea on the location.

Snazzy menu cover

A peak at the menu. Tina ordered fish and chips
and I had the Penne rigate, tomatoes and basillic.
Keep in mind that the listed prices include
tax and tip, the great view, and the table
for as long as we want to sit at it.

I ate one penne per minute so that we could
stretch our table time over an hour and hold
our grand seat for the Twinkle.

Tina could not resist the creme brule.
I think that this won "best in category".

Tina said "Did you pick this place intentionally?"
When I looked up and saw the Eiffel Tower,
you bet that I took full credit for the great seats.

Links for the stops on the long walk:
Click here for Musee d'Orsay
Click here for Rodin Museum
Click here for Les Invalides and the church
Click here for Spring at the Eiffel Tower.
Click here for the Bateaux Mouche boat tour

Paris - Spring on the Seine River

We walked from the Eiffel Tower along the Seine River towards Pont de l'Alma bridge and the Bateaux-Mouches river tour boats.  We saw the Musee des Arts building, with the live wall exterior.  We strolled across the bridge and looked at the "flame". This is a copy of the new flame on top of the Statue of Liberty.  I understand that it is an unofficial Princess Diana memorial also.  We took the tour boat past buildings that we had been in earlier, and saw some ones that are planned for the rest of the week.  I love this ride and view of Paris, the bridges, and the buildings.

We finished an exhautsing day by dining outside at Place de l'Alma at Chez Francis.  Tina had Fish and Chips and I had Penne rigate, tomatoes and fresh basil.  We realized that we had a great view of the Eiffel Tower and that the tower twinkle would happen if we could sit there for a little over an hour.  I ate one penne per minute and stretched out the time.  The twinkle was awesome!  We finished the night with creme brulee and a quick metro ride home.  (The photos from the restaurant are on my iPhone, so I will need to post later.)

Musee des Arts - planted outside wall

Close-up of the wall

The Flame

Pink trees by the Notre Dame

Garden and dancing areas along the river.
I understand that the tango takes over on weekend nights.

Flowers and great views.

This was pretty interesting. The building is going through revovation.
Instead of the scaffolding showing, it is covered by a huge
advertisement.

In addition to the huge advertisements, the facade of the
building is painted and displayed so that the construction
does not spoil the view.

The end of another Spring day in Paris.

Paris - Spring at the Eiffel Tower

I am always so thrilled to see the Eiffel Tower.  The park that leads to it, Parc du Champ de Mars, was filled with families, friends, and lovers (and guys selling little red, silver and gold Eiffel Tower souvenirs) on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  We strolled through the park, and under the tower. Lines were long and we didn't have "ride to the top" on the agenda for today.  The gardens were beautiful.

Tina's first full view of the Eiffel Tower!

Children riding ponies and picnics on the grass.

Full bed of flowers around the fountain.

Beautiful flowers.  The tulips were amazing.

A nice curved flower bed.

Creatively done with spring pastels.

I had seen a photo of the Eiffel Tower with a flowering tree.
These flowers are white.
Hmmm, not the picture I was looking for.

Yellows and pinks in the side gardens.

We walked under the tower and looked across the river at
the Trocadero.  It was really crowded.

This will give you an idea of the crowds out this afternoon.

Yea!  I found it. A pink tree and the Eiffel Tower.
Mission accomplished.

Paris - Hotel Des Invalides and Eglise Du Dome (Church)...and La Terrasse du 7em

After the Rodin Museum, we walked on Boulevard Des Invalides, then cut through the Jardin de L'Abondance (garden) at Hotel Des Invalides.  We walked past a section that is still a working hospital and that family was there to visit with patients in wheel chairs.  (Just wanted to let you know.)  We saw that the Church was open, so we walked up the steps and walked inside.  Once inside the door, we looked around quickly before the attendant asked us for our tickets.  We mentioned that we didn't have tickets and left (we had seen all that we needed to see.)  We strolled through Jardin de l'Intendant, spoke German with a few tourists as we tried to figure out how to cross THE MOAT and exit the property.  We had to walk back to the center walkway between the gardens and off we went. 

Time for a coffee break at a local cafe, La Terrasse in the 7th section.  We had iced tea (4.5 euro) and a double espresso (4 euro), and enjoyed the warm sun and the view.  SCAM ALERT:  by this time we thought that we must look like good targets. Two boys came up to our table and tried to get us to sign a document. They finally left when I attempted to call the waiter.  We chatted a while longer, getting in to the cafe scene.

Gardens at the Hotel Des Invalids by the Church

Eglise du Dome - Church of the Dome

Cute little gas pump, right there on the street.

Our tea and espresso (with water on the side!)

Paris - Rodin Museum and more food!

After leaving the Orsay Museum, we took rue de Solferino, crossed Blvd Saint Germaine, and skipped over to Bellechase.  I think that we could have taken the pedestrian Bellechase to save a little time.  We had purchased a single day Orsay/Rodin ticket for 12 euro. (If you think that you will want to attend multiple times, the four day pass is only 12 euro.)   We continue across Rue de Grenelle and turned right on Rue de Varenne.  The Rodin Museum was a few blocks.  Entrance was quick and easy, and we guessed that the crowds were behind us.  We went straight to the garden cafe for lunch as starvation had set in.  After our nice lunch viewing the gardens with Rodin statues, we walked through the gardens to see the rest of the statues.  We went in to the house and went through about six rooms of display. It was very interesting to see the clay models and copying techniques used to create statues.  Very cool stuff.  Enjoy the pictures.

The litle cafeteria in the Rodin Museum garden.

We both had "Salade Parisian", which was similar to a
chef salad.  This strawberry delight was for desert.  Very good.
The strawberry taste is intense and incredible.

This was our lunch view.

We walked through the garden. This is looking
from the end of the garden at the house.

Signs of Spring!!!

A model for "The Kiss"

"The Thinker"  So cool to be able to see this.