A walk through and around our Paris neighborhood

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Geo: 48.8566, 2.35097

Bonjour!

Today was a day to unwind, catch our breath, get over a slight wobble from last night's sumptuous meal and full bottle of Bordeaux, and get ready for tomorrow's trip to Avignon, Provence in southern France, three hours by high speed train from here.

We took a long walk out of the Rue Cler neighborhood in which we've been staying, all the while keeping a bead on the Eiffel Tower, hoping it could serve as our compass. Alas, we found ourselves on unfamiliar streets with very French names (go figure) amidst hotels and apartments tall enough that our sighting of the Eiffel Tower was interrupted. We found ourselves in the middle of our next adventure.

We did spot one landmark a block away that we'd seen gleaming above the skyline from several of our vantage points throughout Paris, and it was one about which we were curious -- Napoleon's Tomb. It was set in a church and massive complex of buildings originally built by Louis XIV -- yep, same over-indulgent Louis, the self-proclaimed Sun King -- known as Hotel des Invalides, a former veterans' hospital now functioning as the Army Museum.

Always up for another visit to yet one more historic church, and happening to have our Paris Museum Passes with us that'd get us in for free, we thought 'what the heck, let's check it out!' Plus, we knew that once we made it to the north part of the complex, we'd be on a street straight back to the hotel.

Not unexpectedly, the tomb was overly-ornate and over-the-top Versailles all over again. But the church was simple and white and dedicated to remembering fallen soldiers, and the museum's stone courtyard surrounded by historic cannons was an inspiring sight. After exiting the complex, we stopped to watch some local men playing boules on the sand and gravel esplanade next to Les Invalides park.

We'll catch a light dinner, pack, hope the hand-laundered clothes finish drying, and get ready for tomorrow's train trip. Probably be in bed before the Ducks kick-off their game against Colorado, though, since we're nine hours ahead here in Paris, so GO DUCKS!

Bonsoir!

Mike and Sharon

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Photos

Le Petit Cler
Had dinner here Thursday night, around the corner from our hotel in the Rue Cler neighborhood where we dine and shop

Comments

[Godzala]

Any sighting of the Hunchback?