57039-a bus ride through Paris

[zyzyly]

We like our little apartment in Paris. We both slept well and had very interesting dreams. I dreamed about little babies that grew on a plant in the garden. They needed plenty of water. We woke up at about 8:30, and had some coffee, then went out to explore.



We are just around the corner from a very colorful market street, the Rue Cler. Since it was Monday, most of the shops were closed, so we just walked through on our way to the bus stop.

Our plan for the day was to take the #69 bus, which winds through Paris and ends up near the Pere Lachaise cemetery. It was a good plan. Thank you Rick Steves. The bus went past all sorts of interesting sights and streets, and gave us lots of ideas for the rest of the week. For a few blocks we were joined by dozens of high school students on their way to somewhere.



We got off the bus and took a self-portraint in a reflection. I love the woman looking at us in the background. We had a coffee at a little corner cafe, then headed into the cemetery.



It was a lovely morning for a walk. Some clouds, but some sun as well. The cemetery is huge--by far the largest cemetery I have ever been in. Lots of famous graves--Gertrude Stein, Oscar Wilde, and so on. Lots of people come to see Jim Morrison's grave, which is nothing special. What struck me the most were the monuments to the people who died in in concentration camps during WW II. Very unexpected and very moving. They will be in a later entry.

We exited on the opposite side of the cemetery and caught the bus back to our neighborhood. It let us off just across the street from our apartment. We walked down the Rue Cler and picked up some food at a local charcuterie, and brought it home for lunch. After lunch and a nice nap we had some coffee, then walked to the Eiffel Tower. It had rained while we were napping, but had cleared up by the time we went out again.

We got to the tower shortly before sunset. It is one of those places that just takes your breath away. I hd to stand there for a while and just look at it. Much like the Grand Canyon, it is a sight that transcends cliché.

The lines for the elevator were long, so we opted for the stairs. 668 stairs to the second level. So worth it. We had a glass of wine and watched the sun set.



We had a great view. We spent more than an hour up there just looking. Finally we went down, which was easier than going up.



We walked across the Seine to get a view of the tower from the other side. It was a beautiful evening. We walked back home and had dinner at a little cafe on the corner. We're not sure where tomorrow will take us.

Comments

[chaptal.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the pictures, as always.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

Of course!

[pasticcio.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous!

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

We are in such a lovely spot--everywhere you turn there is something to see.

[thoughtsbykat.livejournal.com]

Wonderful photographs....gee it looks like you are in Paris.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

haha--what tipped you off?

[shutterbug.livejournal.com]

I've never been to a cemetery like that one, but I've always wanted to. It's a big reason I wanted to go to New Orleans. Of course, I think given the choice, I'd see the ones in France first :)

The self portrait is wonderful. You look so relaxed :)

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I like cemeteries, and am always looking for interesting ones. This one was much more than I had expected. I could have stayed there all day.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Lovely. What an icon--the Eiffel tower at night.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

Yes--it is hard to resist. The camera just seems drawn to it.

[cobaltika.livejournal.com]

this is all so wonderful!!! thank you!!

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you are enjoying it. Eventually I will post a bunch of little-out-of-the-way stuff that I know you will like.

[3-black-cats.livejournal.com]

Amazing photographs. It looks like you're having a magical time full of all sorts of things from the mundane to the extraordinary, and everything in between.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

It really is a great experience--one of my best trips ever.

[vaysha.livejournal.com]

such wonderful pictures. thank you.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

thanks for following along!

[sunshine-two.livejournal.com]

Your wife is so pretty.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

"Say, 'She is!'" says Malida. :)

She is!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

I must have "seen" the Eiffel tower many thousands of times before I actually saw it with my eyes, but I will still amazed when I saw it for real. I never really grasped just big it was - like a great bridge on its end, pointing up into the sky - and how much it dominated the surrounding city.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

[pinkroo.livejournal.com]

I love how much you all nap. I think it's so good for ppl!

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I love my naps. I get cranky when I can't have one.

[marstokyo.livejournal.com]

If you have another day there, have dinner at Le Navigator. It's a wonderful little gem of a restaurant on the Rue Galande. Their lamb is to die for!

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

WE will be over in that area later this week and will try and check it out!

[geekchick]

Lovely photos!

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely spot to take photos!

[anita-margarita.livejournal.com]

Pere Lachaise is overlooked by the hoards, which makes it special. I remember seeing the graves of Abelard & Heloise, behind a cast-iron fence, and someone had managed to put a rose in Heloise's hands.