France, Paris – A Quick Visit of the City III

A house and a garden are the second most visited landmark in Provence. The garden is perfect. You can take as many pictures as you can. But you cant paint… At first, it seemed a strange thing to ban. But no wonder. The land is so colorful and inspiring I can easily imagine myself taking a cloth (even though I have never done anything like it) and put my feelings on it. So, I make many pictures at least. I try to capture famous green Japanese bridge but without tourists… Icing on the cake is the house itself. Its furniture, views of the garden… I want to move in!

Mere two hours were enough for us to get back to Paris. Then, an organized tour in the city comes. We start it near the Eiffel Tower which was built between the years 1887 – 1889. It used to be world’s highest building (300,65 m). Well, it was actually intended not as a permanent thing. It was built for the occasion of the World Exhibition na to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution. It was supposed to be dismantled twenty years after, however, it became so well-known and popular nobody even thought about demolishing it. Some participants of the tour cannot resist it. They climb hundreds of stairs to the first or the second floors.

We go on across Champ de Mars park towards École Militaire, a residence of a military school set in the park’s other end. Sometimes among the houses we can see the gilded dome of Les Invalides. Actually we see Église du Dôme dome. It was built later than the original buildings intended to treat injured war veterans. Original “hospital for invalids” had seen many changes thanks to Napoleon Bonaparte. He adored the building and he even seized large part of it later to found Museé de l´Armée (Military Museum). In 1840, what remained of his corpse was transported in here from St Helen. The remains were put to the royal chapel which is considered a gem of Baroque architecture.

Right now I realized one cannot see Paris in mere two day. You can only have a taste of it and promise yourself another visit. We pass by Les Invalides and suddenly have a great view of a spectacular bridge – the Alexander Bridge.

The most prominent architects and sculptors of their time created it. It was sort of an industrial miracle for it consists of only one arch. It is six meters high and 107,5 wide. Beautiful columns topped with gold statues are easy to see from afar. The bridge’s name comes after Russian Tsar Alexander III (father of Nicholas II). It was constructed as a token of Russian-French alliance.

Our guide concludes the tour at Petit and Grande Palaces – another of important landmarks in Paris.

I am absolutely certain about what to do for the rest of the day. By subway, I ride to Pigalle. I am interested in Montmartre. First, I will see famous Moulin Rouge, and then climb endless number of steps to Sacré-Coeur. The church set on the highest peak in Paris is city’s prominent landmark. Its location enables people who visit it to see a large part of the city. Its architectonic style is also what lures people in there. And there are lots and lots of people. However, the line flows like a river and I slowly sail inside it. I find my way through the crowds, enjoy decorations, and slowly leave the basilica. The last look at the vista in front of me is the start of my stroll into the streets of Montmartre. It is really busy. Many painters offer their art, or they can create a portrait of you in matter of minutes. First, I visit a small gallery. A small restaurant adjacent to it has a tiny number of seating in front of it. I choose it as the right place to dock myself. fr a while. However, soon, I have to go back as the last part of the trip is about to start – a boat cruise on the Seine.

Around 9 pm, we meet up at the harbor. We eventually find some seats on the boat after getting through crowds. The cruise along brightly lit landmarks is great. We feast our eyes on these gem we have explored more or less. We take last pictures of beautifully lit Eiffel Tower.

The trip comes to an end. We have 14 hours of ride. I know today that on one day I will be back in Paris.

GPS: (Giverny) 49°04'33.0"N 1°31'53.1"E

         (Montmartre) 48°53'10.2"N 2°20'33.4"E

 Text and photo: Magdaléna Radostová