Following a long lunch on the Champs-Élysées (Italian!) we continued our bus tour. The bus provided headphones and commentary in a number of languages. However I’m sure that on occasions the driver took a slightly different route which meant that the words were often out of sync with the location and a bit of guess work was required! It wasn’t a timing issue as in between locations the listener was blasted with traditional French accordion music.
The upshot of all of this meant I got the ‘back end’ of a number of places…
The Rodin Museum.
Just look at those flying buttresses!
The Colonne de Juillet stands in the Place de la Bastille to commemorate the storming of the Bastille correction the July revolution of 1830 (thanks, Susan). The Opera Bastille (below) was opened on July 14th 1989 during the bicentennial celebrations of the French Revolution.
French National Library (François Mitterrand)
This project was the major cultural undertaking of the President Francois Mitterrand. It consists of four towers (that look like open books) around a large garden. Each of the four towers has a theme: Time, Letters, Laws, and Numbers. The library holds the most important collection of books in France, with more than 395 kilometres of aisles. I’d like to visit next time I’m in Paris.
A little bit of the Arc de Triomphe.
We didn’t buy macarons at Laduree,
but we did visit a bar along the Boulevard St Germain.
You’ll no doubt be wondering about the significance of this photograph, which leads me nicely to the missed opportunity!
I was sure I recognised the group sitting on the table next to us in a bar as Jayne and Ian, who moved into their new apartment in Thollon at the same time as us. We met up a few times for meals and drinks and they sold shortly after we did, in 2009. I wasn’t sure enough to approach them but now really wish that I had. I found out later, through mutual friends, that they were in Paris so missed the opportunity to catch up. They obviously didn't recognise me!
Isn’t it a small world?
Apologies for any errors. Blogger working to rule. Each mistake takes about 5 minutes to correct as Blogger seems to be on a 'go even slower' regime!
Perhaps it's the canicule...
Hello Gaynor:
ReplyDeleteYou certainly seem to have seen most of the sights on your tour. We too should be most interested to visit the French National Library, the design of which we think to be most imaginative.
And how nice to see you have included a picture of Laduree - we always have lunch upstairs there when in Paris.
Hi Jane and Lance,
DeleteI like the library too. We passed by Laduree very quickly but I'll put it on my list for next time. There is a large tent outside selling macarons but there was enormous queue.
My next visit to Paris won't be in August!
Although the Colonne de Juillet stands on the site of the Bastille, it actually commemborates the July revolution of 1830, which deposed Charles X, and is sometimes called the Second French Revolution, not the storming of Bastille, which was in 1789 and part of the First French Revolution. There was a Third Revolution in 1848.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan.
DeleteI've corrected the text. The commentary did actually say that but as usual my memory for historical facts let me down!
I haven't been to Paris for far too many years and we keep meaning to make the effort......
ReplyDeleteI was once sitting in a basement restaurant somewhere in London when I recognised the people at the next table. We had been at university together twenty years before and they now lived in Scotland. The girl recognised me and we had a nice evening catching up but like you, I'm not sure I would have made the first move, just in case I was wrong - you never know how people will react.
Great that someone had the courage to approach.
DeleteI'm kicking myself that I didn't approach, especially as I have their mobile number in my phone. I could have texted.
Graham, our mutual friend, said that Jayne thought she recognised someone she knew but couldn't add the name to the face. She is also kicking herself.
Perhaps we'll bump into each other again, one day.
We must return to Paris it has been far too long, but as you say not in August!
ReplyDeleteParis is very nice, although VERY crowded and it's the crowds I'd like to avoid.
DeleteLindyLouMac .. I loved Paris in August .. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Anne,
DeleteParis was lovely, although the crowds made it difficult to see anything. Cafes and restaurants were busy. I think I prefer Paris in May.
I still cannot believe that you didn't recognise Jayne and Ian!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it either!
DeleteEnjoy Rachel's 21st...