More Landmarks

8 February 2012

We are trying to recognise the local landmarks and their relative positions so we can wander around without maps and without getting totally lost.
There was another fall of snow during the night, but not as heavy as the last lot on Sunday morning. However, it was still very cold, something like -8 degrees during the day.

I planned our walk for the day which was supposed to be the quickest route to the River Seine from our apartment. A trip which was supposed to take 20 minutes, one way, but after a wrong turn, it took a freezing hour but it was worth it (from our apartment last year the walk to the River Seine took less than 5 minutes).

On a walk like this, the landmarks we passed or walked through included l'Église de la Madeleine, le Palais de l'Élysée, le Grand Palais, le Petit Palais, the Obélisque and la Grande Roue de Paris at la Place de la Concorde, le Jardin des Tuileries the Colonne at la Place Vendôme. These are all places we visited last year, but now they are a good bit closer to the current apartment.

Le Petit Palais

Le Grand Palais

Me, looking at le Grand Palais just before reaching la Seine at le Pont Alexandre 111 which is just behind me.

La Grande Roue de Paris at La Place de la Concorde

In the photo of la Grande Roue, you can see the Obélisque and La Tour Eiffel in the far background. I am standing just past the entrance to the  Jardin des Tuileries with Jeu de Paume on one side of the entrance and le Musée de l'Orangerie on the other side.

La Grande Roue de Paris is 60 metres tall, has 42 gondolas and is is transportable. By a specialist team, it can be erected in 72 hours and dismantled in 60 hours.
It was originally erected for the millennium celebrations. Since then, it has been to Birmingham, Manchester, Gateshead, Geleen, Amsterdam and Bangkok. Perhaps it could go to Melbourne!


At the entrance to the Jardin des Tuileries is a toilet block come cafe come tiny lounge room, staffed by two friedly and efficient young mesdemoiselles who were quite happy to help us with our French.  They apparently work there all day.  It cost 50 centimes each entry to the toilet parts.  The whole place was spotless  and warm and welcoming.  Unexpected things like this are highlights of our stay in Paris.


à bientôt