Paris

Feb 16-19

UA1041 IAH-IAD, UA915 IAD-CDG, UA914 CDG-IAD, UA249 IAD-IAH

A winter trip to Paris has been a regular event for a number of winters.  The warm weather usually arrives early in Paris and regardless, we still get out and explore.  We walked the city from top to bottom, and made the most of our long weekend, always finding new spaces that we hadn’t been before, and retracing familiar places. As many times as we’ve been to Paris, it is a testament to the diverse options that we still manage to find new things to see and do.

Feb 17

After our overnight flights from North America, we checked into our hotel, and after a quick refresh, we headed out to explore the city, starting at Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

View of the Eiffel Tower from our hotel room

Starting to survey the many historic tombs in Pere Lachaise

Grave with a panoramic view

The grave of Jim Morrison of the Doors is a favourite spot

Another high point

One of the larger tombs

Victor Noir’s grave, with some parts shiny from visitors looking for good luck

Our first visit to the scenic Canal Saint-Martin

Tour boats ride through the canal locks that eventually leads to the Seine

Gare de L’Est train station

Completely redeveloped Les Halles complex was still a giant hole in the ground the last time we visited the area

Eglise St. Eustache still anchors the area through all the changes

Large canopy covering the retail and transportation space

Thumb statue outside of Georges Pompidou centre created by Artist Cesar Baldaccini

Hotel de Viles well lit with the late afternoon sun

Looking out on the very high waters of the Siene

Notre-Dame, still free of construction

Statue of Pope John Paul II outside Nortre-Dame

Water covering the lower walkways

Other side of Notre Dame from the river

Ending as we started with the view from our hotel now at sunset

Feb 18

After a good rest and a nice breakfast in the hotel, we headed out for another day of exploring. Although we didn’t set out with a destination in mind, we had a nice day of wandering.

Arc de Triomphe

Mix of old and new along the Champs-Elysees

The finer details of one of the many fountains

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel

Louvre Pyramid

With the bridge off limits, a new location for locks on Pont Neuf

More high water evidence

Pantheon

Luxembourg Garden

Horse rides in the garden

Hotel des Invalides

Up close to the Eiffel Tower, before we walk back to the hotel and complete the circuit

Larger boats, many not able to go further upstream with the high waters

High water remains of the path

Feb 19

After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we returned to the airport for our long flights back home.