As you might remember, the last blog post left off when I entered the train in Rotterdam,NL. After roughly 3.5 hours I arrived at gare du nord in Paris. Gesine was also on her way back from a visit in the french countryside and we arranged to meet at Saint-Lazare station. The bigger problem was not to get there, but to find the right exit. The station has a large underground connection network of 4 different metro lines. We eventually met and took a short train ride into the mostly arabic neighbourhood where my friend Gesine had rented a room.
This blog post will be a little different, since Gesine has already written two very nice posts about our days in Paris. Please check them out. Post #1 & Post #2
I will just go though some of my pictures and might share a story of two. But since the posts from Gesine are in german, I have an english Audio-Version available.
Day 1
Centre Pompidou
This controversial building in the center of Paris hosted amongst others an exhibition of contemporary artist Roy Lichtenstein.
Gesine waiting on the pink sofaTo get an idea of what Roy Lichtenstein got famous withI totally understand
Notre Dame
Very nice cathedral with way toooo many visitors. But being lucky as we were, we came 5 minutes late to the tour and were still allowed to join. For everyone who is going to Paris, do the english speaking tour and don’t wait on the tower. If you just want to be high in paris, go to the Eifel tower.
Notre Dame outside while waiting4 very well reconstructed statueschandelier with light casting into the interior of notre dame
Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
After some refreshing and very very very delicious ice cream and cafe we went on to see the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. It is situated on a small hill and we had to take a couple of stairs, but we (mostly Gesine) decided to use the Funicular.
Sacré-Cœur de Montmartreclose-up
Moulin Rouge
This world-famous red-light district wasn’t as glamorous and just something to check of.
windmill that is not producing anything but hot air
Day 2
Around and About
Done many things in the morning, but mostly museum and little street.
Gesine and I in late autumn paristhe apartment of victor hugo, author of Les Misérables and Notre dame de Parisgiraff on the wall
Sparkling Eifel Tower
The sparkling lights are superimposed over the golden lighting. Made up of 20,000 light bulbs (5,000 per side), they bring the monument to life for 5 minutes every hour on the hour once the Tower has been lit up until 1a.m.
After having seen the sparkling tower the night before we had our reservations for monday morning to escape the tourists on the weekend.
even tough we had a little bad luck with the weather the city looks great from aboveGesine shining like the sunMyselfeventually the sun decided to come out and bless us with some soft and warm rays of lightthe red point is the lift going up to the top
Pantheon
The planned-as church but later used only used for its crypt, it houses many important people of fresh history.
PantheonThe coffin of Louis Braille had its name and date also written in braille typethe illuminate are everywhere
Day 4
Before flying on to Germany I explored the city by myself, since Gesine hat to work.
Louvre pyramidsunder the pyramids, and in front of the apple store - prime location
