Paris in the Spring

What better way to finish school travels in Europe than to visit Paris? After leaving Normandy, we had about 28 hours in this fabulous city. We made the most of our time, but it was much too short.

Aaron and I enjoying some free time in Paris

Arriving at about noon, we were on our own over lunch until our first tour at 14:00. Bob, Aaron and I made our way to the streets around la Place des Vosges, one of my favourite spots in the city. We very much enjoyed the Bistro we chose for our midday meal, The Royal Turenne, where the service was so speedy we had time for a very short visit to the Musée Carnavalet nearby. It houses an extensive collection of art and artifacts which relate to the history of Paris.

The former mansions which house the Musée Carnavalet

Soon it was time to meet the students in Montmartre for a walking tour of the area. Our guide, Chloe, a local resident, gave us an insider's view of this artist's district of Paris. Even though I had visited Montmartre before, I learned a great during our two hour walk.

Le Passe-Muraille

A quiet corner of Montmartre

Chloe mentioned several names of famous painters who were once residents of the area including Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh and Modigliani. They drew inspiration in the area, and it is easy to see why. As we roamed the streets, we were struck by the beauty of this area. Modern art pieces have been added fairly recently, too. Le Passe-Muraille, a sculpture of a man trapped in a stone wall, is very interesting as is the "I Love You" mural, with the romantic phrase written in 250 languages.

One of the lovely views in Montmartre, looking toward Sacré-Coeur

Eventually, the walk in the district led us to its most famous landmark, the white church, Sacré- Coeur, perched high above the city. Nearby was the funicular which we took on our way back to our hotel.

Among the throngs at Sacré-Coeur

After dinner, the staff split into two groups, those who went to a local pub to watch the International hockey final between Canada and Russia, and those who decided to take a river cruise on the Seine. For Bob and me, the choice was easy. We joined Sandra, Louise and Jen on the boat.

One of the Seine river boats.

Paris at night is lovely. It is the "City of Lights" after all. Our hour-long tour took us as far west as the Eiffel Tower and as far east as the University.

La Musée d"Orsay

The beautiful Alexander Bridge

Until I saw Paris from the perspective of the river, I had not noticed how intricate the bridges are. We all really enjoyed our cruise – it extended our day and allowed us to rest while taking in this gorgeous place.

The Eiffel Tower all lit up

Notre-Dame

The next morning, we were booked into another walking tour, this time near our hotel in the Marais area of Paris. We met our guide, Jason, and started to explore this old part of the city, once the home to many of the city's aristocrats.

Learning the history of the church

The interior of the church

Our first stop was the church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis, a fine 17th century building. It would be the only church we would visit on the tour, an unusual turn of events for us. (We love churches.)

Hôtel de Sens

A short walk away we came upon Hôtel de Sens, once a medieval private residence, now an art library. Jason told us some scandalous stories about its residents to intrigue the students, no doubt.

Outside the Jewish bakery

Eventually, we made our way to an area with lots of shops and restaurants. A Jewish bakery and falafel restaurant caught Bob's and my eye. We decided we would return to these places at lunchtime.

Home of the National Archives

Like Montmartre, Bob and I had explored the Marais area on our trip to Paris in 2008. Under Jason's guidance, we saw it differently this time. When he led us to the home of the National Archives, we entered the grounds of a former palace, the Soubise. Jason taught us how to pose like Louis the XIV, by leaning back and showing off our calves. Apparently the Sun King was very proud of this part of his physique.

Showing off a la Louis XIV

Finally, we returned to beautiful Place des Vosges where I had begun my Paris visit. This planned square is the oldest in the city, and, in my opinion, it is just about perfect. I love the architecture of the buildings that surround it, with their arcades, Mansard roofs, and red brick façade, and the inviting lawn in the centre where many Parisians choose to gather.

Place de Vosges

At this point, we said goodbye to Jason and the group scattered for lunch. Afterwards, Bob and I decided to wander the area some more. Retracing our steps, we entered a building Bob had noticed earlier in the day. It was some sort of historical society of the area. Once inside, we were greeted by an elderly woman who volunteered there. She led us below ground where we discovered the remains of a cellar from the middle ages. Apparently the house had been a stopping place for monks who lived outside of Paris to stay when they visited the city. The basement had been used as a "cave" for wine.

Columns in the cave

Next, we ascended the stairs of this same house where we were led into a small courtyard. Here the walls were half-timbered Tudor style. Our guide explained to us that the building had been neglected for years, then rediscovered in the 1970s, when restoration had begun. Finding it was like uncovering a treasure. Maybe we knew something about the Marais area that even our guide, Jason, did not!

This is as close as we got to Sainte-Chapelle

We wanted to visit the the Sainte Chapelle near Notre-Dame which Bill had recommended but by the time we got there, the lineup was too long. There are always many reasons to come back to Paris, and this is another one.

By 17:00, we were at the train station, and on our way back to Neuchâtel to finish the school year. Paris, we will be back!