After a good night’s sleep we went down to an amazing buffet breakfast at the Scribe Hotel before heading out to tackle Paris and find our bus stop – which was just around the corner near the Palais Garnier (Opera House).
Our first day, we planned to mostly travel on the bus with very few hop offs. The bus route started down Avenue De L’Opera, continued on Rue de Rivoli passing by a wing of the Louvre and the Statue de Jeanne d’Arc Paris on the right and the Jardin des Tuileries on the left. The bus continued to and through the 18th Century square, Place de la Concorde. Here there are 2 fountains, the Fountain of River Commerce and Navigation and Fountain of Maritime Navigation (1840) with the 3 ,300 year old Obelisk of Luxor placed in the center where during the French Revolution the guillotine stood. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were guillotined here. We turned left along the Quai des Tuileries and past another wing of the Louvre, through Paris streets and across Pont Notre Dame to the Notre Dame bus stop where got off to wander around and admire the Cathedral.
Palais Garnier, Italian-style opera house with ceiling painted by Chagall & library museum in the 19th-century building.
Notre Dame, Medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in Paris, France. The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. The innovative use of the rib vault and flying buttress, the enormous and colorful rose windows, and the naturalism and abundance of its sculptural decoration all set it apart from earlier Romanesque architecture. It was begun in 1160 and largely completed by 1260, with some modifications and restorations through the centuries.
Pont au Double – Elegant cast iron bridge, built in 1882.
Pont Saint-Michel the first bridge built here was in 1379 to 1387, the present 62-metre-long bridge dates to 1857.
Back on the bus, along the Seine passing the Institue de France, the Assemblee Nationale across the Pont de la Concorde thru Place de la Concorde and down Avenue Des Champs Elysees around the Arc De Triumphe down Avenue Kleber around Palais Chaillot and the Jardins de Trocadero cross the Seine south to the Eiffle Tower, past the Les Invalides and the Dôme des Invalides near the Rodin Museum, across the Pont Alexandre III past the Petit Palais and Grand Palais, through Place Vendome to the Opera house, transfer buses on to the Sacré-Cœur area – A popular landmark, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. We got off the bus not far from the Moulin Rouge found a corner grocery, bought some cheese, a baguette and some cold water to have a bit of lunch before heading up to the Sacré-Cœur and the market square of the Montmartre. After wandering around, buying a watercolor and ice cream we headed back to the bus and the hotel. The concierge had made us a reservation for supper at a restaurant near Place Vendôme. We had an excellent meal to end the day.
Institue de France – was established on 25 October 1795, by the French government. Grand cupola-topped building in baroque style, the headquarters of 5 French intellectual academies.
Assemblee Nationale is located in the Palais Bourbon (palace) which was constructed in 1722 by Louise Françoise de Bourbon, the duchesse de Bourbon, the legitimized daughter of Louis XIV, as a country house, surrounded by gardens. It was nationalized during the French Revolution.
Pont de la Concorde completed in 1791 using the dimension stones taken from the demolished Bastille (1789)
Pont Alexandre III an ornate, late 19th-century arched bridge in a Beaux Arts style & named after a Russian czar.We decided to stay on the bus and head for the transfer bus to the Sacré-Cœur area – A popular landmark, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city.
The Eiffel Tower, a wrought iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, constructed from 1887–89 as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair.
Les Invalides, Series of army museums including the Dome des Invalides, a royal chapel was built between 1677 and 1706 containing the tombs of many famed officers, including Napoleon. Nearby is the Rodin Museum, an 18th-century mansion & sculpture garden displaying Rodin’s influential works, such as The Thinker.
Grand Palais, Art nouveau hall with domed glass roof, built in 1900, hosting exhibitions and cultural events.
Petit Palais, Richly decorated 1900 building, housing eclectic fine arts dating from Renaissance to 20th century.
L’église de la Madeleine, Church & concert venue completed in 1842, conceived as a pantheon in honor of Napoleon’s armies.
Colonne Vendôme, Bronze column standing as a war memorial, with bas-relief carvings topped by a statue of Napoleon.
Moulin Rouge, Famed 19th-century cabaret featuring Belle Epoque decor, dinner & dancers in elaborate costumes.
Sacré-Cœur, Iconic, domed white church, started in 1875 and completed in 1914, with interior mosaics, stained-glass windows & crypt.
Paroisse Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, Dating back to the 12th century, this historic Catholic church is one of the oldest in Paris.
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Hot wonderful day on the hop on hop off, capped off by fine dining in a French restaurant.