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Post by mich64 on Oct 15, 2011 20:37:39 GMT
Finally feeling organzied enough to compose some of the enjoyable moments of our recent Paris portion of our vacation. As ususal, we travelled in September. We like this time of year as typically sightseeing attractions have less lines, the weather is cooler during the day and we rarely have any days of rain. Well, this year was as per usual with lines and no rain, but my my it was not just warm it was hot! Now I love warm temperatures when I am sitting by the lake and able to take a swim to cool off whenever I choose, but not when I am walking at least 5 hours a day in the city. I found it very challenging this vacation. Our Hotel was in the 12th, Hotel Lyon Bastille, 3 rue Parrot. The Hotel was close to the Gare de Lyon which we required for trip down to Annecy. The Hotel was typical, but the rooms a little larger than others we have stayed and it also had a bar fridge which we find convenient. Here is the view from our room. We spent our first day visiting Cimeitiere du Pere Lachaise in the 20th. We took the metro and had a nice walk from the stop to the Cimeitiere. After finding some of the most famous grave sites, we were standing in front of Oscar Wilde's when a very enthused guide approached us and began his tales of the Cimeitiere. While aware that he would expect payment at the end of his "special tour especially for us" we went along with it and enjoyed listening to his stories and watching his excitement of his own performance. We may have learned some true facts, we may not have, but it was entertaining and has given us some fun stories to tell friends at home. I will never forget his story of Victor Noir and unfortunately my camera battery died prior to getting to his site, the visual of his gravesite can be found on their website. Here are some photos before the battery died. More soon! Photobucket is being a little bit difficult for me right now, might be the weather here, a fall cool rain storm. Cheers, Mich
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2011 21:12:11 GMT
mich, this really brings back a lot of memories for me. I was at this very cemetery some years ago and remember standing in front of the Oscar Wilde grave site. Is the engraving still there that someone had put down in front saying: 'mine's on the wild side..'?
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 15, 2011 21:33:27 GMT
Lovely photos, Mich -- can't wait to see more. Sorry about the battery, but you got some great images before it went bye-bye.
That view from your hotel room is a trip highlight all by itself, it's so beautiful.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 16, 2011 0:43:05 GMT
Let me try some more pictures now that the storm has passed. Thank you Bixa for expressing your enjoyment so far and also Deyana. Deyana I do not recall seeing those words but here area a few more to look at. About 4 blocks away was the Bastille area and monument. We did not eat at this restaurant, I just liked the location and appearance. On another afternoon we took the metro to the Jardin des Tuileries, we took a stroll through on the way to the Musee-Orsay. We crossed the passerelle solferino where we seen all the locks on the bridge with expressions of love. I was utterly speechless while walking through the Museum and viewing the exhibits. It was my first time, my husband went one afternoon on our trip in 2009 while I was sick in bed and had told me we had to visit. I now understand why. The building itself is exquisite and the Impressionist art housed is wonderful. Unfortunately, no photos allowed but I did take a few in the cafe where we had a drink and a slice of chocolate cake, mmmmmm! We were seated next to a couple from Amsterdam and we had a nice conversation with them. Okay, I have to log out again, the wind has picked up and causing photobook problems again, sorry, back soon! Cheers, Mich
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Post by mich64 on Oct 16, 2011 1:27:03 GMT
Persistence will hopefully prevail... The bridge was busy and I bought some oil paintaings that are now framed and glassed and hanging in my kitchen. I love how the bridge had access to the street and into the gardens. I always enjoy some time in bookstores so I went to Shakespeare & Co. and my husband enjoyed beers on the corner at Cafe Le Petit Pont, his favorite spot while I buy books for our nieces. This time we also went to the Pompidou Center and bought books for my nephews in Quebec who only speak French. I took this photo after explaining many times to friends about the public washrooms in Paris. We had our customary lunch under the Eiffel Tower, for us, it is special. I know it is silly to spend 20 Euros for two sandwiches, a beer and a coke, but we just love sitting there and watching all the excitement. We took the bus from Gare de Lyon to the Tower, a straight link through the city for the same price as a metro ticket but we got to see so much. One other highlight of our trip was meeting a friend from Facebook for dinner. After my injury, it was suggested to me to try games on Facebook to help with some of my memory and other issues. I began a friendship with a lovely lady that lived outside Paris near Versailles. When I told her we would be visiting Paris again she arranged a dinner for us in the 17th at Chez Clement. Again, we took the metro and met them in front of The Meridian Hotel and then went for dinner. It was as if we had met 100 times before. We had a lovely dinner and it was our latest night out in Paris. We will be back. Cheers, Mich
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2011 5:09:28 GMT
Wonderful photos, Mich, and I see that you covered quite a bit of ground (I know how easy it is with the metro, but not everybody does!). I love the way you can follow up a photo of the Orsay café with the Pompidou Center and then a toilet. That's exactly the way my mind works -- everything can be equally interesting from the old to the new to the utilitarian....
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Post by nycgirl on Oct 16, 2011 15:43:52 GMT
Looks like you had a fun trip and beautiful weather. Love the view from your hotel window. The D'Orsay cafe looks very elegant. I, too, love the D'Orsay and was disappointed that photos weren't allowed. On the plus side, though, it did free me from the pressure of trying to capture a good shot and I was able to just enjoy soaking it all in. Your photo of the Pompidou made me wish I was there now. I love Edvard Munch. Looks like no one is taking much notice of the placard on Oscar Wilde's tomb. It's a shame. On the other hand, who knows what Oscar Wilde's wishes would have been regarding his tomb. It's possible he would have hated the over-the-top tomb, anyway. Thanks for sharing your photos and allowing me to live vicariously through them.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 16, 2011 16:15:37 GMT
Thank you for your nice comments Kerouac! I agree, that is how my mind works because that is how I see the city, one minute I am immersed in history gazing at beautiful architecture, I can turn my head and be equally impressed with something new and unique like the Pompidou Center. Walking down the streets I am often thinking of my friends and family back home and then I seen the public toilet and think, now this will interest them! I have so many toilet stories that amuse my family.
nycg, I could never disfigure anything let alone a persons tombstone! I do not understand this behaviour at all. Our enthusiastic tour guide told us that in the estate of the woman who provided the tombstone there are funds provided to clean it frequently. He told us when she died, her instructions were for her to be cremated and her ashes to be spread on the garden provided in the cemetary so all her money could go to the preservation of his tomb. Of course I am not sure of the truth of this story, but it is one I am sure she would want told as she was devoted to his memory. Thank you for your comments that you enjoyed my effort.
Cheers, Mich
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Post by lagatta on Oct 17, 2011 0:24:59 GMT
What were the rates for your hotel? Was it a good bargain? Indeed a bar fridge is very, very useful but so far the Zen Center still seems one of the best values if one is looking for a hotel and not a rental apartment. It is not fare from the area your hotel is in etiher. (You will find references to the Zen Center on this site - and no, one needn't be a Buddhist, or meditate).
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Post by mich64 on Oct 17, 2011 11:29:36 GMT
Hi Lagatta, the room rate was 131 Euro per night. Cheers! Mich
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Post by tod2 on Oct 17, 2011 12:02:33 GMT
Mich, I am so pleased to hear you had a wonderful time! The photos are super and make me look forward to next year more than ever now. Never mind the automatic toilet - a newer version of the little oblong one, but I spied Chez Leon Couscous restaurant in the background. Please confirm that this is the Middle Eastern restaurant at 30 Rue Du Fbg Montmartre , in the 9th?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2011 12:41:14 GMT
I will confirm it since you can see it in my Faubourg Montmartre thread.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 17, 2011 13:31:25 GMT
Yes, we were all over the place! 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th and 20th, but I do not remember being in the 9th, but I guess we were! I may be back next year as well as my younger sister wants me to plan a trip for the four of us and I will somehow include Paris into it. Cheers! Mich
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Post by tod2 on Oct 17, 2011 14:35:36 GMT
I looked and looked at all the photos again Kerouac but need a photo number or some hint......I thought it was on a corner but am probably wrong.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2011 16:55:46 GMT
Sorry, tod! I just looked myself and realized that I didn't use the picture in my report. Here it is. (Please forgive me for a tiny pollution of your beautiful thread, Mich!)
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 18, 2011 4:40:27 GMT
Just lovely, Mich. Your enthusiasm and enjoyment come through in every line and pixel. I particularly love the picture taken from underneath the tower and also the one of the bridge. What is the story of "the locks on the bridge with expressions of love", please?
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Post by tod2 on Oct 18, 2011 14:49:53 GMT
Thanks Kerouac, but I can see it's definitely not the same Chez Leon ( of which there seems to be several in Paris just as there are Cafe du Metro's and Cafe Rouge's). Wish I could read the street name but it's too out of camera shot to be clear). Oh well.....
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2011 17:03:44 GMT
I used to like the Chez Léon couscous place on Boulevard Beaumarchais at Bastille, but it doesn't exist anymore.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 18, 2011 22:46:04 GMT
Hi Bixa, I am not sure what the whole story is, maybe Kerouac or other Paris specialists can tell us. I just new of it from friends that had told me they had seen it and that couples came to the bridge to attach a lock with their intitials dedicating their love to one another. I know there are bridges in other parts of the world having locks of love on them as well.
I think I know remember the street where I took the photo of the public toilet Tod, Rue de Lyon! Hope that will help you when you visit.
Cheers, Mich
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Post by sojoh on Oct 20, 2011 21:40:23 GMT
mich64, I had a wonderful time looking at all of your photos. Your comments about Oscar Wilde have convinced me that I need to do another tour of Pere Lachaise. Last time I went with a French guide, which was a great way to learn about all of the French people who are buried there, but we didn't visit Wilde's grave. I do have a couple of pictures of Victor Noir though.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 20, 2011 21:52:42 GMT
I am so glad you enjoyed my post sojoh! I would advise anyone visiting Paris ( or living there ) to visit the Cemetery. It is truly an amazing place with some wonderful tributes to families that must be comforting to them. I wish I knew the name of our guide, he was so enthusiastic and had so many interesting facts and stories. I would recommend a guided tour, we were finding places fine on our own, but the commentary was so enlightening. Cheers! Mich
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Post by sojoh on Oct 20, 2011 22:13:48 GMT
Bixa, Kerouac will be able to give you more information, but the locks are placed on the bridge when lovers want to pledge their undying love to each other. There are locks on a couple of bridges, but the main one is the Pont des Arts. After placing a padlock on the bridge, the couples toss the key in the Seine. It's all very romantic but costs the city of Paris quite a bit of money because they have to remove the locks. There are just way too many of them. Interestingly enough, some couples also use combination locks. We always joke that they're used by the couples who still haven't made up their minds about each other.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 24, 2011 17:34:21 GMT
Absolutely wonderful detail, Mich, and something I'd never have known without your showing & telling. Ha -- that's funny about the combination locks!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2011 17:51:02 GMT
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Post by Jazz on Oct 24, 2011 21:12:11 GMT
Mich, thank you for your personal view of Paris. I’ve been reading and enjoying all along. Last night I came home from 3 weeks there (Oct. 3-23) and well understand your preference for September or October. My days were cooler, the average highs about 15-19?
The 12th is a fabulous arrondissement and your hotel was perfectly positioned for the rest of your trip. I agree with Kerouac, liking the juxtaposition of the sublime and the day to day in your photos. Pere La Chaise is truly beautiful. You were fortunate to find some paintings…something I have always wanted to do, but never found ‘it’. I must be honest though, I hate the locks on the bridges and wish they would cut them all off. Thanks for this and maybe we’ll here from you about the rest of your trip?
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Post by lagatta on Oct 24, 2011 23:13:34 GMT
I also hate the locks on the bridges. A comment from a generation older than mine, and on the verge of disappearance: "Fools' names and fools' faces, are often found in public places". I don't really like the mandatory self-effacement in that old saying, but the locks show a glaring lack of re-imagination and memory skills.
I would never dream on inflicting a lock or graffito on some memorable place I've been with beloved.
Jazz, as a matter of fact I did a watercolour of a site in Père-Lachaise in the summer of 2003 and sent it to sweetie.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 25, 2011 0:08:50 GMT
Thank you Jazz, I was just thinking about adding more pictures that I took in Paris and also add on to my Rhone Alps thread. I have been so busy since returning. I do hope that you do a thread as well, I so enjoy reading and seeing how members spend their time and how each of us see travelling different.
Cheers! Mich
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Post by mich64 on Oct 25, 2011 1:56:37 GMT
I thought I would show my little paintings that we purchased on the Pont Solferino after our visit to the Musee d'Orsay. They are not Museum quality art, but they fit our decor, which is far from ornate, therefore more authentic to ourselves. Cheers, Mich
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Post by nycgirl on Oct 25, 2011 2:29:33 GMT
Very nice. You found the perfect frames for them, too. I bought some little watercolors too, but I'm having the hardest time finding frames that are just right.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 25, 2011 5:05:49 GMT
Nycg, on our last Paris trip I also brought a water colour home and took it to a professional to be framed but this time I just found these frames at Wal-Mart! and the cheery stain almost matches my furniture exactly, I was so thrilled. They are actually oil paintings, since I bought them for my kitchen I decided to find a glass frame that would fit the thickness of the canvas. Maybe tomorrow I will take a picture of my other painting and post.
Cheers! Mich
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