Photos from our Final Days in Paris
Our final few days in Paris were a whirlwind. We strolled the Champs-Elysees and spent an evening hanging out in Montmarte. It was really fun sitting on the steps of Sacre- Coeure, with the amazing view of Paris below. A guy was selling beers, and it was really fun to have a drink and take in the scene.
The next morning, Diane did a little shopping, while I set off on a walkabout. I took the metro to the Louvre but did not really have time to visit. I decided to walk back to the hotel via a long walk through the Tuilieries Gardens to Place de la Concorde. During the French Revolution, the guillotine was set up in here and 1,300 people were beheaded on this site, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. In the early 1800s, Egypt gave France a 3,200 year old Obelisk from Luxor, which stands here now.
From Concorde, I continued my walk, crossing one Seine via one of the many beautiful bridges. I passed Hotel Les Invalides, built in 1670 by Louis XIV to house wounded and homeless Veterans. I then continued on to the Eiffel Tower, which was a short distance from our hotel.
In the afternoon, our group had reservations to visit the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower. Great experience. We visited some trendy Paris neighborhoods. That evening, we had a very nice farewell dinner with our group at a classy Paris restaurant. Many from our group did an evening boat ride on the Seine.
Every where you turn in Paris, there are cafes, beautiful architecture, monuments and a sense of history. Diane and I feel fortunate to have been able to spend time in this beautiful city.