day one: the 5 euro tour

They say the best way to combat jet-leg is to simply begin your first day based on the local time. So since we landed at 11:30am local time, that meant we had the whole day ahead. Even though we really didn't sleep at all on the flight and technically we'd already been up 22 hours...

Our friend Lionel met us at Charles de Gaulle and from there we went back to his apartment, dropped off out luggage, freshened up and went out on the town.

We first headed north toward the Seine, past La Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) François-Mitterrand, crossed the river on the passerelle Simon-de-Beauvoir, and through Parc Bercy, where Lionel left us to wander about Paris.

We took the Metro to Champs-Elysées Clémenceau and began our first walking tour in earnest. Arriving first at the Grand Palais, now a museum.

A few steps further along ave W. Churchill and we reach the Seine River and our first peak at le Tour Eiffel. And look a newlyweds.. yes this IS the City of Love...

Just a few meters more and we are now at le Pont Alexandre III and all it's gilded magnificence.

Once on the other side of the Seine, we have a wonderful view of l'Hôtel des Invalides which contains amongst others, Napoleon's tomb.



Turning back toward the bridge...



...we have our first glimpse of Le Louvre...



Then we pass le Petit Palais and a statue of Sir Winston Churchill.



Then, a short distance later we arrive back on le Champs-Elysées. Looking West toward the Arc de Triomphe...



... and then East toward Place de la Concorde.



After a casual stroll along the Champs-Elysées we arrive at Place de la Concorde with 'La fontaine des Mers' and the French Naval Ministry.



'La fontaine des Mers' and the Luxor Obelisk from the temple of Ramses II at Thebes.



The Eiffel Tower (in the distance) and the Luxor Obelisk.



After a short walk around we headed toward the Jardins des Tuileries



Once in the gardens we walked casually toward the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and Le Louvre



Le Louvre and Louis XIV



Under the Carrousel is a small group of boutiques including Lalique, a personal favourite of mine. If anyone is wondering what to get me for Christmas...



Then we get to La Pyramide Inversée



And from the level below looking directly up toward the center of the main Louvre Pyramid...



After a short cursory visit of the Outside we exit through the Richelieu wing and take one last look back toward the Pyramids...



Then just around the corner from la Palais Royal we see a Metro entrance fit for a Queen. A Drag Queen that is...



Then once through the back gardens of le Palais Royal we take our picture in the metallic globes on one of two twin fountains.



And along our continued travels pass another statue of Louis XIV...



We eventually make it to Le Marais, where we meet friends Lionel, Yves & Christophe for a drink at the Bear's Den.

After catching up it's time for supper and so we walk over to Place Stravinsky, by the Centre George Pompidou...




Then sit down at Dame Tartine, enjoy a wonderful meal with views of the Pompidou and the Fontaine Stravinsky



Once dinner is done, we are beat, it's now 9:30pm local time and we've been up over 30 hours! Oh well, not so bad for a first day.

...tomorrow the Montmatre, and more sights...