Paris Trifecta (Oct 21, 2025)

 As the title implies, we hit three sights in the first and second arrondissements today: the Palais Royal, Tuileries Garden, and some cool "passages" along the way.

We were close to the Louvre.

Colonnes de Buren, Palais Royal

Fe and a colonne

Les spheres, Palais Royal

Tree-lined path, Palais Royal garden

Passages are covered pedestrian shopping arcades that are scattered throughout this area of town.  They've been around since the first half of the 19th Century, and we were able to stroll through a couple.  We even had lunch at a Korean restaurant in one!

Galerie Vivienne

Bookstore, Galerie Vivienne

Perusing the (small) English section

Passage Choiseul

Church of Saint-Roch

Inside the church

Equestrian statue of Joan of Arc

Looking at the Luxor Obelisk and Arc de Triomphe, Tuileries Garden

Flowers with Pavilion Marsan in the background

Flowers, Tuileries Garden

Tree-lined path, Tuileries

Fe in the Tuileries metro stop

Again, lots of walking today so after some crepes along the way, we headed back to our room. Tomorrow is our second daytrip (actually an overnight) from Paris.

Back to Ile de la Cite (Oct 20, 2025)

First things first--some morning photos of Paris:

Passarelle des Douanes (Customs Bridge) over the Canal Saint-Martin

Leaves in the lock, Canal Saint-Martin

Looking down the canal

Street art (10th arrondissement)

Alleyway

We had tickets for two attractions this afternoon--again on Île de la Cité, and again at a later time to save a Euro or two.  The first was La Conciergerie, a medieval royal palace, which later became a Revolutionary court and the prison of Marie-Antoinette.

Great Hall

Fe in the spiral staircase

Fe and I

Royal Kitchen

Marie-Anoinette's Chapel

The Women's Courtyard

The Conciergerie was a surprise to me.  I'd never heard of it, but it was worth the visit since it was full of history (especially on the French Revolution) and interesting architecture.  It was included in the tickets we bought for the more famous site, Sainte-Chapelle.  I had wanted to see it last time we were here, but there wasn't time.

Sainte-Chapelle Lower Chapel

Sainte-Chapelle Upper Level

Sainte-Chapelle Upper Level

Fe and I

Stained Glass Window

Stained Glass Window

Rose Window

Statue of Jesus, Front Portal of Upper Chapel

Portal, Upper Chapel

Snapped some photos on the way back to the metro stop.

Palais de Justice

Fe and I at the Entrance Gate

Entrance Gate with Saint-Chapelle in the background

That's it for today--tomorrow's a new adventure!

Out-of-the-Way Sights (Oct 19, 2025)

This morning, I went out to the western part of Paris to see some sights that are more modern.  

La Grande Arche de la Defense

Another view.  The arch is 110 m (360 ft) tall, just over twice the height of Arc de Triomphe.   They were setting up a Christmas Market in front, so I couldn't get a full-on view.

Skyline

View of the Arc de Triomphe

More subway shots in the Louvre-Tivoli station (Line 1).  This is a block statue from Egypt's Middle Kingdom, ca. 2000 BC.

Marie Antoinette, porcelain bust

Statue of Diana

That's it for today, tomorrow is another (late afternoon) tour of another Paris landmark.

Day Trip to Fontainebleau (Oct 18, 2025)

Our first day trip while we're in Paris is to Fontainebleau.  The town is 55 km (34 mi) SE of Paris and is home to the Château de Fontainebleau, an autumn residence for many French monarchs, including Napoleon.  

Inside the Gare de Lyon, the second-busiest of Paris' seven main railway stations.

Our train.  We used our metro card for this, and later the bus, for 9.00 EUR (10.50 USD) total.

Fe and I on the train

Château Fontainebleau

Fe on the Horseshoe Staircase

Ballroom

Fe in the hallway

Galerie de Diane (Diana Gallery)

Empress' Chamber

Throne Room

Council Chamber

Looking down the staircase

Chapel

Chapel Altar

Chapel Ceiling

View from the banks of the l'Étang aux Carpes (Carp Pond).  Sounds better in French.

View of the chateau over the pond

Pavillon de l'Étang (Carp Pavilion)

Another view

Fe and the view

And again

Tree-lined path

Looking back at Chateau Fontainebleau over the gardens 

Fontaine du Parterre (Fountain in the Flowerbed)

This place was huge even without the gardens, so we certainly got our steps in today.  If you come down, entry to the gardens and around the chateau is free; it costs 14 EUR (16.30 USD) per person.  Someday, we'll go to Versailles, but this was a good and cheaper alternative with less of a crowd.

We certainly were tired when we got back to our apartment later this afternoon.  This little place is starting to feel like home, ha ha.