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Here and there/Ici et là

We slept well and after breakfast, we headed into Paris. First stop:
The Arc d'Triomphe.

 
The Arc d'Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysees, at the Place Charles de Gaulle. The location of the arc and the plaza is shared between three arrondissements (16th south & west), (17th north) and 8th (east). The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French revolutionary  and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War 1.
First view of the Arc d'Triomphe looking down the Champs-Elysees




Next stop: Place de la Concorde

 The Place de la Concorde is one of the major public squares in Paris, France. Measuring 7.6 ha (19 acres) in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysees. It was the site of many notable public executions, including the executions of King Louis XVI,  Marie Antoinette, Maximilien Robespierre  in the course of the French Revolution. 

Place de la Concorde
Obelisque replica "gifted" to Napoleon upon return of the original to Egypt

North Fountain-Place de la Concorde
The Fontaines de la Concorde are two monumental fountains located in the Place de la Concorde in the center of Paris. They were designed by Jacques Ignace Hittorff, and completed in 1840 during the reign of King Louise-Philippe. The south fountain commemorates the maritime commerce and Industry of France, and the north fountain commemorates navigation and commerce on the rivers of France. 

View down the Champs-Élysees from the Place de la Concorde
Next stop: The Louvre 











The Louvre is the world's most visited museum, and a historic landmark in Paris,France  . It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Mile . A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement (district or ward).

The Louvre



















We then headed to the Trocadero overlook for the Eiffel Tower.







The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron lattice structured tower  on the Champs de Mars in Paris. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. The tower is 330 meters (1083) about the same height as an 81-story building and the tallest structure in Paris.
We then decided to head towards Notre Dame.

All that is really visible since the tragic fire is the facade and restoration efforts are ongoing.











Consciously hydrating ;)

                                              Charlemagne statue 



Ended our night at Harry's bar- the oldest bar in Paris and location where the Bloody Mary cocktail was a developed-who knew?
While we were inside the skies open up and poured, flooding the streets!


Cheers or Santé here!

Back down the Champs-Élysees towards Saint Germain en Laye and bed!














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