My Summer in the City of Light

Saturday, July 26, 2014

16th Arrondissement: Trocadéro and Passy Cemetery

The 16th Arrondissement is close to the Eiffel Tower and is a very expensive neighborhood. I enjoy spending time in this area, because there are lots of cute shops and attractions and it is very clean.

Musée de l'Homme: Tourist Attraction
Musée de l'Homme, or Museum of Man, is an anthropology museum.This is mainly a scientific museum focusing on what makes up mankind historically, anthropologically and ethnologically. Musée de l'Homme is located at Trocadéro, or the most inconvenient metro stop to get to from our apartment, where my sister has been living for the summer.

Passy Cemetery: Interesting Site
Passy Cemetery is a smaller cemetery located very close to Trocadéro. Bao Dai, the last Emperor of Vietnam is buried here, as well as others including several playwrights, actors, and more royalty.

This is the grave of Édouard Manet, a French painter who lived from 1832 - 1883, who helped lead the transition into what is considered modern art.

From the inside of the cemetery, there is a view of the top of the Eiffel Tower!

Trocadéro has one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower! This is the location where the fireworks were launched on Bastille day, and it must have been an incredible place to watch the show!

Statue of Marshal Ferdinand Foch: Architectural Object
Ferdinand Foch became Marshal of France during the First World War. He took part in the Treaty of Versailles. After Versailles was over, Foch stated, "This is not peace. This is an armistice for twenty years." Twenty years and 65 days later, WWII began.

Le Coq: Commercial Business

The flower shops are one of my favorite things about Paris! I can never get enough of them!

Nothing makes my heart melt like a surprise view of the Eiffel Tower!

Hotel Nicolo: Two Star Hotel

Hotel Nicolo is a two star hotel close to Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower. Double rooms start at 173 Euros per night. This is a pricey two star hotel, but in a very nice location!

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musée_de_l'Homme

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trocadéro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passy_Cemetery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Édouard_Manet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Foch

Thursday, July 24, 2014

10th Arrondissement: Caserne Vérines and Bellushi's

The 10th arrondissement includes two major train stations, Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, and therefore is a major hub for travelers. The district is filled with hotels, many very cheap. In this district we saw more two star hotels than anywhere else in Paris. Bordering the 11th arrondissement, the 10th is also full of business activity.

Caserne Vérines: Architectural Object

This is the caserne Vérines, a former military barracks, which now houses the French Republican Guard and faces the Place de République.

Le Café Pierre: Commercial Business

Le Café Pierre is a classic parisian cafe. There is perhaps nothing more parisian than enjoying a cigarette over a glass of coffee at a café. Though cigarettes are not for me, I do enjoy a nice cup of coffee in a pleasant environment, and there are few places as charming to sit as a parisian café on an enchanting street.

Belushi's Bar: Tourist Attraction

One of two St. Christopher's hostels in Paris, this location is very close to Gare de Nord. Underneath the hostel is Bellushi's sport's bar. We spent several nights in this location of Bellushi's this summer watching World Cup games and eating hot wings. Bellushi's is surrounded with two star hotels, because of its proximity to Gare du Nord.

Croix-Rouge Francaise: Interesting Site

We found a french Red Cross close to Place de Republique.

What an interesting window display!

This church is one of several remaining churches originally built for the monastery of Saint Martin des Champs. Its medieval architecture is older than most of Paris!

Keep an eye out for the word "soldes," meaning sale. French shops are only allowed to publicize two sales each year, so all stores have sales in July and January. There are two major waves of sales in July. The first major sale starts out early in the month, and then prices increase again for the middle of the month. During this time, the sale continues, but the best sales come toward the end of the month!

République Hotel: Two Star Hotel

République is a two star hotel close to Place de République, and the Saint Martin des Champs church pictured above. Double rooms start at 60 Euros. This is a great location and great price!

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_arrondissement_of_Paris

http://www.emporis.fr/building/caserne-verines-paris-france

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Martin-des-Champs_Priory

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

8th Arrondissement: Arc de Triomphe and the Madeleine

The 8th Arrondissement is one of the most famous and popular locations for tourists to visit. This area includes Paris' famed Champs-Élysées, a large boulevard lined with luxury shops. This is the Paris often seen in films. On end of the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe is located. Also located on the avenue is the Obelisk of Luxor, the oldest monument in France. It was originally located at the Luxor Pyramid in Egypt, and had been a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt. The Obelisk has been located on the Champs-Élysées since 1833, when the revolution ended and the guillotine previously occupying its spot was removed.

Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile: Tourist Attraction

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most well-known monuments in the city. It was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to serve as a monument to recognize those who died for France during the Napoleonic Wars and the French Revolution. Numerous prominent military marches have taken place under the arc. When Victor Hugo died, his body was exposed under the arc before he was buried in the Pantheon. This is also where the Bastille day parade takes place each year, with a military march and a parade of planes. We went to the parade this year and were amazed by the show!

L'eglise de la Madeleine: Architectural Object

The Madeleine is a Catholic church designed to honor Napoleon's army, commissioned by Napoleon himself and consecrated in 1842. Today, services at the Madeleine are still celebrated daily.

Gare Saint Lazare: Interesting Site
The Saint Lazare Train Station is located close to the Madeleine. Claude Monet lived close by starting in 1877, and finished 11 paintings of the railways.

This clock sculpture outside the station was interesting!

Saint Augustin: Commercial Business

Hotel Madeleine Opera: Two Star Hotel

Hotel Madeleine Opera is located close to the Madeleine in the 8th arrondissement and Galeries Lafayette in the 9th. Double rooms start at around 140 Euros per night.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_arrondissement_of_Paris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champs-Élysées

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxor_Obelisk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Madeleine,_Paris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_Saint-Lazare

2nd Arrondissement: Comédie Française and Passage Choiseul

The 2nd Arrondissement is located on the right bank of the Seine, near the center of the city. It contains many of Paris' passages.

Comédie Française: Tourist Attraction

The Comédie Française is the only state theater in France with its own troupe of actors. Rich with history, like seemingly all of Paris, the theater used to be widely known as the House of Molière, after the playwright most associated with the Comédie Française. Molière's work was well recognized in his time; the playwright had several aristocratic patrons. His work was also, however, highly controversial, and many saw his work as religious hypocrisy. The Comédie Française was originally founded by order of Louis VIX, one of the most famous french royals of all time. Louis, or the "Sun King" is perhaps most famous for his commission of Versailles.

Le Centorial: Architectural Object

This building, Le Centorial, is the headquarters for the Crédit Lyonnais, or LCL, a french bank. This building was in part designed by Gustave Eiffel. Inside the building, there is a double helix staircase inspired by the staircase in the Chateau de Chambord, which we visited on our excursion to Loire valley last month. A double helix staircase appears to be one fluid spiral staircase, but instead consists of two separate staircases which never meet. In 1996, a large portion caught on fire, resulting in devastating damage to two thirds of the building.

Passage Choiseul: Interesting Site

Passage Choiseul was built from 1825-1827. The Passage no longer has its original glass ceilings, but still serves as a small shopping center. Now Passage Choiseul is the longest covered passage in Paris.

Theatre des Bouffes Parisiens is located within Passage Choiseul. The theater has been open since 1855, when it opened offering a "new and original" genre of musical theatre.