Free Paris Hike on June 12

Are you in Paris next weekend? Come join the 3rd Paris hike "Rando GDF Suez" organised by GDF Suez together with the FFRandonnée - hiking organisation.
The walk starts at 10 am at Place de la Bastille but people can come as from 9 am to take their guide. It's a 12 km walk seeing famous sites and you come back to Bastille around 2 pm. The walk is accessible for all, kids, wheelchairs... Last year they welcomed 25 000 people!
Click here for more!
Link to GDF Suez page on the hike

As for me I'll be in Munich hunting for an apartment for my daughter's intership! I guess we'll be walking a lot too!

Pont Alexandre III in Paris

Last weekend we had a sunny day in Paris, here are a few shots of Pont Alexandre III.

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Pretzels or doughnuts anyone?

Good variety of pretzels and doughnuts at the Marché de Noël - Christmas Market at La Défense, Paris. This outdoor market was open from November 24 to December 27 and around 350 chalets - shops were present. We even saw a canadian gentleman selling the multi position Canadian Hood which seems a wonderful head cover...  Maybe I should have bought one since it was really cold in December but normally we really don't need it in Paris. Anyway there was sausages, cheese, warm wine and all sorts of food... Open every year during the same period, it's easy to  reach the market at La Défense train station.

Monet Exhibit 2010

Monet exhibit 2010 opened at the Grand Palais, Paris, in September 2010... last chance to see the exhibit is tonight! Claude Monet (1840-1926) has painted for some 60 years. One can go on a virtual visit of his works on the website created on this occasion "Monet2010". These are two screen captures of the website... The site can be visited in English, Spanish etc.

Arc de Triomphe, little one and big one...

Outside the Louvre Museum, there is a small Arc de Triomphe which stands facing the one on the Place de l'Etoile at the end of the Champs Elysée.
All about the two Arc de Triomphe on this wikipedia page.

A few guide books on Paris:

Small Arc de Triomphe outside the Louvre

Arc de Triomphe, as you get out of the Metro station Charles de Gaulle Etoile on the Champs Elysée

 

The Welcoming Hands at Tuileries Garden, Paris

A few weeks ago our family came from the north of France and we went for a visit Paris starting with the Tuileries Garden outside the Louvre Museum. The weather was sunny and we had a nice stroll starting at Concorde Métro to the Champs Elysée.

Before you leave the Tuileries Garden in direction of the Luxor Obelisk at Place de la Concorde, one can see the "Welcoming Hands" bronze artwork by Louise Bourgeois. 

Suggestion for a walk around the Tuileries Garden and Louvre Museum
Arriving at Metro station Palais Royal and enter the Carousel du Louvre which is a big commercial center where you will find the Apple Store and a multicultural food mart.
Outside the Carousel you'll find the Louvre Museum and the Louvre Pyramid.  Cross over to the Tuileries Garden - at the end of the Garden, in an elevated part you will see the Welcoming Hands.
After having crossed the Tuileries Garden, you will reach the Luxor Obelisk. And the Champs Elysées is just in front of you. Being a very long avenue, you may want to hop in one of the buses that go up the Champs Elysées.

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