Paris - Day 5

Day 5 was a bit of a potpourri. One major item on the agenda and then a range of possibilities.

We took our first Metro trip and we highly recommend it for getting around Paris. The tracks and destinations are clear and well laid out. The price is reasonable, as are the crowds. Definitely skip the Batobus on the Seine and take the Metro.

We got off at the Arc de Triomphe and wandered around the base for a while. The views on a relatively quiet Sunday morning were grand. The large avenues were mostly empty and we could see for miles due to the clear skies. We took the 284 steps to the top terrace and got an even better view.

We then wandered down the Champs Elysees, which was made a bit easier due to the fact it was Sunday and some of the shops were closed. I guess we could have planned that better. We took the time for a nice lunch before making it down to the end of the Champs. There, at the Grand Palais, we found an exposition of ancient books and prints. Fiona catered to my love of old books and agreed to have a look for a couple of hours. The books were spectacular. I went in with a North American view of old books (ie. first editions by Churchill or Twain) and got a European insight into old books - books made before the printing press, hand written and illustrated. It was absolutely amazing.

We left the Grand Palais and found a nice little park outside the Petit Palais to recharge our batteries with some fruit and croissants. We quickly attracted quite a crowd of pigeons and sparrows.

We then decided on seeing a few more landmarks before calling it a day. We wandered down to the Opera building, passing the Church of Marie de Magdalene along the way, although my personal highlight was the Maille mustard shop (fortunately, for my wallet, it was closed). We then hopped the Metro to the Cemetiere de Pere Lachaise, where some Parisiens of note are buried. We saw Marcel Proust and Edith Piaf, Modigliani and Jim Morrison, Marshal Ney and the several Napoleonic noble families. The highlight was the gravestone of Oscar Wilde, covered with lipstick kisses. I leave it to you to decide whether or not one belongs to Fiona.

We hustled it back home and had a quiet meal. We're becoming somewhat worn down by now, and are taking every opportunity to ride instead of walk, sit instead of stand, etc... I think the timeline of a week in Paris flirts with our limits.