Same routine as last week, about two hours coach ride to the drop off point, the bus station at the Palais des Congrès de Paris. This time though we knew where we where and even gave directions to others getting off the bus, we headed straight towards the Eiffel Tower where we planned to have our lunch.
From the bus station go round to the front of the Palais des Congrès de Paris where there is a very large roundabout. From the front clockwise, take the fourth exit, the Avenue de Malakoff (the one after where you can see the Arc de Triomphe). Avenue de Malakoff goes straight to the Place du Trocadéro overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
As we passed a small supermarket, we stopped and went in, Dot had seen something in there the last time and wanted another look. We ended up with a small bottle of wine each to have with the picnic, one each, Dot got a bottle white and I got one of red.
I took a load more photos from the Place du Trocadéro of the Eiffel Tower, then set off down the steps towards the Tower. I even even tried to get some arty ones as we walked down the steps passed the fountains of the Jardins du Trocadéro.
We arrived at the river too early for lunch so we stayed on the right bank of the Seine, walked along to the next bridge, Pont Bir-Hakeim and crossed to the half way piont, then down onto the Île des Cygnes, an artificially-created island in the river.
This bit of the walk had nothing to do with there being three bridges across the island, honest. At the far end of the island we knew there was a one-fifth scale replica of the Statue of Liberty. So off the bridge, we we walked along for a look, as the island has no roads it is popular this cyclists, joggers, dog walkers and tramps.
It would have been a good idea to have our packed lunch there but it was still far too early, so we headed back in the general direction of the Eiffel Tower. Back on the bridg we continued the rest of the way across the river. Then turned left back to the Tower.
At the Tower Dot wanted to go up to the top but the queue were very long and I am still scared of heights, so we didn't, I know I should have made the effort and maybe next time I will. We found a bench to sit on in the Parc du Champ de Mars, with a fantastic view of the tower. We had our picnic there and even though there was a sign forbidding alcohol, every one around us was drinking beer or even Champaign, so we had our wine with it.
After lunch we walked through the Parc du Champ de Mars, away from the river, towards the Military School but the way through to it was closed, for what could have been a fun run the previous day.
So from there we made our way out of the park to the left, along the Avenue de la Motte-Picquet towards the Esplanade des Invalides, it's a lot further than it looks on the street map, Paris is big.
Once there at the L'Hôtel national des Invalides, we had a look round the military museums and church there. The most notable tomb at Les Invalides is that of Napoleon Bonaparte we didn't notice it.
As it was still very sunny, it was not a day to be inside and as we left as large numbers of noisy youngsters were arriving, we made a good decision there then.
We then walked down the Avenue du Maréchal Gallieni back to the river Seine at Pont Alexandre III and made our way along the south bank back in he direction of the tower. By now we had already walked about five miles, so we decided to have a seat, a rest and a beer.
We crossed over the river via Passerelle Debilly, a pedestrian bridge and went into the first bar we came to, straight over the river on Rue de la Manutention, very expensive and very poor beer, we only had the one though.
At the end of Rue de la Manutention, is set of steps up to Avenue du Président Wilson, where we tuned left back to the Place du Trocadéro.
You know how I said, on the first Paris walk, that the many Africans selling souvenirs, spoil the experience all around the Eiffel Tower. Well they also sell the cheapest souvenir towers, so we set off in their direction to get some.
These guys are pestering people all day and usually getting nowhere, you should have seen this ones face when we replied, go no then lets have 20 of those key rings.
Then it was back to the pickup point at the bus station along Avenue de Malakoff but not before a Leffe or two, at the same friendly bar on Avenue de Malakoff we had used on our last visit.
No comments:
Post a Comment