TRIP TO PARIS - DAY 2 PART 2

26/7/2014

This was one very long day, walking in the the hot sun, jostling with the crowds and eating on the go, trying to finish visiting the main attractions.

HSBC Frances Headquarters.

This building was constructed between 1897 to 1899 and was meant to a hotel for the Paris World Fair in 1900. It was known as Elysees Palace Hotel, different from the real Elysees Palace further down the road.  It was purchased by HSBC in 1919 and became its French headquarters.    The clock on top is an interesting art piece besides the ornamental sculptures of the oculus (Latin word for "eye". a circular opening in the wall) around the building.  

These sculptures display the antics of a pair of  frolicking naked children  ...

and elements of nature....

of bird, flowers. ...

plants and animals 

and musical instruments too..

The sculptors responisble for these fine and beautiful Art Nouveau sculptures are Hippolyte Jules Lefebvre (whose works are also at the Sacre Coeur) and Louis Baralis whose signatures are visible.      

Just look at those swans....

awesome..

shop selling copper pots and pans.

I love Paris

walking towards the Arc de Triomphe 

Glaces for a hot summer day to cool down... 

the towering Arc de Triomphe. 

This "Triumphal Arch"  is 50 metres tall and was commissioned by Napoleon 1 in 1806 to commemorate his military accomplishments and also to honour those who fought and died in the French Revolution.   It is in the middle of the large circular square Place Charles de Gaulle with more than 12 roads radiate from it,   ....    

So it is advisable to  take the underground tunnel to cross over to the Arc

The names of the French generals  who died in battle is listed in the inner walls of the arc

The Arc took more than 30 years to complete and Napoleon I never got to see it but his body did pass through the Arc in 1840 on its way to the resting place at Les Invalides.

Hence this Arc is so lavishly and elaborately sculptured

There is a viewing platform right at the top but there is no elevator and it takes 234 steps upwards. 

Below the Arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and a eternal flame was lit .

It seem that Jackie Kennedy was inspired to have an eternal flame  for her husband in the Arlington National Cemetery after visiting this tomb in 1961 with her husband.  

 a peaceful hideaway...

 Its a buddhist temple

Paris is full of these pretty  apartments

intricate ironworks balconies with blooming windowboxes of flowers

the last leg of the Tour de France ...the final ceremony is tomorrow. 

 The icon of Paris

Jardins du Trocadero with the Palais de Chaillot in the background and the main feature.... Fountain of Warsaw... a huge fountain basin.

There are many sculptures on the different level of steps leading from the Palais to the fountain. On the first level is stone sculpture The Man and TheWoman.  Here is the 2nd level and yon can see the bronze figure (the yellow figures) of The Deer and Bull on the left and at right is Horse and Dog. 

There are 2 stone sculpture flanking the water basin... this one is "Jeunesse" (Youth) and the other is "Joie de Vivre (Joy of Life).

The tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1889 to mark the 100 years anniversary of the French Revolution.  It was not meant to be a permanent monument.. His other notable construction was the iron framework for the Statue of Liberty.   

The height of the Tower is 320 metres tall and weigh around 10000 tonnes and there are 1665 steps to the top of the Tower.  

Around 18000 of wrought iron pieces, each separately designed and prefabricated and fit together with approximately 7 millions nails!  

The  intricate lattice ironwork design  and the Tower is painted  every 7 years to prevent it from rust.

There was a sort of fun fair going on around the Tower..

 the ever popular street food.... nutella  banana crepe...

Suddenly came across this tight security... later we found out that it was the conference for the families of the MH 17 tragedy.    

Art exhibition along the bank of River Seine.

The Ecole Militaire- a military academy for the poor family.

The impressive Pont Neuf - looking like a fort with the bastions.  The bastions were built to protect the pedestrian from the horses and carriages.

The River Seine...

its summer time and the banks of the river are turned into a beachside with sands, sails and all!

Pont des Arts- the famous pedestrian bridge with the love locks..

the romantic symbol of committed love..

but the weight of these locks have caused a portion of the bridge to collapse in June 2014 and the city council has replaced these with glass panel in an effort to stop further damage to the bridge which by the way is also an UNESCO heritage site. Besides the keys in the River is causing an eco concern too.  

Here you can see the Ile de cite -(the triangle tip)  it is one of the two natural the islands in the middle of River Seine and all distances in Paris are measured from the center of the island. Notre Dame Cathedral is on this island. 

Along the Pont des Arts are many of these art exhibition, cart-shops selling rare books, posters etc.

By now, we are tired and hungry, so decided to have an dinner.  Alan recommended us this Vietnamese Restaurant to try Pho in France..

The owners of this restaurant are authentic Vietnamese and these pho were pretty delicious. 

After our dinner, we took some time to relax here and rest our fee while waiting for the sun to set... the night is still young ..... stay tuned for our next destination..

Paris after all is called the city of love....