2018 – Three Days in Paris

Jon: Amy and I endured a long flight from Denver to Munich and connected on to Paris. Though weary, glimpses of the city below restored energy and enthusiasm as we landed. A train, easy metro ride, and short walk brought us to the Hotel Eldorado, our lodging for the next three nights.

We got settled and unwound from the lengthy travel before heading out to grab dinner at a sidewalk restaurant on the busy Place de Clichy intersection. We ended the night early to get some much-needed sleep. We’d begin touring the city the following day.

The second day was fantastic. There was a subtle chill in the air, but the sun quickly warmed the shadowed streets. A fairly short walk from the hotel brought us to our hop-on-hop-off bus stop near the Moulin Rouge. Knowing that we had limited time, the bus was an easy way to get around and see the main attractions. I took the liberty of adding a boat option on the Seine River for flexibility and some different views.

The bus whisked us around town while playing some hokey narratives about what we were seeing. We disembarked at the Louvre. The weather was near perfect as we strolled through the gardens, around the famous glass pyramids out front, and the park. It was a bit surreal to be in Paris at this iconic location. 

Back on the bus, we rode down the Champs-Elysées and around the Arc de Triomphe. We hopped off at the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed the many views along the Seine and the Champ de Mars park. I was impressed with the Tower’s magnificent design and height. The park was a great place to step back for a view of the monument and find some quiet paths.

A Batobus (boat taxi) dock was quite close to the Eiffel Tower. We boarded a boat and motored to Norte-Dame Cathedral to marvel at the flying buttress architecture and beautiful rose garden. Late afternoon hunger took hold, which led to crepes at a sidewalk café. A stroll around the cathedral and along the river bank to check out the sidewalk market stalls brought us back to the boat dock where we started our return journey.

We made our way to the hop-on-hop off bus and enjoyed a sunset that brought a warm glow to the city and spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower. The bus brought us back toward the Moulin Rouge, which was illuminated in neon lights. It was a good day of sightseeing that left little on our list. However, we had another day and were going to make the most of it.

Our third, and final, day brought more great weather.  Amy and I made our way to the Montmartre neighborhood and Sacré-Cœur basilica which stands proudly on a hill overlooking the rest of the city. It was quite impressive to view the basilica as we climbed the many stairs to reach the front entrance. After touring the inside, we explored the neighborhood streets to get some different views and see what else was around.

Later in the day, we returned to the Eiffel Tower with a bottle of wine. We stopped at the Jardins du Trocadéro, which is across the Seine from the Tower and hosts a beautiful esplanade and large fountain. Afterward, we settled onto the lawn at the Champ de Mars park and sipped wine while looking up at the great wrought-iron lattice structure.

Relaxed and content, we opted to hang out until dark to see the Tower lit up. While impressive during the day, the illuminated Tower is quite striking. A rotating beacon on top shines across the city and every hour sparkling lights dance around the structure. After a lengthy wait, we caught the last hop-on-hop-off bus back toward our hotel.

Our time in Paris was nearly complete. We’d take the train to Belgium the next morning

(Dates: October 7-11, 2018)