Bonjour Paris!!!

We arrived safely this morning around 10AM after our overnight flight on Air Canada from Toronto.
Our driver was waiting for us when we exited with our bags. The four of us were then driven to our hotel, the Waldorf Trocadero.
As we were being driven, we caught our first view of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Sacre Coeur.

Established in 2003, Alain Marcot, French interior decorator, has refurbished this former 1920 private house. It  is situated around the Arc de Triomphe, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower. it is a small, boutique hotel with only 44 rooms. It is a non-smoking hotel, which is a pleasure when in Paris!

We reached the hotel around 11 but our rooms were not available until 3PM.


We were all very excited and didn't care about our jetlag. We set out to simply wander and soak up the atmosphere. It was a little overcast and cool but after the humidity it felt great!

First things first! We all took a deep breath, looked around and said to each other "are we really here???"
We soaked in the feeling of the ancient streets, listened to the babble of foreign languages and didn't worry about camera batteries for a moment.

First destination - the Eiffel Tower as it was a quick five minute walk from our hotel. The cameras went into action very quickly as one of us always snapping something.
Our first shot of the Eiffel Tower!!

Located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, it was built in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair. It has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest building in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.

You can view Hôtel des Invalides/Napoleon's Tomb right through the bottom of the Tower.
In 1670, the Sun King Louis XIV decided to build this "hotel" to house soldiers with disabilities. It wasn't an entirely benevolent gesture, considering that the men had been injured, crippled, or blinded while fighting his battles.

The Eiffel Tower remained the highest monument in the world until the construction of New York's Chrysler Building in 1930.

Once we soaked up our first views it was time to have lunch in Le Malakoff with a view of the Tower.
Image Source

Feeling refreshed we head back to take more photos of the tower. Dark clouds kept swirling around making us take our jackets on and off!

 Below the Tower are The Gardens of the Trocadero which were created for the Universal Exhibition of 1878. Napoleon the Third’s aim was to make these parks a symbol of social harmony.


Located at the centre of the park is the fountain of Warsaw which offers a spectacle of lights and jets of water at sunset.

The gardens are ornamented with sculptures, amongst them “the Man” by Traverse or “The Woman” by Bacqué which overhang the basins.

We continued our walking across the bridge and onto the grounds of the Tower. The lines to get into the tower were immense. We strolled and took more photos. Just as there were armed guards with AK47s at the airport so too do they patrol the grounds of the Tower.
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By now we had been up 26 hours and it was 3PM so we decided to walk back to the hotel and have a nap and then head out to dinner at 7:30.

The hotel is gorgeous. Tiny and beautifully decorated.

After a nap we met up and wandered out to a local cafe for dinner. We found the Corner Cafe located at 68 avenue Kléber and took a seat outside.


The service was delightful, everyone could speak some English. Between us we had duck ( was incroyable!!), baby back ribs also declared delicious, steak frites again delicious and a pasta dish that was rated that greatly. And the prices were very reasonable compared to our lunch which was located closer to the Tower.
Dessert!!!

We decide to take a walk to the Eiffel Tower and I am so glad we did. There she was all dressed up in her gold gown.

 And then!! Every hour on the hour the sequins are lit and sparkle on her dress, the crowd lets out an appreciable whistle!!

After that light show it was time to say good night!!

Paris to Normandy River Cruise Itinerary

This is our itinerary for our August trip to Paris. We will arrive in Paris the day before the riverboat sails and stay at the Waldorf Trocadero located near the Eiffel Tower.


Avalon Waterways

Day 1 | Morning and early afternoon on our own to explore Paris, France's capital on the River Seine, the “City of Light,” where romance fills the air. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a welcome reception. (D)

Day 2 | Paris. Paris’ famous sights are living history. Included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife, including some of the world’s most famous cabaret shows. (B,L,D)

Day 3 | Paris. Conflans. After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing morning on the Sky Deck as your ship slips its moorings and glides gently down the River Seine, passing through suburban Paris. This afternoon, dock at Conflans—and now the choice is yours: either join our guided excursion to AUVERS-SUR-OISE, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died, or Napoleon and Josephine’s CHÂTEAU de MALMAISON just outside Paris. Requiring extensive renovations, this large country estate was purchased by Josephine Bonaparte in 1799 while Napoleon was fighting in Egypt. It was her aim to make it “the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe, a model of good cultivation.” (B,L,D)

Day 4 | Vernon. This morning, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s house and stunning gardens at GIVERNY or a visit of BIZY CASTLE with its magnificent courtyard. There’s still time to stroll through this delightful city on your own before your ship departs for Rouen. Relax on board this afternoon or take in a pastry-making DEMONSTRATION. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Rouen. Rouen is the capital of Upper Normandy and an important commercial city, perhaps best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, who lived, was imprisoned, and burned at the stake in the marketplace of this town in 1431. Enjoy the guided walk through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses, and the Gros Horloge, an intricate Astronomical Clock dating back to the 16th century. The splendid gothic CATHEDRAL was once the tallest building in the world and the subject of a series of Claude Monet’s paintings. The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own, or you can join an optional excursion to the pretty coastal town of Honfleur or to the busy port city of Le Havre with its contemporary architecture. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Rouen. Make your choice today of an included excursion to the historic NORMANDY LANDING BEACHES—with poignant sites such as Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery—or a “TASTE OF NORMANDY” for a more in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. The most important products are dairy, apples, and grain. Camembert cheese is a specialty, as is Calvados, a strong apple brandy. Thoroughbred horses are also reared here. (B,L,D )

Day 7 | Les Andelys. The most dramatic sight along the Seine is imposing Château Gaillard at Les Andelys. Built by England’s King Richard the Lionheart in 1196, the château is truly a masterpiece of medieval military architecture. Explore on your own and enjoy this last day in France in this delightful small town. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Paris. Disembark. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Departure flights should not leave before 8 am. (B)