Final day in Paris

Our final day in Paris, and we started it by climbing the 280 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe! I was amazed that I could do it! We were able to avoid the queue by presenting our Museum Passes. The views from the top were incredible, as you will see. Don't forget to check out the photos on my MobileMe Gallery as well because I put a lot more photos there.

After the Arc, we headed in different directions from the Barrows for the day. David and I walked the length of the Champs Élysée, down to the Place du Concorde, taking in the sights on the way, though we weren't interested in the shops. We had scattered showers then, and during the day, and had to put on our raincoats for brief periods. We were rather concerned about the cracks we saw in this building along the way...


During the walk, the 'lost ring' scam was tried on us twice, but we pretended we didn't see them and just kept on walking!

We wanted to have a closer look at the Obelisk of Luxor, but couldn't get very close because workmen were still packing up the staging and seating from Bastille Day on the 14th. We couldn't get near the plaque that marks the spot of the guillotine that chopped off the head of Marie Antoinette and thousands of others.


We used our Museum Passes to pop into the Orangerie Museum to view paintings by Monet, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso and others. Then walked over to the Rodin Museum to look at his work. Along the way we crossed the Pont du Concorde which apparently has stone in it from the Bastille, and passed the Invalides Hotel with its stunning gold dome.

David is fighting off a cold and not feeling 100% today, and my feet weren't going to take me much further, so by mid afternoon we made our way back to the hotel. We popped out for a brief afternoon tea drink and then came back. It would have been nice to get over to Montmartre as I had planned, but we were both beyond it. Never mind, I was very happy when Jan and Steve arrived back from Montmartre with a gourmet macaron for me! Bliss in a single bite.

We had a nice dinner out with the Barrows for our last night in Paris - it's been nice trying out the different restaurants, though the gluten free requirement has meant some of my meals have been a bit boring. a nice fish and spinach meal tonight for both of us though. We think the French could learn a thing or two about putting something green with their dishes though. Most meals come with only the meat and potato, and if you ask for salad, you get a few leaves of undressed lettuce or mesculin. Nevertheless, the meal was nice, and we enjoyed watching the hoards of people out on the street.