Our last full day
I originally wanted to head towards Montmarte and St. Denis on this day, but had a last minute change of plans. Decisions, decisions.
I still had yet to capture my coveted city shot of Paris from a top Notre Dame, so I figured we could try to get in line for the church tower, again. I was past the point of caring about the inside of the place.
We woke up super early, and because mornings in Europe tend to be gray, we needed a time killer before going to Notre Dame. I would hate to wait in line for the tower too early and have short and foggy visibility when attempting to get a good panoramic picture of the city.
Last minute, we decided to hit up the Muséum National d'Histoire (or in English, The National Museum of History) before going to Notre Dame. The museum exterior has a wonderful park like setting with gardens, flowers, statues, etc,. Now, I should note that this museum actually consists of MANY buildings within the 'park' grounds. The largest building being the Natural History building. Depending on which ticket option you purchase depends on which building you can visit. I knew I wouldn't want to spend my last day wandering museums until sunset, so we opted to just visit the Natural History building. Once inside, I was amazed.
After wandering each of its five floors, we left the museum and went in search of Galeries Lafayette. Although this store is not of any significant importance to me, it's famous Christmas tree tradition is.
Every year, Galeries Lafayette (a high end department store in Paris) showcases a large Christmas tree under its stained-glass dome. I have seen it on Pinterest numerous times, and always thought it'd be pretty to see in person, much like Americans fawning over the Rockefeller tree every year. Same difference. Well, this year, I had to see it. Not only was I in the area during Christmas, but this was the FIRST year ever that the store decided to showcase an upside version of its famous tree!
Getting there was easy. Navigating around once the metro dumps you on to Haussmann Avenue is not easy.
Swarms of people everywhere. Just as bad, if not worse than being under the Eiffel tower at nightfall. We finally crossed the street and went into the store. Walked around the handbag area, where a handbag costs as much as a car, and then to the makeup counter area where the tree is... BAM, in your face!
My last day in Paris was my favorite. I was almost sad that the day had came to an end when it did.
The following morning, we woke up, checked out of the apartment, and headed home. I actually woke up sick as a dog on that morning, so maybe it all worked out for the best that we weren't staying longer.
I shall return.
I am super anxious to see the city in the spring time. It's looking like we'll return in the fall of 2015, and spring of 2016. I have a lot of unfinished business with Paris and surrounding areas (Monet's gardens, Luxembourg Gardens, St. Denis Basilica, Fontainebleau, etc,.)!
Counting the days until we meet again.
I originally wanted to head towards Montmarte and St. Denis on this day, but had a last minute change of plans. Decisions, decisions.
We woke up super early, and because mornings in Europe tend to be gray, we needed a time killer before going to Notre Dame. I would hate to wait in line for the tower too early and have short and foggy visibility when attempting to get a good panoramic picture of the city.
Last minute, we decided to hit up the Muséum National d'Histoire (or in English, The National Museum of History) before going to Notre Dame. The museum exterior has a wonderful park like setting with gardens, flowers, statues, etc,. Now, I should note that this museum actually consists of MANY buildings within the 'park' grounds. The largest building being the Natural History building. Depending on which ticket option you purchase depends on which building you can visit. I knew I wouldn't want to spend my last day wandering museums until sunset, so we opted to just visit the Natural History building. Once inside, I was amazed.
Yeah, the exterior of the building is nice, but the inside is beautifully organized. It was unlike any museum I have ever stepped foot in. I wouldn't say that it caters mainly to kids because there is much for all ages to enjoy: Fossils, shells, organisms, insects, sea life, large animal bones, small animal bones, taxidermy animals in a variety of species (in a variety of sizes), eggs, plants, etc,. You name it, they had it. The museum's general concept is evolution; how life has expanded throughout time. Each floor (there are 5) take you through different ages and stages of earth's timeline.
It is not a zoo. There are NO live animals inside of this building. It's not really a hands on museum, more so a 'look but don't touch' type of place. Most exhibits are in glass cases. There are some elements to the museum that engage visitors, like LCD screens with quizzes about science in both French and English, and informational tablets around an exhibit that allow visitors to read more on the subject. I was content enough just by watching the ceiling change color every 10 minutes!
Much like Musee d'Orsay, this museum has an old train depot type of feel, yet I have not been able to confirm if it ever was a train station (the Musee d'Orsay definitely was at one point).
It is not a zoo. There are NO live animals inside of this building. It's not really a hands on museum, more so a 'look but don't touch' type of place. Most exhibits are in glass cases. There are some elements to the museum that engage visitors, like LCD screens with quizzes about science in both French and English, and informational tablets around an exhibit that allow visitors to read more on the subject. I was content enough just by watching the ceiling change color every 10 minutes!
Much like Musee d'Orsay, this museum has an old train depot type of feel, yet I have not been able to confirm if it ever was a train station (the Musee d'Orsay definitely was at one point).
Every year, Galeries Lafayette (a high end department store in Paris) showcases a large Christmas tree under its stained-glass dome. I have seen it on Pinterest numerous times, and always thought it'd be pretty to see in person, much like Americans fawning over the Rockefeller tree every year. Same difference. Well, this year, I had to see it. Not only was I in the area during Christmas, but this was the FIRST year ever that the store decided to showcase an upside version of its famous tree!
Getting there was easy. Navigating around once the metro dumps you on to Haussmann Avenue is not easy.
Swarms of people everywhere. Just as bad, if not worse than being under the Eiffel tower at nightfall. We finally crossed the street and went into the store. Walked around the handbag area, where a handbag costs as much as a car, and then to the makeup counter area where the tree is... BAM, in your face!
This department store is gorgeous, and I had SOOOO much fun swapping lenses to get some fish eye shots *sarcasm*. I almost dropped one lens while being pushed and shoved around the Dior perfume counter. Nice. I wasn't mad though. I clicked my shots, gave my husband the "Let's get the hell out of this place" glance, and we headed out. All of that just to see a famous Christmas tree. Yep.
Reading about it, you may think it was decently simple to get in and out, but it wasn't. It took about an hour! And no major walking was involved, just crossing one street and shoving your way through a store can really eat some time.
We jumped back on the metro from which we came, and headed to Notre Dame. I sat quietly until our stop, crossing my fingers that this day would work in my favor and that I would FINALLY be able to go up to the top of the tower.
We approached the church and saw the line to get inside of the cathedral. Long, as expected. Walked over to the left side of the front facade and FOR ONCE, the line was not closed off! You can bet your sweet ass I was getting my tower view!
The queue was about 45 minutes, which isn't too bad. I've heard it's a lot worse in the summer, just like everything else. Once in, you climb stairs to about a half way up point, and you enter a gift shop and the place where you buy your ticket. They only allow so many people in at a time, and I think I noticed about 20-ish folks in this room or so. They most likely clear the top and then let the gift shop folks go up after. We waited minutes in this room and a small lady opened the door that we initially came through and hollered "tickets ready?' We passed our tickets to her, and a new door was open allowing us to go further up the stairs. And then we were on top!
Reading about it, you may think it was decently simple to get in and out, but it wasn't. It took about an hour! And no major walking was involved, just crossing one street and shoving your way through a store can really eat some time.
We jumped back on the metro from which we came, and headed to Notre Dame. I sat quietly until our stop, crossing my fingers that this day would work in my favor and that I would FINALLY be able to go up to the top of the tower.
We approached the church and saw the line to get inside of the cathedral. Long, as expected. Walked over to the left side of the front facade and FOR ONCE, the line was not closed off! You can bet your sweet ass I was getting my tower view!
The queue was about 45 minutes, which isn't too bad. I've heard it's a lot worse in the summer, just like everything else. Once in, you climb stairs to about a half way up point, and you enter a gift shop and the place where you buy your ticket. They only allow so many people in at a time, and I think I noticed about 20-ish folks in this room or so. They most likely clear the top and then let the gift shop folks go up after. We waited minutes in this room and a small lady opened the door that we initially came through and hollered "tickets ready?' We passed our tickets to her, and a new door was open allowing us to go further up the stairs. And then we were on top!
The view is lovely and was 100% worth my wait! You can see the Notre Dame gargoyles up close, the Seine river is below you, bridges, the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur in the distance. I loved every second of it. I was in photo heaven; happily snapping away and embracing this long awaited moment.
After we descended down the stairs from the tower, we grabbed lunch nearby, and then headed to Trocadero via the Metro for one last visit.
I had a final quest for this trip: Get a photo of the Eiffel Tower while it was glittering. And that, I did.
After we descended down the stairs from the tower, we grabbed lunch nearby, and then headed to Trocadero via the Metro for one last visit.
I had a final quest for this trip: Get a photo of the Eiffel Tower while it was glittering. And that, I did.
The following morning, we woke up, checked out of the apartment, and headed home. I actually woke up sick as a dog on that morning, so maybe it all worked out for the best that we weren't staying longer.
I shall return.
I am super anxious to see the city in the spring time. It's looking like we'll return in the fall of 2015, and spring of 2016. I have a lot of unfinished business with Paris and surrounding areas (Monet's gardens, Luxembourg Gardens, St. Denis Basilica, Fontainebleau, etc,.)!
Counting the days until we meet again.
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