Yellow leaves with blurred metal structure behind
Happy Place Happy Space,  Monday walks,  Paris

Fulfilling a promise: a short walk in Paris

January 23, 2024 / 38 Comments

How do most grandparents respond when asked to do something by their grandchildren? They try their best to oblige, of course.

So when, on our recent visit to Paris, our friend Pete mentioned that he had promised to send his grandchildren a photo of himself by the Eiffel Tower and to buy them miniature towers, we all agreed to accompany him on this mission.

Perhaps Jo would like to join us too? It was in truth a Wednesday, but I’m sure it would make just as good a Monday Walk! I didn’t taken as many photos as I normally would, being too busy chatting with our friends as well as having very cold hands! But I do have a few to share, although some you may have seen in previous posts.

We took the Metro to Champs Elysées Clemenceau and walked down to the river and across the Pont Alexandre III, taking photos of the view at various points.

Large stone carving of a lion and a distant metal tower
Two men on a bridge, one taking a photo of the other
Sculpture in stone of classical figure holding small winged gold figure
Small winged gold figure
To the Eiffel Tower

On the far side we strolled through the pleasant neighbourhood between Les Invalides and the tower, stopping off for a coffee. There were Christmas decorations in many of the shops and strung across the street above our heads. And we had tantalising glimpses of our destination in the distance.

Tall metal tower at the end of a city street
Christmas greenery and a small teddy with a hat

When we reached the Champs de Mars we found it in a degree of chaos, being made over ahead of next year’s Olympic Games. But we got our photos, Pete included, and walked past the tower to the river. It’s many years since I’ve been in this part of Paris, despite our frequent visits in recent years, so I had to capture the Eiffel Tower from a variety of angles, including one with the countdown to this summer’s Olympic Games. There were still a few leaves on some trees to add colour (including those in my featured image).

Large digital clock in front of the Eiffel Tower
Curved metal structure with ornamental details
Diagonal shot of a tall metal tower and almost bare trees

We had thought about getting the Batobus back, but it was expensive for a short ride so instead we decided to stay in this area for lunch. But before, we stopped to take some photos of the strikingly modern Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Cathédrale de la Sainte-Trinité.

Modern building with an onion dome and a cross
Looking up at a tall modern building with onion domes

We found a good lunch, sharing some pizzas in the Trattoria Dell’Angelo on the Avenue Rapp, before taking the RER back to Saint Michel. And lunch feels like a good point at which to end any walk!

And as Paris is definitely one of my happy places, and it’s been a while since I linked up with Ju-Lyn, I’m sharing this with her Happy Place, Happy Space challenge too.

I visit Paris often; these photos were all taken in November 2023

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