Category Archives: Opera Garnier

#PostfromParis – Day 3 Parc des Buttes Chaumont +

I can’t believe how quickly the time is flying by. Day 3 already. After breakfast we headed to our first destination of the day – Parc des Buttes Chaumont. We’re becoming quite familiar with the metro stations and are finding it easier to get around in the underground maze of tunnels and tracks.

When we got off the metro at the Buttes Chaumont stop, we were rescued from walking up 300+ stairs to get out of the station by a young woman who told us that there was an elevator available to get you to the top. I know I would never have been able to climb that far.

Buttes Chaumont
Paris skyline and Temple Sibylle (right)

We knew there was waterfall in the park so when we heard the rushing water, we walked in that direction. This one wasn’t the one we expected to find but it was pretty.

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One of the two waterfalls in Parc des Buttes Chaumont

After a brief stop here for photos, we walked across the viaduct and made our way to the Temple de la Sibylle. I might look like I’m walking at a good pace in this photo but not really. Thank to our pedometer, we’re able to keep track of our speed which ranges from .7 to .8 mph. Almost a snail’s pace.

butte chaumont

On our first day here in Paris, we walked from our hotel to Sacre Coeur so you can see how far we are now from there.

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Sacre Coeur from the Temple de la Sibylle

After enjoying the view, we made our way back down the hill from the Temple and across a bridge which bounced up and down with each step we took. Of course, someone who shall remain nameless thought it would be great fun to jump up and down to really get it bouncing and while I was attempting to take a photo. Yeesh…

buttes chaumont
We walked across this bridge over the lake

We walked down this set of stairs so that we could walk under the viaduct we had walked on earlier.

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One of the stone staircases in Parc des Buttes Chaumont
buttes chaumont
Viaduct we walked on to get to the Temple de la Sibylle

After walking under the viaduct, we heard the roar of waterfalls again so continued in the direction of the sound. This turned out to be the one we were looking for in the man-made cave complete with stalactites hanging from above.

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Waterfall inside the cave
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Standing in the cave in front of the waterfall

After our “fun” in the park, we returned to the metro and headed off to our next destination – Opera.

opera
Opera Garnier

From here we walked to Place Vendôme. It being Sunday (and probably even more importantly Easter Sunday) the shops were closed. This is an area of exclusive ones, too. Had Cartier’s been open, I likely wouldn’t have been able to get my picture taken standing so close to the place. When I was here in 2003, security guards stood at every entrance.

place vendome
Standing outside one of the Cartier locations
place vendome
The Vendôme Column

Back to the metro and over to Trocadero…

Trocadero
WWI Memorial on the wall of the Passy Cemetery near the Trocadero
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower where we’ll be drinking champagne at the summit on Tuesday.

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

We walked down to street level along the river to the Pont de Bir Hakeim, crossed back to the Rive Gauche and made our way back to the Eiffel Tower to see where the statue of Gustave Eiffel is located where we’re to meet for our Tuesday tour.

By now we were getting hungry and in need of a WC, so we continued down along the river and stopped at La Frégate for a late lunch/early supper. Very nice place and we’ll likely stop in again before we go home.

And that’s day 3…