Still smiling after leaving home at 4am. We are on our way to Paris on the first Eurostar train stopping at Ebbsfleet station in Kent. Very convenient for me as it is only a 15min drive away and I can park and leave the car there until our return. Time for our adventure to begin. As I mentioned in my previous post I'm determined to repay Marilyn for arranging a terrific tour of the Canadian Rockies for me last year so it is my turn to give her an exciting, event filled trip to Paris and the UK.
By 10 am French time we had checked into our hotel, the Acropole in the 14th arrondissement. The receptionist was delightful and despite us arriving 4 hours before check in, they had a room ready for us in no time. This is not my first visit to Paris and I was pleasantly surprised that the room was not as tiny as many Parisienne hotel rooms. It was a gloriously warm, sunny day, perfect for visiting the Rodin Museum.
We began with lunch and then spent a couple of hours wandering through the grounds. The Museum is housed in a private mansion where Rodin was a tenant. In 1904 the property was owned by the State which rented rooms out to artists. Henri Matisse and the dancer Isadora Duncan were some of the tenants of the building. By 1911 Rodin was the sole occupant. It became the Rodin Museum in 1916 when Rodin donated all his works and collections to the State.
The main monumental sculptures are displayed in the garden such as 'The Thinker'
The Gates of Hell
Details from the Gates of Hell
The Burghers of Calais
Inside the building are his collections of drawings and smaller sculptures.
The Kiss
As we would be visiting a number of museums and galleries we bought a 2 day Paris Museum Pass. A great idea but not enough research or questions asked first. We did not realise until the following day that this was not a 48 hour pass but a 2 day pass. So buying it at 1pm was not the brightest of ideas especially as we decided not to visit another Museum today but leave it until tomorrow.
Instead we went up the Eiffel Tower as there was a very short queue. To me Paris seemed so quiet. The recent terrorist attacks appear to have discouraged a number of visitors to the City. I couldn't believe our luck that after a five minute wait we were on our way to the top of the Tower.
The rest of the day was spent resting and chatting over some French wine and then a couple of crepes. A wonderful way to end the first day of our trip.
It looks wonderful, I remember the Rodin museum with the nice garden. It must have been ages ago I was on top of the Eiffeltower. Lucky you without the queques.
ReplyDeleteSmiling... I love Paris! Wish you both a wonderful time there.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the next installment. I hope I can convince Dan to travel to Paris some time.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you having a good time
ReplyDeletesigh...I traveled into a different county yesterday for a hike...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip! Thanks for sharing your photos.
ReplyDeleteBoy oh boy, you sure do get around. Noted that you were in the Cotswolds and now Paris. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds all very good! Have a great time in Paris!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy pics of Paris. We were there in April. I am so sad that. Paris is suffering from the terriosts attacks.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking us on your journey with you. I thoroughly enjoyed the intricate sculptures. Such beauty there and eye catching photos.
ReplyDeleteOther countries are so close when you live in the UK or Europe. Looks like you had a wonderful time and visited many iconic sites into a short time.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots and how exciting for you both ~ what a trip! Bon Voyage ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you a special week ~ ^_^
So exciting ...I am sure your friend is having a fabulous time.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of the Rodin Museum. It looks like a great place to visit. I often wonder what it must have been like when the great artists and thinkers of the day all lived in such close proximity, and at a time when so many new ideas were bursting forth. Hope your friend is enjoying Europe.
ReplyDeleteParis is just amazing! Lovely shots.
ReplyDeleteI know that Paris should be on everyone's "must do" list but I never got round to it. You are very brave going up the Eifell Tower - Blackpool Tower is high enough for me as a landlubber.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, the Tourist sector in France and especially in Paris suffers a terrible crisis ! 40 % less tourists ! and even more in Paris, they talk about it every day on French TV. In Brussels it's not better we have alarm level 3 (4 is the max) and also a lack of tourists. The funniest thing is I live in a dangerous city and people tell me not to go to the Red Sea because it's dangerous, and there is nothing !!
ReplyDeletebeautiful images of this pretty town. i love paris.
ReplyDeleteThat looks awesome - I was a young child the last time I was in Paris and would love to revisit the city.
ReplyDeleteI'm catching up on blogs and here I find you are in Paris! How very wonderful. And no crowds? Unbelievable! Your room looks nice and I love the open windows of Paris. As I was looking at your photos of the Rodin statues I thought about how much my dad loved Rodin. I have to go there.
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