9/8/2025 Breakfast. I have egg over easy, toast, juice, and coffee. Richard opted for scrambled eggs with cheese, toast, juice, and tea. Going to pivot away from original schedule of Eiffel Tower and Seine day cruise as I wasn't able to get ET tickets for today. So we are going to the Arc de Triomphe . Uber cost 19.95€/$23.47
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Uber
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| Views from the uber car |
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| Our driver told us that this white globe is from the Olympics 2024 |
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Pass the Orsay Museum
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Arc de Triomphe. After his greatest victory, the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, Napolean promised his men that they would go home beneath triumphal arches. The first stone for this was laid the following year. Not completed until 1836. It's 164' high and the starting point for victory celebrations and parades. Monument and viewing terrace. The outside and the base are free. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier-WWI. Beginning of the Champs Elysees. There are almost 300 stairs to the deck but there is an elevator available to those who need it like us.
We arrived around 11:30 am. This is a real busy area. Place Charles de Gaulle-12 avenues radiate from the Arch at the center. Some have the names of important military leaders such as Avenues Marceau and Foch. How will we get across this street to the other side where the Arch is? I had forgotten my research that said there's an underpass. Richard and I saw an opening and ran across the street. We made it! As we're standing by the curb a car stops to tell us about the underpass which I had totally forgot about! Oh well, we're here now.
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| Postcard |
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Postcard
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| Rocking our Buffalo Bills! |
Now I explore the area of the base which has a lot of information in the form of reliefs. There's also the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier here.
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| 30 shields just below the Arch's roof each bear the name of a victorious Napoleonic battle fought in either Europe or Africa |
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Departure of the Volunteers in 1792-Francois Rude's work shows citizens leaving to defend the nation
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| Shows General Marceau's funeral-Marceau defeated the Austrians in 1795 only to be killed he following year still fighting them |
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Triumph of Napoleon-JP Cortot's relief celebrates the Treaty of Vienna peace agreement of 1810
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The Battle of Aboukir-relief by Beurre the Elder depicts a scene of Napoleon's victory over the Turkish army in 1799
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| This frieze was done by Rude, Brun, Jacquet, Laitie, Cailouette, and Securre the Elder-shows the departure of the French armies for new campaigns |
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| Tomb of the Unknown Soldier-unknown French soldier from WWI is buried here |
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Officers of the Imperial Army are listed on the walls of the smaller arches
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I bought our tickets. Cost 44.00€/$51.76 We take the elevator up to the deck/viewing platform. The views up here are incredible. There's signage to let you know what you're looking at. Sacre Coeur. Eiffel Tower. So much to see. Below you can also watch the craziness of the cars, scooters as they drive around by this monument. I bought some postcards and silver necklace charms of the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. Cost 96.90€/$113.98 We have spent almost 3 hours at the Arc de Triomphe. Uber back to the apartment. Cost 19.21€/$22.63
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Tickets
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| Avenue des Champs Elysees |
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| Souvenir store |
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| Silver Eiffel Tower charm |
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| Silver Arc de Triomphe charm |
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| Uber back to the apartment |
We stop at the pharmacy for some OTC meds and a cane for Richard. Cost 46.80€/$55.05 Back at the apartment we have tea and snacks. Because Richard gets tired so easily there's a lot of things I have not been able to do so far. Instead of walking on the bridges we've seen them from our Uber rides. I didn't visit the Cluny Museum, Pantheon, Montparnasse Tower, Luxembourg Gardens, Invalides, the Rodin Museum, St. Sulpice, the Pompidou Center, outside view of Moulin Rouge, Palais Garnier, Galeries Lafayette, Seine day cruise. And that's just what I've missed up until today. But Richard didn't get sick on purpose and he is doing the best he can. I am happy with what I've seen and done. I also never expected to be using Uber so often. I had planned on taking the metro and/or buses. Plus doing lots more walking. Uber to restaurant for dinner. Cost 18.35€/$21.59
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| OTC meds we bought |
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| Uber to dinner |
Blanca. Reservation for 7:30 pm. Argentinian. Good reviews. Small place with inside and outside seating. We started off with drinks. Sodas/nonalcoholic. Complimentary appetizer which we shared. It was tasty but I don't remember what it was! Bowl of homemade chips. Bread. We got the cheese empanadas. There were 2 of them and filled with gooey delicious cheese and mushrooms. Small side salad. Then we ordered the entrecôte to share. Cooked medium. Came with fries. The meat was so tender and was very good. Dessert-caramel flan which I shared with Richard. It was yummy! Service was excellent. Cost 78.00€/$91.75 Uber back to the apartment. Cost 14.98€/$17.62
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| Bread |
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| Complimentary appetizer |
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Chips were delicious
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Cheese empanadas to share
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| Cheese and mushrooms |
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For the meat-sauces and seasoning
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| Entrecote to share-good sized portion and enough for the 2 of us |
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We each got a bowl of fries
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| My plate |
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Dessert-caramel flan
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Busy place
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| Outside seating tables |
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| Uber back to our apartment |
I'm excited about tomorrow. We're going to Chartres and staying overnight. Will be there for the evening show. But I'm worried about the planned demonstrations here in Paris which will most likely disrupt public transportation like the trains and metro. Not much walking-.96 miles.
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