Paris.... in 3 hours?

Do you want to know what is great about big cities?  They usually have a metro system of public transportation and, if you are savvy enough, you can figure it out pretty quickly.  How did we see 30 landmarks in Paris in 3 hours?  We did a lot of walking and used the metro system.

Our trip was actually to Spain, but we had a layover in Paris. If you have a layover in Paris, it seems only right that you try and see as much as possible of Paris while you are there.  I found a 3 hour walking metro tour with a guide on Trip Advisor. It was helpful to have someone local rushing us through the subway stations and running us all over the city, but looking back,  with a metro map, a list of monuments, and a little luck, I am fairly confident we could have figured this out on our own.

The tour started with us meeting in a central location in the middle of Paris. The group was small, which was good because I can imagine how difficult if would be for the guide to keep track of a larger group. Our first stop was the ticket booth to buy our metro tickets. We did the local commuter pass within the main city zones at a coast of $14.50 per person. Our first Metro ticket use was the funicular train to Sacre Couer.

The Sacre Coeur de Montmarte is the main basilica in Paris. Construction began in 1875 and was completed in 1914.  From its location on the summit of Montmarte, the Sacre Coeur overlooks the entire city of Paris.  This is the place for the best views.  Did you know that the Sacre Coeur is the second most popular tourist destination in Paris?  I bet you know the first.

From the Sacre Coeur, we did a quick walk to see the Paris windmills and then hopped on the Metro to head to the Arc de Triomphe in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle. The Arc de Triomphe honors those who fought in the French Revolutionary and Napoleaonic Wars.

And then... then we went to the most famous landmark of them all... Tour Eiffel... the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair. Do you know as it was planned and then built, it was not popularly received by  Parisians? Many believed a tower this size was both impossible to build as well as an eye sore to a great city such as Paris.  The tower was only supposed to stand for 20 years and  was expected to be dismantled in 1909. The City of Paris did not dismantle the tower according this this timeline and by 1918, the Eiffel Tower had become the symbol of Paris. Today, it is widely considered one of the most remarkable pieces of structural art in the world.

There are so many different places to take great photos of the tower. As you walk around and see it from various perspectives, it just becomes more beautiful. It is hard to take your eyes off it. Be careful here... there are people everywhere and peddlers trying to sell you cheap little souvenirs or distract you in some way, but don't let any of that ruin the moment.  You are in one of the most romantic, magical places in the world.

After the Eiffel Tour, we made our way back to the Metro to head to the Notre Dame. The Notre Dame was founded in 1163 when the cornerstone was laid for the building of the cathedral. It took almost 200 years to build.  The Notre Dame has seen and experienced a lot of history that has changed it over its many years. In recent times, the tragic fire of 2019 is widely known.  The cathedral is still under restoration and repair and is currently closed to the public. However, this is not the only time the Notre Dame has experienced pain. During the French Revolution in the 1790's much of Notre Dame was desecrated, mainly to damage or destroy religious imagery and relics. The Notre Dame remains the symbol of the entire French Nation. It is hoped that the Notre Dame reconstruction will be completed in 2024.

The final stop on our journey was the Louvre Museum.  By this time, it was nightfall and the city was lit up with lights. It is easy to understand why Paris is the City of Lights... it is simply beautiful after dark.  We walked through the tunnels under the street past the entrance into the Louvre and came out to the open plaza where the pyramids of the Louvre are located.  The Louvre is housed in a 12th century palace. When Louis XIV moved to the Palace of Versaille in 1682, the Louvre Palace became a place to display the royal collection of art. The museum officially opened in 1793 to display the treasures of France.  The pyramids were added to the entrance in 1993.

With all this site seeing, you probably think we didnt make it to Louis Vuitton.... but you would be wrong. We went,we experienced the magic, and we bought the purse. If you ever want to treat yourself or want a moment to remember, I highly suggest flying to Paris, seeing the whole city in less than 3 hours, and then buying your Louis Vuitton from a slick Parisian serving you champagne and telling you that you are beautiful... but slightly more beautiful with a Louis Vuitton on your arm.

Au Revoir, Paris... a la prochaine