7 September 2023

Second day in Paris 

We have had a day of exploring around where we're staying and spent some time reorganising our packs ready for leaving tomorrow to go to Lourdes.

We started the day by going up to the observation platform on Tour Montparnasse, a multi-storey tower very near our accommodation. We took the lift up to the 56th floor then walked up several flights of stairs to reach the top of the tower. The views out over the city were amazing, and to see the size of Paris was stunning.

Today is hot again, 34°C this afternoon. 

I have managed to upload photos for yesterday's entry as well as today's but some have uploaded twice and are out of order 😏

Looking up to the top of Tour Montparnasse. 

The Eiffel Tower dominates the view in this direction. 

Notre-Dame is in the centre of this not very clear shot. From up on the Tower it was possible to see where the work on the damaged section is being carried out.

Luxembourg Gardens dominates this shot.

Beautiful Sacré-Coeur perched on the hill of Monmartre. 

The Eiffel Tower again. 

The Tour Montparnasse from our room this morning. 

I love the Parisian chimney pots - especially in early morning light. Another shot from our window.

5th & 6th September 2023

Arriving in Paris and and first day here.  

There isn't much to say about our flights - Auckland to Dubai then Dubai to Paris - apart from the fact that they seemed to go on forever. All went well though, including getting from Charles de Gaule Airport to where we're staying in Montparnasse. The heat hit us quite hard, it was 32°C and humid. 

Today was possibly even hotter. We went to Monmartre on the Metro and enjoyed wandering through the streets while making our way to the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur, a beautiful church perched high above much of the city of Paris, and we timed it so we could be there for Mass. 

We then walked back to our hotel, weaving our way the street which meant we walked far more than the 6 km or so if we had gone more directly. The temperature was 33° when we set out to walk back which made for a hot walk. It was good to get back to shower and rest.

       Two tired passengers in the airport at Dubai.

Our accommodation 

A café next to our accommodation. 

About to use the Metro to go to Monmartre 

Moulin de la Galette, built 1622, is one of only two remaining windmills of the 30 that were once on the hill of Monmartre. This one was a flour mill.

This cafe was a favourite haunt of Picasso, Renoir, van Gogh and many others. It wasn't open when we were there. 

Saint-Pierre de Monmartre Church, near Sacré-Coeur.

Sacré-Coeur 

The main alter in Sacré-Coeur. 

Such a beautiful dome above the main alter in Sacré-Coeur. 

A final look at Sacré-Coeur. 

A doorway which caught my eye when we left Monmartre to walk back to Montparnasse. 

One of thousands of cafés throughout Paris. 

Reconsruction is ongoing at Notre-Dame. 

Another view of Notre-Dame 

Walking through Luxembourg Gardens on the way to our accommodation. 

Walking down from Sacré-Coeur. 

 Two tired passengers in the airport at Dubai.

Our accommodation 

A café next to our accommodation. 

About to use the Metro to go to Monmartre 

Moulin de la Galette, built 1622, is one of only two remaining windmills of the 30 that were once on the hill of Monmartre. This one was a flour mill.

This cafe was a favourite haunt of Picasso, Renoir, van Gogh and many others. It wasn't open when we were there. 

Saint-Pierre de Monmartre Church, near Sacré-Coeur.

Sacré-Coeur 

The main alter in Sacré-Coeur. 

Such a beautiful dome above the main alter in Sacré-Coeur. 

A final look at Sacré-Coeur. 

A doorway which caught my eye when we left Monmartre to walk back to Montparnasse. 

One of thousands of cafés throughout Paris. 

Reconsruction is ongoing at Notre-Dame. 

Another view of Notre-Dame 

Walking through Luxembourg Gardens on the way to our accommodation. 

Walking down from Sacré-Coeur. 

 

 

In 2019 we walked the Camino Francés, from St Jean Pied de Port, France, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. When we were planning this camino we considered starting our pilgrimage at Lourdes but we ended up deciding that the 800 kilometres of the Camino Francés from St Jean Pied de Port was long enough. 

However the thought of walking from Lourdes never left us so we are returning to Lourdes to walk from there to St Jean Pied de Port - 165 kms. This is the final section of the Chemin de Piémont Pyrénéen, the pilgrimage route which runs from the east of France along the foothills of the Pyrenees to St Jean Pied de Port in the west, where it joins the Camino Francés. 

We won't be joining the Camino Francés though, instead we plan to train to from St Jean Pied de Port to Bayonne to walk the Camino Baztan. This camino route goes from Bayonne, France, to Pamplona, Spain - 110 kms. Lastly, we will train from Pamplona to Ponferrada and walk from there to Santiago de Compostela on the Camino Invierno - 270 kms. 

This is Plan A, but if, for any reason, we find that we have to change our plans we will go with Plan B. What Plan B would be is yet to be decided. 

Note: all distances are approximate. 

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Photo taken April 2019.