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![\"Book](\"http:\/\/sydneyventuresllc.com\/vac\/france2008\/Images\/paris_walks.gif\")
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<\/p>\nChurch bells were on delay today and in anticipation we set the alarm.\u00c2\u00a0 After showers and a quick breakfast of cereal, we headed over to the Sunday market at Bd Grenelle, under the elevated metro to show Karen all the food and other vendors.\u00c2\u00a0 We found silk and pashmini scarves for 5\u00e2\u201a\u00ac, a wide array of vegetables, meats, game (some with fur or feathers and most with all parts intact!), fruit, cheeses, olives, spices, household items, clothing, and bakery items. We wandered up and down the aisles until it was time to go back and get Karen to the train station.\u00c2\u00a0 Her train was scheduled to leave at 12:13, but delayed until 12:36.\u00c2\u00a0 Once she checked in, we weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t allowed to stay with her in the departure lounge, so we caught the RER to head back to the apartment.<\/p>\n
On the way back we cruised through the market again and were amazed to see how many vendors were displaying severely depleted supplies. The Cheval butcher was out of everything!
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![\"Mike](\"http:\/\/sydneyventuresllc.com\/vac\/france2008\/Images\/eiffel_tower.gif\")
Eiffel Tower viewed from Trocadero<\/p><\/div>\n
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![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/sydneyventuresllc.com\/vac\/france2008\/Images\/Invalides.gif\")
Invalides<\/p><\/div>\n
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We decided to complete one of the walks from our Walks Through Paris book: the Trocadero, Tour Eiffel, and Invalides.\u00c2\u00a0 We discovered the best viewpoint for the Eiffel Tower.\u00c2\u00a0 From the Trocadero Metrostop, take the Avenue Kleber exit, and once above ground, cross Avenue Kleber and Avenue President-Wilson toward the Palais Chaillot.\u00c2\u00a0 Walk into the plaza between the two structures and see the fabulous viewpoint of the Eiffel Tower!\u00c2\u00a0 We learned that the Eiffel Tower was despised by many Parisians at first and that it was made up of steel and cast iron, further if it were melted down into a square the size of its base, it would be only 2 1\/3 inches thick.\u00c2\u00a0 We also discovered that a 20K run was held today and it began on\/near Pont Iena, the bridge we crossed over to get to the Eiffel Tower. \u00c2\u00a0After the tower, we continued south on the Champs de Mars toward the Ecole-Militaire, where Napoleon studied as a young officer.\u00c2\u00a0 The parks were filled with people on this warm, partly sunny day, playing ball, picnicking, playing boules, just spending family time.\u00c2\u00a0 We went around the side of the Ecole toward Invalides. \u00c2\u00a0Invalides was built by Louis XIV for disabled veterans.\u00c2\u00a0 It houses two magnificent churches: Eglise du Dome and Eglise St Louis des Invalides.\u00c2\u00a0 We discovered that Invalides is still used as a home for disabled veterans as well as a highly visited tourist attraction.\u00c2\u00a0 From there the tour crossed into the cour honneur to the front fa\u00c3\u00a7ade facing the Seine. We turned and looked back, seeing a statue of Napoleon over the arch.\u00c2\u00a0 There are military museums in Invalides, but we chose to pass them by. The walk includes walking over Pont Alexandre III, the highly ornate art nouveau bridge built in 1898 to check out the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, two exhibition halls built for the 1900 Exposition.\u00c2\u00a0 We headed for the Metro, to return to the Apartment.\u00c2\u00a0 On the way back we stopped at a corner caf\u00c3\u00a9 for a glass of rose.\u00c2\u00a0 Then, home for dinner.<\/p>\n
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Church bells were on delay today and in anticipation we set the alarm.\u00c2\u00a0 After showers and a quick breakfast of cereal, we headed over to the Sunday market at Bd Grenelle, under the elevated metro to show Karen all the … Continue reading