The 9th arrondissement is well known for its theatres, notably the Palais Garnier, an Italian-style opera house. But a delightful little gem is the Passage de Panorama, considered the first covered passage in Paris. Built in 1799, the passage is only 100m long, but it is bustling with cafes, coin collectors, artisans, and other specialty shops.
I zig-zagged my way across the river and strolled past one of the oldest restaurants in Paris. The beautiful and fashionable Le Procope was opened in 1686 by a Sicilian chef. It was once the bub for writers and artists, along with frequent visits by Napoleon and Marie Antoinette. Its interior is reminiscent of the 18th century, with portraits of notable figures adorning its walls.
Not too far from Le Procope is a fantastic corner coffee house called Café de Flore. It is famous for its celebrity and intellectual patrons, past and present. Opened in the late 19th century, the café is one of the oldest in the city. Sitting outside with an espresso, I could imagine a time when renowned figure such as Picasso, Descartes, or Bridgitte Bardot would spend time socialising over a coffee in this lovely setting.
Thankful for all the bridges connecting the banks of the Seine, I crossed Pont des Arts and found myself before the striking Louvre Pyramid sitting before the Renaissance architecture of the Louvre Museum. The museum is home to the famous Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in 1503. This fascinating and enduring work of art is under heavy guard and has an insurance value of $1 billion as of 2023. But Mona Lisa wasn't always safe. In 1911, an employee of the Louvre walked out with the painting tucked under his coat. He was caught a few years later, and the painting was returned to the museum in 1914.
Jardin de Tuileries is a 17th century statue-studded garden that runs alongside the chic Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The avenue is well known for its designer fashion shops, upmarket dining rooms, and many significant monuments.
From here, I went straight to Paris' most iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower. This 984ft (300m) tall wrought-iron lattice tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel as the centrepiece of the 1889 World Fair. Its design was highly controversial at the time, as many did not believe it was possible to construct it due to its height. Until 1930, it was the tallest building in the world. it was inducted as a UNESCO site in 1991. Of course, a structure like the Eiffel Tower will have some fascinating facts and figures:
it takes 60 tonnes of paint to cover it from top to bottom
the annual vertical race up its 1,710 steps is completed in less than 10 minutes
if contains 10,100 tonnes of iron and 2,500,000 rivets
as mentioned at the start, it has 20,000 light bulbs
Perhaps the most humorous story attached to the Eiffel Tower is of con artist Victor Lustig. In 1925, Victor masqueraded as a government official and successfully sold the tower to a scrap metal merchant.
As I marvel at the grandeur of this steel structure, I find a bench where I can sit and absorb all the wonders I enjoyed on this journey. Paris is beautiful. It combines grand landmarks, fabulous neighbourhoods, gorgeous cobblestone streets, cafes frequented by historical figures, pre- and post-modern architecture, and the quiet flow of the Seine River. This is a place to take one's time and explore slowly.
Farewell until the next time.
What a romantic ending to this journey through Paris.
Combined with my mother and brother's trip to Paris last year and my recent re-watching of the movie "Midnight in Paris", I feel I need to add Paris to the list of places to visit; taking it from the virtual into reality.
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