Short Notice Trip to Paris

This trip I focused on new things to do w/a return visit to Les Invalides / Musee de l’Armee.

Attractions:
Eternal Notre Dame VR, https://www.eternellenotredame.com/en/
- I highly recommend this. Going back in time viewing the construction of Notre Dame up until the present. Two locations, the front of Notre Dame behind the bleachers & in the La Defense area. The ND location will shut down in a few years, however they plan to keep the La Defense open.

Atelier-Lumiers, https://www.atelier-lumieres.com/en/home

- This is my 3rd visit, the current showing is Chagall. Very enjoyable

Musee de Cluny Gothic, Latin Quarter, http://www.musee-moyenage.fr

- The museum was under renovations the previous times I was in Paris, so I really wanted to see the exhibits & enjoyed my time there.

Moulin Rouge
- I saw Paradis Latin back in 2021, so I figured why not see the show at the Moulin Rouge. Enjoyed this as well. Some Cirque du Soleil acts in between the dance numbers.

Seine River Cruises, http://vedettesdupontneuf.com/home/
- Been trying to do this for a few years. Last time it was too cold and two previous trips the Seine was flooded & no cruises where going on. Went on the 8:45 cruise which was perfect for hitting the Eiffel Tower at 9pm when the sparkling began. Our boat was the single open deck and the weather was perfect, 75 degrees.

Paris Walks, http://www.paris-walks.com
- This was my second tour with them, Paris During the Occupation. Very informative on what was going on in Paris during this time and learning about certain well known Parisians, Chanel, who supported the Germans, during & after the occupation. Also, how the German General found ways/excuses as to not destroy Paris prior to the Allies arrival as ordered by Hitler and that during the European Rebuild post war, General de Gaulle invited the German General back to Paris as part of the mending process.

Musee des Arts et Metiers, https://www.arts-et-metiers.net
- This is a very scientific & technical museum throughout time. What is sad is seeing the following items on display from my childhood:
-- VCR, Camcorder, Instamatic Cameras, the first “Mobile Phone” Brick, Walkman & Diskman, and Floppy Disks (Flexible & Hard cover).

Jardin des Plantes – Paleontology Museum
- Enjoyed lunch in the park prior to going into the museum. Flowers all in bloom, school kids running around and joggers doing their loops between the flower beds & rows of trees. The exhibit was nice, I haven’t been in a Natural History Museum since the Smithsonian 15 years ago.

Rouen
- This was a day trip. Less than 2 hours by train in the morning, spent maybe 3+ hours seeing the sites and a pleasant train ride back. Lucked out with the weather again, it started to rain after I left. The buses of tour groups started rolling in around noon, I arrived at 09:45 with hardly anyone on the streets or in the Église Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc de Rouen or the Rouen Cathedral Notre Dame.

Places I made an effort to eat at and or make reservations with:

Le Souffle – I thoroughly enjoyed this place & plan on making it a routine visit whenever I return.

Caractere de Cochon – A bit pricey, but the Jambon sandwich I had was great.

Homer Lobster – Lobster Roll, two blocks from the apartment and very tasty.

La Jacobine – Made reservations here the day I arrived for my last night in Paris. No online booking, you need to call or do it in person. The place was booked out on Sunday evening, they turned away dozens of people during my time there. I really enjoyed the food (Onion Soup, Pork Tenderloin in a light mustard sauce w/potatoes & veggies, Tarte Tatin, & a nice Rose wine)

Cafes – Stopped at many in the early evenings & late at night just to refresh myself w/ a beer or cocktails (Moscow Mule or Aperol Spritz). Other meals where either at small Cafes or food on the go.

My return to Paris won’t be until June 2025 with my brother & his family. They have asked me to play tour guide and any reason to return to Paris is a good reason. Then again, I wasn’t planning on this trip, I just decided on 8 August that I need to go to Paris & 3 weeks later I was standing along the Seine watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

“I just decided on 8 August that I need to go to Paris & 3 weeks later I was standing along the Seine watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle.”

This sounds perfect! What an awesome reason to go to Paris! It sounds like you did exactly what you wanted to as well.

It’s always a good idea to go to Paris ❤️. Very envious. How was your visit to the Musee de l’Armee? I remember spending hours focusing on WWI exhibits.

Lyndash, I really enjoy working my way through time from the Medieval Armor to the WW uniforms. Being able to see the gear & equipment used throughout the eras is impressive. There are two pieces of armor head gear, one that looks like a cowboy hat & another that resembles a baseball cap, that were interesting. Possibly early concept models? :)

I love Paris and your trip sounds wonderful.
And how great that you were able to be so spontaneous.
Thanks for posting.

This sounds like a great trip, and perhaps more enjoyable because you were able to do it on the spur of the moment. Thanks for the detailed trip report!

That De Gaulle invited the Army General who spared Paris back as part of the reconciliation process is admirable and understandable in pursuit of his France-German policy. Much less understandable is his issuance of the general pardon within the framework of the complicated and involved history of French politics that included the two top members of the SS in Paris and France who having been tried by British military courts, found guilty, received the death sentence , likewise by French courts too, and were released by the early 1960s, after a 14 year imprisonment. These two had done more than enough to deserve the death penalty.

The Invalides held a special exhibition on the "Deportation" which luckily I saw in the 2001 (?) trip. As far as I know, that exhibit has never been shown since. The signatures of these two can be seen in the execution orders (Vollsteckungsbefehle) of victims to be shot.

I was in Paris the first week in Sept, didn't leave until Sept 9, then off to Metz. It was hot in France and Paris.