Paris - Hitler in Paris

More stories we heard from our tour guide... (yes, after 8 blogs of Paris, I'm still blogging about Day 1):

In around 1940, when Paris was invaded by Hitler's troops, Hitler took his first and only visit to Paris.  "That was the greatest and finest moment of my life," he said upon leaving. He loved Paris, he was impressed by the architecture that he brought his favourite architect, Albert Speer, to revive plans for a massive makeover of having new superior public buildings in Berlin.  He wanted Berlin to be like Paris, yet better...

Napoleon's tomb - Les Invalides

Napoleon was Hitler's idol, he made the Napoleon's tomb among the sites to see.  Our tour guide said Hitler ordered his soldiers to leave him alone with Napoleon's tomb for a long time.  (true or not? - I don't know)

'Draw up a decree in my name ordering full-scale resumption of work on the Berlin buildings. . . . Wasn't Paris beautiful? But Berlin must be made far more beautiful. In the past I often considered whether we would not have to destroy Paris,' he continued with great calm, as if he were talking about the most natural thing in the world. 'But when we are finished in Berlin, Paris will only be a shadow. So why should we destroy it?' With that, I was dismissed." - Hitler tours Paris, 1940

There were other stories that Hitler wanted to destroy Paris ("Is Paris burning?") at one point, but his general didn't take the command as he thought Paris was too beautiful to be destroyed.  

Paris - Jardin des Tuileries

More strolling in Paris:

Place de la Concorde

It was a beautiful afternoon...a Monday afternoon; it's amazing how many people were enjoying their afternoon in the park on a Monday morning.  They could be tourists...students....or just the locals having their typical afternoon breaks ...

     

                                                                           Model shoot

Paris - Strolling in Paris....

The Lover's Bridge over the Seine River:

Paris is known as the city of romance...Many lovers lock the padlocks onto the chain link fence and then toss the keys into the Seine river,  wishing for their eternal love.

We brought a lock here from home, also got it painted with our names on it.  There are also people selling new locks near the bridge, just that the locks cost more there.  

We saw some combination locks attached to the bridge too, I guess in case if people change their mind...they could remove them at anytime....just in case...

This was our tour group from all over the world :)  The lady in purple was our tour guide.  She was/is an actress, so she was quite dramatic when she was telling us interesting stories about Paris.

We walked by many top attractions in Paris.  
Our 4 hours tour included attractions:
  Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior) 
  Latin Quarter 
  Shakespeare and Company bookstore 
  Tuileries Garden 
  Louvre (outside) 
  Pont Neuf 
  Opera Garnier (from far) 
  Palais Royale 
  Place de la Concorde 
  Conciergerie
  Eiffel Tower (from far) 
  Musee d'Orsay
  Champs Elysees 
  Grand and Petit Palais 
  Hotel des Invalides (Napoleon's Tomb)

Most attractions were viewed from a distance though.  Again, good introduction on our first day in Paris.

Artwork everywhere in Paris - Palais Royale

The side streets and the Parisian cafes are my favourite :)

I didn't see any road rage in Paris,
seems like it should be chill and fun to ride around the city :)

Paris - Movie locations in Paris

Movie location: The Tourist

This cafe was between the Louvre and Palais Royal Gardens.  This was where Angelina Jolie was reading the newspaper.

 

Shakespeare and Company:

During the 1920s, it was a gathering place for famous writers such as Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce and Ford Madox Ford.[1] It closed in 1940 during the German occupation of Paris and never re-opened. - wikipedia

Movie Scene: ~Midnight in Paris~

 by Owen Wilson

I do recommend one should watch this movie before travelling to Paris :)

Movie scene location: Bourne Identity

"The bridge on which Bourne sets up a meeting with Treadstone chief, Conklin, is Pont Neuf, which – despite its name – is the oldest bridge over the Seine. He watches from the roof of the Samaritaine Building. Once a flagship store, this striking building is closed for the foreseeable future while structural problems are sorted out. " - www.movie-locations.com

 It is from la Samaritaine’s rooftop that Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) spies on
Chris Cooper’s character, Conklin, in The Bourne Identity.

Everyone knows about the.....Da Vinci Code:

Tom Hanks from Da Vinci Code

Paris - Walking along the Seine river

Walking tour along the Seine River - Part 2:

We joined this 4 hours walking tour from Sight Seekers Delight tour - recommended by Tripadvisor.  I think it was a good idea to stroll around Paris with a tour guide on the first day.  It was a very good introduction.  It was 40 Euro per person and I booked them online ahead of time

on their website:

PARIS ALONG THE SEINE TOUR (~4 hrs)

The Paris Along the Seine tour is hands-down the best introduction to Paris, and our most popular tour! Follow our guides on a gorgeous path along the river from the Island Cité (where Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle are) all the way to the Grand Palais. Along the way, see many of the most famous and stunning Parisian sites up close and from afar. Hear incredible stories of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Invalides, and much more.

Enrich your knowledge of France, Paris, and their intriguing inhabitants during this lovely walk. Whether this is your first time to Paris or your 100th, we guarantee you will learn something new on this tour – all in the engaging and fun way our actor-guides are known for!

Tour includes a café break (3-10 euros per person, not included in price of tour) and finishes just a few minutes’ walk from the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. The Eiffel Tower is approximately a 20-minute walk from the end of the tour. 

    

The tour guide said this is the most narrow street in Paris (Left photo above).  This was located near the Latin Quarter. The Latin Quarter seems very alive with all the different restaurants and outdoor tables.  I must return to Paris and chill here some day :) Too bad we didn't get a chance to chill around that area.

MUST TRY - best sorbet in town :) super refreshing
Berthillon: retailer of luxury ice cream and sorbet

Pont Neuf: 

in French, it means the New Bridge; in fact, this is the oldest bridge in Paris