Rue Cler and The Eiffel

After two out of the city trips, we felt like staying closer to our hotel just adjacent to Rue Cler, a charming pedestrian cobble stoned lane way lined with boulangeries, butcheries, fromageries, and all other sorts of interesting eateries and shops to browse around in... here are some random pics while we wandered Rue Cler and Rue Bosquet's environs

                                    We dined here just the night before right after return from Giverny

                                               Had breakfast here - great baguette and coffee

After some sampling of shops and cafes, we ventured further along by foot to check out the points of interest close enough to our hotel - Invalide was virtually a 5 minute walk

This day being Saturday of a holiday weekend (Whit Monday/Pentecote), we observed how the parisennes really know how to utilize and enjoy the abundant greenery and beautiful public spaces of Paris

Boys plays rollerblade hockey between Pont Alexander III & Invalides

     After an early dinner near the Eiffel Tower, we decided it was time to climb the Iron Lady and started off from ground zero ( there was only one elevator operating and the line was insanely long ). It turned out that the ascent was not more than about 20 stories to the premiere etage and about the same as well for the 2nd etage, then we took the mandatory elevators to the very top (which thankfully was not under repair) .It was actually more fun, we found, to walk it as along the way there were info bulletins of interesting history and facts re the Eiffel Tower through the ages...

                                          View from the premiere etage

                                          Champs de Mars

                                          Montmartre and Sacre Coeur in the distance

                                          Invalide in the distance

                                                                           

                                          Le Seine from the very top view

                   Top view of Champs de Mars filled with ppl waiting for the Eiffel to sparkle at 10pm

                                   Sunset view from the very top of Eiffel Tower - Trocadero below

                                   After sunset we descended the Eiffel stairs and sought a patch of grass in the Champs de Mars to view the sparkling lights at 11pm, along with all the tourists from at least a dozen different countries excited to witness the emblematic imagery of France on display.

Giverny of Claude Monet

To take full advantage of the balmy weather, we decided to take another excursion outside of Paris. This time we headed to the small town of Vernon by rail and then took a 20 min shuttle bus to the pastoral estate and famous gardens of the Father of Impressionism - Claude Monet

                     Had lunch at the lovely patio restaurant near Monet's house - Antiquites Brocante

                                                       Delicious brochettes being grilled

Entrance to Claude Monet's estate

                                                     

     Much of the flowers were already in full bloom - lots of varieties of irises, fragrant azaleas, dianthus, lupines, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, peonies, poppies ... etc.. & the water lilies were just starting to bloom with multiple buds on the floating giant waterlily pads

                                                         Outdoor art class - what fun !!

                                              Crowds on pathway beneath the willow

                                            view from one bridge to the opposite bridge

                                              Budding water lilies in white & pink

                                      On the Japanese bridge overlooking the pond of waterlilies

                            Violet & white Wisterias were hanging magnificently in clusters over the bridge

Path leads to Monet's house

                      Monet's house in the background  - very interesting tour but no pics allowed :(

                                                    Orange poppies in the foreground

                                                               Artist inspired by Monet

                                              Rest stop en route to the church in the village

                                         Monet's family tomb - he lived to a ripe old age of 86

After our return to Paris we had to move to the hotel we originally intended  - La Motte Picquet just off of Rue Cler. 4 days prior to our departure to Europe, the hotel contacted us to say due to a relief assistant they have mistakenly cancelled our reservation! Booking.com stepped in to suggest to us two alternative 4 star hotels for the first two days that La Motte (which is only a 3 star) were double booked and committed to pay for the price difference. Due to closer proximity, we picked Hotel Ares Tour Eiffel for the first two nights (also very nice). After our return to the city from Giverny we hopped on a taxi for 12 euros to settle into La Motte for the rest of our 5 night stay in Paris

                                                                 Room for first night

                                                 Pic of Rue Cler from our 2nd floor window

                                                         Our room in La Motte Picquet

Lobby area of La Motte Piquet