Paris: Aug 22-26, 2019

I visited Paris for the first time in about 10 years. The city was attractive as before. I found many changes as well as unchanged fun there.

Popular tourist spots

Major tourist spots, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (Triumphal Arch of the Star) and the Ave. Champs-Élysées, were full of visitors. (See the three photos from the top) 

Such places have introduced admission control systems.

The Eiffel Tower is now surrounded by a set of plastic boards. Visitors can enter the tower only from entrance gates.

It is now necessary to make a booking to enter the Louvre.

The Notre-Dame, which had a fire in April this year, was under restoration works. I found construction machines at the side of the building. The stained-glass windows were all black.

New trends

I saw many electronic scooters (kick boards) running in the city. Most of them were operated under ride-share systems. The service was introduced last year.

I found LGBT bars in the Marais district. The zebra crosses, which were near one of such bars, were decorated with rainbow-color lines. It looked that social acceptance for the sexual minority was increasing.

I visited some open-air markets. Many shops stressed eco-friendly goods.

Conflicts and peace

I visited the HQs of Charlie Hebdo, which suffered a terrorist attack in Jan. 2015. 

“The place of expression freedom” was painted on the wall.

I also visited the Bataclan Theater, one of the places of November 2015 Paris attacks.

The records and memories of the terrorism remain. Both sites are near the Bastille Square.

In the Louvre, visitors enjoyed the drawings and sculptures at the side of such masterpieces. Kids were drawing their pictures in the aisles.

The scenes looked undoubtfully peace.

Enthusiasm and neglect

Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was unbelievably popular in the Louvre. People made a queue of hundreds of meters (in my observation) to see the picture. Security guards controlled the visitors mechanically. (See also the 4th photo)

The Venus of Milo was also attracting people.

Victoire de Samothrace (Winged Victory) was also popular.

Delacroix’s “Liberty Leading the People,” too.

Few people stopped their walks in front of some of masterpieces, such as Ingres’ Grand Odalisque.

It was too extreme, I felt.

And more

I enjoyed many other places.

There are countless masterpieces in the Orsay museum.

Édouard Manet’s “The Luncheon on the Grass” is always controversial.

I walked St. Germain de Pres and Quarter Latin areas.

Les Deux Magots café reminded us of the mind of philosophy. 

Foucault's pendulum was moving in the Pantheon. 

I also enjoyed a show at Moulin Rouge in Montmartre.

There are so many things to talk about in Paris.