It visited Paris for the first time in a year and three months. Once again, I was impressed various developments in the city: numerous tourists from around the world, a rich culture, accelerating shifts to bicycles and electric vehicles, the impact of a rapidly changing world, and the unchanging lifestyles of its people.
Central Paris was overflowing with tourists. Even with a reservation, I had to wait in line at the entrance to the Louvre Museum.
There was a huge crowd in front of the Mona Lisa. (See also the top photo)
The number of visitors had definitely increased since my last visit in 2019.
The exhibits were, of course, amazing. There were so many masterpieces including the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Delacroix's the Liberty Leading the People.
I was strongly impressed and almost lost track of time.
Many tourists also flocked to Notre Dame Cathedral, which was destroyed by fire in 2019 and reopened at the end of 2024. (See also the 2nd photo)
I also found many tourists shopping on the Champs-Élysées. I was reminded of Paris's ability to attract so many tourists.
Just like my last visit lasy year, I was impressed with the growing use of bicycles. On the Rue de Rivoli, which runs north of the Seine River, two of the three lanes are bicycle-only, leaving only one lane for cars.
Bicycle lanes have been installed in various areas, such as the Champs-Élysées and the Gare du Nord area. The number of share bicycle has also increased.
Electric vehicles are becoming more popular. More than half of the tourist buses I saw were electric, and they were labeled as 100% electric.
With the inauguration of President Trump's second term in the U.S., environmental protection efforts are facing headwinds. However, irreversible changes are also underway in European countries, such as the spread of bicycles, the shift to electric vehicles, and the expanded use of renewable energy. I thought about this while walking around Paris.
Most kiosks along the Champs-Élysées displayed an advertisement for a magazine feature on how to stop Russian President Putin's actions.
Perhaps due to the impact of last year's Paris Olympics, renovations seemed to be underway throughout the city. The Gare du Nord station has been more clean than before, and transportation signs are now easier to read.
This time, I also visited several places in the northern part of the city. Tourists and locals gathered on Montmartre Hill, home to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica.
Painters were showing off their skills in Place du Théâtre.
People were enjoying the evening along the
Canal Saint-Martin near Gare de l'Est.
Along Boulevard Magenta near Gare du Nord, suits and other clothing stores lined the streets, creating a distinctive landscape.
Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs, is famous for its basilica and stadium (Stade de France). At the same time, it is known with huge immigrant population and with many riots in the past. While visiting the basilica, I reflected on France's immigration issues (and politics).
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