Just A Short Walk

The sky on Tuesday morning was bluer than it had been in some time.  The temperature was about 36 degrees, and I decided it was a good day for a long walk.  And walk I did.  I took the metro to Bastille and wandered all the way home, never stopping for a coffee or a purchase- only to take pictures.  Here is what my walk looked like on my handy-dandy new app called Map My Run.

Isn’t that cool?  It also told me that I had walked 7.3 miles in 2 hours and 3 minutes, burning 739 calories!  Not bad for a morning’s stroll, right?

So if you start at the far right of my squiggly red path, you will be at Bastille, where I got off the metro and turned on my app.

Starting point: Bastille

Opera House at Bastille

The first little detour off my path was to go see what one of my favorite spots looked like in the morning light.

That’s where!

Place des Vosges

morning light on Place des Vosges

At Hotel de Ville I decided to head to the river and maybe take a peek at Notre Dame.

As you can see from my little red trail, I got carried away admiring the bridges and went too far, which is why you see the big loop back to Notre Dame.  That little jaunt wasn’t very scenic.  I was kind of mad at myself for missing my bridge.  But I wanted to see the Christmas tree, which you may remember was such a disappointment last year when I made a special trip over there to see it at night.  Turns out it’s more a day thing.  But this year, it isn’t a thing at all.  Apparently the cathedral’s 850 year birthday celebration has preempted the Christmas tree this year.  I’m sure there will be some nice events, but they really kind of trashed out the place with all their preparations.  If that had been my only day to see Notre Dame, I would have been pissed.

But the tree was right here last year….

After being uninspired at Notre Dame, I decided to cross over the Left Bank for a stretch.  I walked up Boulevard St. Germain, where I was sorely tempted to stop for a coffee at Les Deux Magots or Cafe de Flore, but I resisted.  I crossed back over the river by the Musee d’Orsay and entered the Tuileries.

This year there is an enormous Christmas tree just outside the Tuileries gate, almost to the Place de la Concorde.

This tree probably looks better at night.  What is the deal with that horrible blue thing surrounding the base of the tree?  Is it to hide all the presents that are under there?

While I was pondering these things, I noticed a long line of horses being ridden by military guys walking down the street along the river.  It was so pretty and so unexpected.

From there it was an easy walk home, avoiding the Champs Elysees because the Christmas market is set up there and it gets pretty thick with tourists.  Bah.

Now that, my friends, was a great walk and a great morning.  I really should do it more often.