Yesterday, we met with our bike tour guide in front of Notre Dame, and then walked to their "office" in a parking garage, where the bikes are stored. After adjusting the seat and handlebars, we headed out to see the sites with an Australian couple, and Israeli couple, a NY/NJ couple, and a history teacher tour guide from Sweden, who although also fluent in French, gave the tour in English. We followed bicycle lanes most of the time, and didn't feel in any danger. We crossed the Seine a couple of times, starting on the right bank, then moving to the left bank, then heading back across to the right bank into the Palais Royal and the grounds of the Musee du Louvre.
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| Stopping for a street-corner history lesson |
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| Another corner, another lesson (on Ile de Cite). Our guide is the blond with sunglasses facing the camera. |
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| On the left bank, just upriver of Ile de Cite (and Notre Dame) |
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| Crossing the Pont du Carorousel to enter the Louvre grounds |
Here are photos of some of the sights that we encountered along the way.
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| An old hotel that was standing at least since the second French Revolution |
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| A cannon ball shot during the 2nd French revolution, date of injury noted |
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| The east edge of the old wall around the city |
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| A corner of the old wall |
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| Ben Franklin's favorite Parisian restaurant |
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| The cobblestone main street in front of Cafe Procope |
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| Back side of mini Arc |
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| The big Arc de Triomphe and obelisk, in line with mini Arc and the Louvre pyramid | . |
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| The front of the mini Arc de Triomphe on the grounds of the Louvre |
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| I.M Pei's pyramid entrance to Louvre |
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