(1 – 9) We crossed the busy Champs Élysées Boulevard and turned toward the the Louvre to walk through the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden), stopping briefly for a lunch. I opted for a salad and some pommes ftites (French fries) for a meager 20 Euros. It was a beautiful fall day and people were out in force to enjoy the sunshine and autumn colors. “I love Paris in the fall.”
(10 - 17) After crossing the River Seine, we found ourselves in front of Notre Dame Cathedral at a place known as Point Zero. This small octagonal brass plate (see image) set in the ground marks the exact spot from which all distances from Paris are measured.
I have visited this cathedral before and we were short on time so we decided to admire the exterior and make our way to the Pont des Arts bridge where a controversy over “lovers’ lock” exists. Traditionally lovers have affixed a padlock to the bridge and tossed the key into the river as a symbol of their never-ending love. In the summer of 2015, the city removed some 45 tons of padlocks to save the bridge from the strain of added weight. Currently, the mayor of Paris is trying to encourage couples to capture their love with selfies rather than padlocks. A grass-roots campaign — No Love Locks, Free Your Love, Save Our Bridges — has begun an effort to get the locks banned in Paris. So far, they are enjoying little success.
(10 - 17) After crossing the River Seine, we found ourselves in front of Notre Dame Cathedral at a place known as Point Zero. This small octagonal brass plate (see image) set in the ground marks the exact spot from which all distances from Paris are measured.
I have visited this cathedral before and we were short on time so we decided to admire the exterior and make our way to the Pont des Arts bridge where a controversy over “lovers’ lock” exists. Traditionally lovers have affixed a padlock to the bridge and tossed the key into the river as a symbol of their never-ending love. In the summer of 2015, the city removed some 45 tons of padlocks to save the bridge from the strain of added weight. Currently, the mayor of Paris is trying to encourage couples to capture their love with selfies rather than padlocks. A grass-roots campaign — No Love Locks, Free Your Love, Save Our Bridges — has begun an effort to get the locks banned in Paris. So far, they are enjoying little success.
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