Day 13 - Paris, France [30/10/06]

Have included information about the places for your reading pleasure if keen. Added knowledge for me as well ;)

ARC DE TRIOMPHE

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (48°51′43″N, 2°19′58″E) is a triumphal arch in Paris, France. It is located on the Place du Carrousel, just to the west of the Louvre.

Designed by Charles Percier and Pierre Léonard Fontaine, the arch was built between 1806-1808 by the Emperor Napoleon I on the model of the Arch of Septimus Severus in Rome. It was commissioned to commemorate France's military victories in 1805.

The monument surmounts the hill of Chaillot at the center of a star-shaped configuration of 12 radiating avenues.

Found at the top of the arc, A quadriga, is a four-horse chariot, raced in the Olympic Games and other sacred games, and represented in profile as the usual chariot of gods and heroes on Greek vases and bas-reliefs. Sculpted by Baron François Joseph Bosio, depicting Peace riding in a triumphal chariot, led by gilded Victories on either side; the composition commemorates the Restoration of the Bourbons following Napoleon's downfall.

Our 6 shadows enjoying a photograph together.

Us! The 6 Paris troopers.

"Zi Pai" Series while waiting for museum to open up. :)

The detailing is magnificient

Detail of La Marseillaise by François Rude.

At the bases of the Arc's pillars are four huge relief sculptures, commemorating The Triumph of 1810 (by Cortot); Resistance, and Peace (both by Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers, more commonly known as La Marseillaise (by François Rude).

Me enjoying a picture with Eiffel Tower. My favourite is to see Eiffel Tower at night. This tower can be seen everywhere. When i was touching down paris, when i'm at arc de triomphe, sacre du coeur, pompidou.. :p

My belated birthday gift from Roel and Corrine. A picture! :D Sometimes, thoughts and good memories from important people make a better gifts :)

A ceremony going on. The Arch is a site both of memories and current events and celebrations. There was a ceremony going on when we were there. Those in blue are runners. We haven't figured out what they were doing actually :p

CHAMPS ELYSEES

Very reputable fashion street in the world. I think what i found interesting were the showcases of cars within the brand shops. of Mercedes, Renault, Peugeot, Toyota.

Heading to Notre Dame De Paris on CHAMPS ELYSEES. The road gives you a sense of peace. Crowded yet you feel like one is in a private area.

Paris in Autumn

Us Singaporeans will probably never be able to appreciate this. How can people sit in the sun while having lunch?! But well, it's embraced by people who live in coutries with the 4 seasons. And i definitely didn't mind the sun :p

Near Louvre

Us enjoying our Paris crepes. Taste alittle like "mi chiam kwee" Just that they put "pommes" inside. My favourite spread in Paris.

Pitt's very good pic of a yuan yang

Black and White Flags near the Louvre. For a moment, makes u wonder if one is colour blind or watching black & white Tv. They probably didn't want the colours to bring too much attention.

Eiffel Tower always looks good.

The site of the Notre dame is the cradle of Paris and has always been the religious center of the city. The Celts had their sacred ground here, the Romans built a temple to worship Jupiter. A Christian basilica was built in the 6th century and the last religious structure before the Notre-Dame construction started was a Romanesque church.

NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

Proceeded by a Gallo-Roman temple to Jupiter, a Christian basilica, and a Romanesque church, construction of Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII. Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone. Construction was completed roughly 200 years later in about 1345.

130m long with two 69 meters tall towers.

My favourite shot of Notre Dame De Paris. Probably cause it's autumn and i wanted to bring this back.

POMPIDOU

The Centre Georges Pompidou (constructed 1971–1977 and known as the Pompidou Centre in English) is a building in the Beaubourg area. It is named after Georges Pompidou, who was president of France from 1969 to 1974, and was opened on January 31, 1977.

Designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers, Sue Rogers, Edmund Happold, Kristin Mills and Peter Rice, the building structure is very distinctive: it has been described by critics as "an oil refinery in the centre of the city." In the beginning, it was highly controversial; however, its unique appearance has become more accepted. The colored external piping is the special feature of the building. Air conditioning ducts are blue; water pipes are green; and electricity lines are yellow. Escalators are red. White ducts are ventilation shafts for the underground areas. Even the steel beams that make up the Pompidou Centre's framework are on the outside. The intention of the architects was to place the various service elements (electricity, water etc.) outside of the building's framework and therefore turn the building "inside out."

Me and black pitt posing in Pompidou. Zi pai! At pompidou, got to see modern art. Not alot of stuffs but it felt good to be able to experience historical art in louvre and this in pompidou.

Sacre du coeur. Amazing view

Sky was beautiful the whole trip. I thank the high heavens. :)

That evening, we had a good french cuisine at a restaurant located in the area. Our most expensive meal in Paris but worth it. How can we go off without having a proper french cuisine? No pictures cause it was not very proper. Anyhow, though the place was really hot (ask kevin) food was good, wine was good, company was good. :)

Trip to Europe has evoked lots of interest in me to learn more about the place and history. Never has a place i've travelled to had such an effect on me. Enjoy my info building as i bring you along my journey! :)