The last few days of our wonderful family summer holiday in Europe was spent in the iconic City of Lights. I LOVED everything about this magnificent and beautiful city.
Our Hotel Splendid Etoile was in the 17th arrondissement and (much to our surprise and delight) a stones throw away from the Arc de Triomphe.
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| Randel enjoying the view from our hotel window |
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The Arc de Triomphe as seen from our hotel window - a stones throw away
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After unpacking, we left our hotel and walked through the tunnel to theArc de Triomphe. I was quite taken aback by the grandeur of the Arc up close and it's history did not disappoint. The monument honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars and at the foot of the monument lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Napoleon's body was ceremoniously
marched through the Arc and down the Champs Elysee on the way to it's final resting place in the 1800s. Hitler triumphantly marched his troops around the monument (and not through the Arc out of respect for the Tomb of the Unknown solider) in 1940 after conquering France and then the Allied Forces did the same thing after in 1944.
The Place de l'Étoile, the notorious traffic circle around the Arc de Triomphe lived up to it's reputation in all respects - we witnessed lots of hooting, near misses and even one tourist family navigating their way through the chaos of cars!
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| Soon after arriving in Paris, our first glimpse of "The Iron Lady" as the Eiffel Tower is affectionately called by the locals. |
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| My lovely husband...who never tired of being asked to pose in front of this and in front of that :) |
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Beautiful architecture was everywhere - note the gorgeous blue door, balconies and detail on the building
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| Heading back up the Champ Elysee towards the Arc de Triomphe |
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Selfies with Mum! One of the best things about being in Paris was sharing the experience with my children
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| The beautiful yet turbulent Seine River |
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Notre Dame Cathedral
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Posing in front of Notre Dame
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| Relaxing in the hotel after a long day exploring |
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| Beautiful apartment block |
After unpacking, we left our hotel and walked through the tunnel to theArc de Triomphe. I was quite taken aback by the grandeur of the Arc up close and it's history did not disappoint. The monument honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars and at the foot of the monument lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Napoleon's body was ceremoniously
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