Paris October 2022

[wpipkins2]

A quick trip to Paris in 2022 for my wife's birthday surprise. We stayed in the 10th Arrondissement near Canal Saint-Martin. I scheduled a driver and uber services in advance but we did not need anything but the Paris Metro. Easy convenient access to Paris over a day period. The city was awesome and reminded me of a blend of Washington DC, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbe1nM][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdZ1d][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbcWGL][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdmHh][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdYY4][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qb74dN][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdotX][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbcWUV][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qb72TD][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbbFxT][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qb72DR][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbcWMk][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qb72K2][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdn61][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbbFqi][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbe1pv][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qb72NJ][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qb72Ny][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbcWJp][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdYVZ][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbe1iP][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

My son said I was supposed to crop the podium out of the picture.

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbbF2T][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdn3W][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbcWQG][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdn2t][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbbFxH][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbbFxH][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdmWd][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdosQ][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbe1uf][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdmWt][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qb749j][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbbFnT][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbcWCx][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbdYTQ][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbbFrv][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qbbFoE][/url]Paris 2022 by William Pipkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[JManc]

Great photos. The Arc de Triomphe is deceptively huge. I was expecting it to be something the size of the Washington Sq. Arch when I first saw it.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by JManc

Great photos. The Arc de Triomphe is deceptively huge. I was expecting it to be something the size of the Washington Sq. Arch when I first saw it.

Yes. I agree. The structure definitely huge.

[Murphy de la Sucre]

ones of the nicest catches of Paris

a blend of Washington DC (sculptures and monuments), Philadelphia(building fasades and streetsides) and San Francisco(La Defense skyline)

[mousquet]

Unfortunately, the peaceful Grande Arche at la Défense doesn't get as much appreciation as the old Arc de Triomphe meant for dictator Napoléon's wars and victories.
Lots of people think it's underwhelming as a skyscraper. They just don't appreciate the engineering behind it. It's an empty cube whose edges are 300+ feet long and there are actually offices inside.
Unlike historic arches, it's an actual useful building, which is cool.

[Murphy de la Sucre]

Originally Posted by mousquet

Unfortunately, the peaceful Grande Arche at la Défense doesn't get as much appreciation as the old Arc de Triomphe meant for dictator Napoléon's wars and victories.
Lots of people think it's underwhelming as a skyscraper. They just don't appreciate the engineering behind it. It's an empty cube whose edges are 300+ feet long and there are actually offices inside.
Unlike historic arches, it's an actual useful building, which is cool.

first time to know, i'll double check it

[Kilgore Trout]

Thanks for the tour, Paris is great and it looks like you had a good time.

Originally Posted by mousquet

Unfortunately, the peaceful Grande Arche at la Défense doesn't get as much appreciation as the old Arc de Triomphe meant for dictator Napoléon's wars and victories.
Lots of people think it's underwhelming as a skyscraper. They just don't appreciate the engineering behind it. It's an empty cube whose edges are 300+ feet long and there are actually offices inside.
Unlike historic arches, it's an actual useful building, which is cool.

Given the number of people hanging out underneath it I'd say it's pretty well appreciated, at least in practice if not in theory!

[geomorph]

Originally Posted by mousquet

Unfortunately, the peaceful Grande Arche at la Défense doesn't get as much appreciation as the old Arc de Triomphe meant for dictator Napoléon's wars and victories.
Lots of people think it's underwhelming as a skyscraper. They just don't appreciate the engineering behind it. It's an empty cube whose edges are 300+ feet long and there are actually offices inside.
Unlike historic arches, it's an actual useful building, which is cool.

Where are the handrails for all those steps?

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by geomorph

Where are the handrails for all those steps?

One thing that I noticed about Paris is that it is not ADA accessible. France never instituted a Frenchmen with Disabilities Act. It is apparent when riding the metro. Everyday citizens are responsible for assisting the elderly, handicapped, and women with baby strollers. While in Paris I watched a senior citizen drop her shopping bags at the base of the subway staircase. I was behind her and all eyes were on me. I simply picked the bags up and met her at the top of the staircase.

[mousquet]

^ Buses are accessible to the disabled, but only 25% of the rail network (Métro + RER + Transilien) would be so.
The regional council is officially in charge of the mass transit network. They've been working on accessibility issues, but it takes a long time. Sometimes, it means total renovation of a station, which may take a couple of years and million euros for a single one. There must be hundreds to upgrade all over the metro area...
The president of the council claims it's one of her top priorities. If it goes too slow, blame on her.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by JManc

Great photos. The Arc de Triomphe is deceptively huge. I was expecting it to be something the size of the Washington Sq. Arch when I first saw it.

Same here. I was not expecting the monument to that impactful on the skyline. In addition I am from Pittsburgh where jay walking is a thing. I did not notice the underground access to the monument. I ran across the circle dodging vehicles and bikes.....