20230507 Paris day 4 - Dodging drops, fun fish, Lady Liberty, good gelato

Paris Day 4 - an alliterative day

Trip day: 18 / 21

Rain was in the forecast again today, but the temps were going to push 70, so it wasn't all bad. We let the morning rain fizzle out as we caught up on the latest episode of Ted Lasso and then headed out.  It was a little more difficult today as the #9 train on the Metro was completely shut down for line servicing.  That's the one line that comes by our hotel, so additional walking was in store for us today. It is supposed to be open again tomorrow.

We decided to try out the Paris Aquarium today.  It is located near the Eiffel Tower, so that meant walking, trains, and buses to get there.  Our first transfer was at Place de la Concorde.  There are so many monuments and buildings to be seen there.

We had threatening skies all day

Arlona confirmed that it is definitely pointy

After a bus ride and some additional walking, we arrived at the area of the aquarium.

Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine

The Eiffel Tower is just across the Pont d'Iéna (bridge) and on the other side of the Seine

Once in the vicinity, we couldn't find the Aquarium.  Google Maps said that it is right here.  We couldn't find it.  Then…right through the center of a restaurant, we saw a small sign that said “Aquarium”.  Seriously, there is no big sign.  We got lucky finding it.  It isn’t anything special, but it is still a nice way to spend some time on a questionable weather day.

Anyone got a taste for seafood?

A face only a mother could love

They had so many cool jellies on display, I had to record a few of them.

Petting the koi

Here fishy, fishy

No petting in this tank

For lunch, we tried Mokus l'Écureuil - an Italian joint.  It was terrific. Great service, great atmosphere, cool furnishings, and good food.

Garlic bread

Limoncello spritz

Pizza

The entry to the bathrooms

I wish I could have taken a video in the bathroom.  You enter a semi-circular room with multiple doors, each with a big red button and a big green button.  If the red button is lit, the room is occupied.  If it is green, hit it and the door zooms up from the floor, opening the passageway into the room.  Once in, hit the red button, and zoom – the door flies down again.  Once your business is complete, push the green button to raise the door.  It’s all very kitschy and cool.  We really enjoyed the whole experience.

Next up, we were off to find the Statue of Liberty.  Yes, I know it is in New York Harbor.  But…there is a duplicate here in Paris, albeit somewhat smaller.  There are more too, but we just went to this one, located on Ile aux Cygnes, an island in the middle of the Seine, southwest of the Eiffel Tower.  She faces more or less in the direction of New York.  We got onto the island at the northwest end, by Passy.

We spotted a Viking River cruise longboat in port today

There she is, facing away from the Eiffel Tower, but facing toward New York City

Can you ever get enough photos of the incredibly photogenic Eiffel Tower?

We wandered the area for a bit.  There was another Galeries Lafayette mall in this area, but we’d had enough of the mall yesterday.  Eventually, we decided to make our way back to the hotel.  

All the trains and buses we were on today were packed again.  Not as bad as yesterday, but still, seriously busy.

One of the few times there weren’t a ton of people in a subway station

We also decided gelato was in order so we plotted a course toward the hotel where a gelato shop might pop up in front of us, preventing our return unless we stopped.  It worked.

They say timing is everything.  As soon as we got back to our room, the skies opened up and it poured.  

Wind, rain thunder - we got it all

But, about an hour later, we once again had blue skies and sunshine.  Given the original forecast for this week, we can’t complain about the weather.

So, happy and dry, we were in for the evening.  With the late lunch and of course, the gelato, we weren’t up for dinner.  We have some light snacks in the room so we’re good to go.

More adventures tomorrow.  Seine cruise?  We’ll see tomorrow.