Europe Trip Day 9 : Paris - Tuileries Garden, Louvre & Notre Dame

We did a leisure walk along the Seine river which was a good way to view many of the historical monuments and buildings located in the heart of Paris. We started at Place de la Concorde and after that strolled through the Tuileries Garden. We stopped for lunch at Cafe Des Marronniers located in the middle of the huge garden. This was where we had a delicious meal of onion soup and chicken tapas. 

After emerging from the gardens, we reached the Louvre Museum which is easily recognized by its iconic glass pyramid entrance. We did not enter the museum as we had already visited it during our previous trip. I could still recall vying with many visitors to catch a glimpse of the famous Mona Lisa painting.

In summer, several areas in the city are transformed into sandy beaches. One such area is located on the right bank of the Seine stretching from the Pont Neuf near the Louvre to the Pont de Sully near Hotel de Ville (City Hall). As we strolled along the area, we could see people relaxing under the beach umbrellas or chilling out in the mini cafes.

After a long but pleasant walk, we reached Notre Dame, a cathedral with an impressive architecture. The facade is decorated with gothic figurines such as gargoyles and chimeras. The interior is equally stunning with beautifully crafted sculptures, paintings and stained windows that relate the story of the Bible. It has a rich and eventful history as well. One significant event was the coronation of emperor Napoleon and empress Josephine which took place at the cathedral.