We received an invite to house sit in La Celle St Cloud, in the Yvelines department of the Iles de France region. It's only 15 kilometres from the heart of Paris.
The home was only a block or so from the Metro in one direction, and we had a bus stop at the other end of the block. And no that's not me on that bike, I'm not that brave.
We discovered that The Palace of Versailles was only a 20 minute bus trip away. And I'd read a great tip that said if you're going to visit Versailles more than one day, buy a year long pass. It covers entry for 2 people into Versailles as many times as you'd like to visit.
We took the advice and in doing so had so many great days in Versailles, went to the evening musical fountains and also because we were pass holders jumped all the tourist queues, and were welcomed like locals. Which we were for a month.
Pont Alexandre was the first bridge we saw in Paris, we emerged from the Metro to find a troup of soldiers with rifles and then this magnificent bridge in the background. It seriously caused loud gasps of 'oh my goodness'.
I'd read about this statue in one of the Parisian blogs that I found on our way to Europe, so I was delighted to simply stroll around the corner and discover him there in the wall.
Le Passe-Muraille, or 'The Man Who Walks Through Walls' is a large bronze sculpture, and was brought to life by the talented French actor and sculptor Jean Marais in 1989.
Marais crafted this sculpture as a homage to Marcel Aymé, the beloved French novelist, screenwriter, and playwright.
In Aymé’s story, the central character, Mr. Dutilleul, also known as Le Passe-Muraille, leads a modest existence as a clerk toiling away in a dimly lit government office.
Dutilleul’s life takes an extraordinary turn when he uncovers a remarkable ability: the power to pass effortlessly through solid walls!
Empowered by this newfound gift, Dutilleul embarks on a quest for retribution against the colleagues and superiors who have wronged him in his mundane workplace.
Undeterred by barriers, he exploits his extraordinary talent until fate intervenes, leaving him suspended within a stone wall, his body divided between two realms. With only his head, right arm, left leg, and left hand protruding from the stone, the sculpture symbolizes the profound repercussions of his once-extraordinary ability.
When we first arrived at our house sit, the owner's son told us of a 'big mansion' that an old bloke had built deep in the forest. Well one day walking the dog through the forest, we found the mansion. It turned out to be the hunting lodge of King Louis the XIV. It was also up for sale at the time, I wonder who bought it.
I wasn't prepared for how imposing The Eiffel Tower was. The first time I saw it was from the window of a train as we clattered into Paris for the first time. It truly is something I'll never forget, and loved the various ways it would seem to show up as we walked around Paris.
