Michael Hainsworth

Michael & Ann jetted to Paris, fulfilling one of Ann’s dreams to return to the City of Light with the love of her life.

…and, of course, Michael had to haul his panoramic gear all across Paris.

La Tour Eiffel was our first destination on our first full day in Paris. The lineups were huge, but with elevators at three of the four corners, it was only about an hour wait — and once we got to the top, it seemed nobody was there. View

The Louvre was once quite a small palace by it’s current standards. With each successive occupant, the palace expanded to the massive size it is today. It wasn’t made an art gallery until quite recently, after undergoing extensive renovations. View

Napoleon’s Apartments are remarkably well furnished for a museum display. Versailles and Kensington Palace (in England) both were quite sparse in comparison, but you really got a sense of the opulence of the French aristocracy of the period. View

In 1785, two things happened in Paris. The city realised it couldn’t keep mining limestone under the city because the ground was becoming Swiss cheese. All mining was halted to prevent Paris from collapsing in on itself. View

My brother, Paul (as you’ve likely seen in previous panoramas here in Paris), is living in the city as part of his International MBA program. This is the view from the balcony of his spectacular apartment near the Gare du Nord train station. View

The gothic cathedral of Saint Eustache is remarkable in its contrast to Paris’ more famous cathedrals. View

Notre Dame by night is very different from the day. We waited about an hour to climb the steps to the top of one of the towers, walk along to the other and see Quasimodo’s famous bell. The gargoyles were fantastic, too. But at night, it’s a whole different scene. View

Paris has many famous museums, including the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay, but we found ourselves just down the street from the Pompidou searching for Musee De La Poupee, the doll museum.View

After dining at a fabulous little Italian restaurant in a part of Paris described by a tour book as a “nice middle class neighbourhood” (bougoise doesn’t translate well, perhaps), we walked back toward the Eiffel Tower to enjoy the late night view.View