It has always been a thrill to cruise our own vessel into Paris, and it is a right of passage for anyone cruising the waterways of Europe. The replica Statue of Liberty is, however, an uncanny landfall marker. The more familiar full size version, for which Gustave Eiffel was involved with the engineering, was donated to the US in 1886. He also had a hand in constructing a tower in 1887, which was only ever intended to be a temporary exhibition piece for the World Fair in 1889.
No, we are not lost.
We have previously moored in the Arsenal marina, safely through a lock and just off the busy Seine, however on this visit we also cruised further up through the arts district to tie up in La Villette marina for a few days as well.
We cruise for 1.5 kms, beneath the streets of Paris!
Emerging into daylight
and climb four pairs of locks up to La Villette.
A magic way to cruise quietly up through Paris
Our temporary home in Paris..'La Villette'
There is so much to see in and around Paris. Here is just a taste of what we found.
The night before cruising into a busy Paris we moored by the Ile des Impressionistes, across the river from one of the favourite watering holes of impressionist artists such as Monet, Renoir and Degas.
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The location for the 'Party at Rueil' - Renoir
At Rueil is the Maison Fournaise restaurant, little changed from when
Pierre-Auguste Renoir created his 'Party' painting
The impressionist painters sought their inspiration at this quiet backwater of the Seine.
The Paris Pantheon, a truly monumental building.
In its crypt are the tombs of those honoured by France such as M and Mme Curie, Louis Braille and Victor Hugo.
A brass ball is suspended from the Pantheon dome.
Without any mechanical assistance,
this ball oscillates by the movement of the earth itself
Bastille Sunday market
Jules Verne decor at the 'Arts et Metiers' metro stn.
Another day, another chateau, Chateau de Chantilly.
An Uber ride from an Oise river mooring at Creil
Napoleon's office in Chateau Malmaison, Empress Josephine's home
Napoleon Bonaparte's bicorn hat,
displayed at Chateau de Chantilly.
We have taken time out to visit a chateau or two, and try to absorb a bit of France's turbulent history.
It seems that there is always a dramatic story behind each chateau and Vaux-le-Vicomte near Melun is no exeption.
In 1653 Nicolas Fouquet was the 'Superintendent of Finances' for France under King LouisX1V. Over a period of 5 years Nicolas managed to divert enough funds to build himself this modest little house in the country just South of Paris. The mistake he then made was to invite the King to a lavish house party. As a result the King took a close look at the books, arrested Nicolas, threw him in jail for life and confiscated the lot. Louis then commissioned the three lead craftsmen resposible for the building to build him a bigger and grander Chateau at Versailles.
After centuries of neglect and the occasional revolution, the Vaux-le-Vicompte has been faithfully restored, is now back in family ownership and is open to visitors.
Nicolas Fouquet,
fell foul of Louis X1V
Golden fountains. Is there a familiar trend here?
Do I perceive a similar and singular greedy trait being exhibited across the Atlantic and beyond that other Statue of Liberty?
Warning, could there be a lesson here? In France they had a unique and swift way of dealing with people who got above themselves.
With Paris behind us, we head upstream for another 60 Kms to the junction with the river Yonne.
Back out on the Seine, despite the drought,
we have enough water flowing over the barrages.
However these cruise boats are moored up, empty of guests
and probably unable to cruise the drought struck Rhine
We are alone in a big commercial lock,
heading up the Seine
Montereau-Fault-Yonne, the confluence of the Seine and Yonne rivers.
We turn right.
Napoleon gives us a clue!
On the Yonne river, evenings are getting shorter.
We are getting closer to our winter base at Migennes.
