Conciergerie - The first public clock

The tower of the Clock

If you visit Paris, do visit the Conciergerie.

We had to bear giant advertisements since 2011, big commercial images spoiling the river Seine. I guess there could be other ways to finance the restoration than allowing these huge advertising hoardings:

At least, it is now completely renovated. The result is beautiful.
The clock is now visible in all its beauty.
It was the first public clock being installed around 1370. This version dates from 1535.
The renovation seems to have restored the clock in a state more compliant with the original clock.

Gilts and paintings are redone. The most considerable change is the background restored in blue with fleur-de-lis (lily flowers).

The Clock

Go check, the clock is on time!

Paris Plages

Arc  of Triumph sunset - August 2nd 2012

Well, as said in the previous post, yesterday was really the best day of the year to see the sun "going trough" the Arc of Triumph but unfortunately the sky was very cloudy as you can see on the picture above...
Next August? Meanwhile, you can have a look of what happens here when the sky is without clouds...

August (and July) are also the time to go to "Paris Plages". "Paris Plages"?

Paris Plages 2012

Paris Plages 2012

Paris Plages 2012

Paris Plages 2011

Paris Plages 2011

Yes, sand beaches in Paris!

"Paris Plages" starts end of July and finishes end of August.
During the other periods, the banks are used by cars. Impossible to remark such details as below (unless you are in a traffic jam or running the Paris Marathon, well, not too fast...).

See also the official site here.
Welcome to "Paris Plages"!

Paris Viewpoints

View from the Belleville Park

Last time, we talked about the Eiffel tower, the best Paris Viewpoint ever.

Besides the Eiffel tower, there are a lot of other wonderful viewpoints in Paris. See the Paris Viewpoints page.

By the way, if you are in Paris this evening, see the sunset just under the Arc of Triumph. Be there before 9:27 PM, look at the Arc from the Champs Elysées (9:27PM=sunset).