Charles de Gaulle airport won't be on my list of preferred entry points to Europe. The public transport RER B connection to the city is creaky, a service that stops at minor stations, because it's really a service for residents. I bought my e-ticket with a mobile app though I'm not sure the time spent installing it was worth avoiding a vending machine.However if you are headed away from Paris on a TGV line, then there is a TGV station at the airport. So since I was headed in the direction of Bordeaux, I could have skipped the city. But I did want to glimpse Paris. The last time I passed through was on my way home after visiting Portugal, Brazil, and Spain in 2009.
I had picked a hostel in the Montparnasse district for a stopover before heading southwards. I probably could have made the connection from plane to train with a bit of risk but I needed to catch my breath. Besides I wanted to view Paris from Tour Montparnasse, the highest viewpoint in the vicinity.By and by I ended up in the Luxembourg Gardens. It's a pleasant piece of green space in the city.
It was a clement autumn day and I think the school term hadn't begun yet as I saw lots of young people in the streets, so there were a lot of people in the park.
It was a little past lunchtime so I found an inexpensive falafel shop on a main drag no less. The owner seemed pleased that I wasn't from his normal demographic but willing to be adventurous with cusine.
The area is full of famous gathering places. Here is Le Dôme Café.
Nearby is La Rotonde. I'm sure I've seen these names mentioned in connection with 20th century creatives.
Cafe Odessa doesn't have a Wikipedia entry so maybe it isn't historic.My experience though is that famous joints usually levy a price and could be tourist traps.
I liked the cheerful front of Theatre Edgar. Its website says that it's dedicated to comedy.
Pedestrian path on the median strip of Bd Pasteur.
Exploring the residential area to the west of Gare Montparnasse, I took a picture of this EV charger as EV infrastructure interests me.
I liked the modern look of this apartment block.I'll put the visit to the top of Tour Montparnasse in a separate post as there are many pictures.
