Thursday, August 24, 2006

The one and only Arch


Remember yesterday when I told you we had a fascination for arches of Triumph? Well here is another one, and probably the most famous monument of Paris after the Eiffel Tower: l'Arc de Triomphe de la place l'Etoile. Huge, superb, magnificent, glorious... Little quiz. From which avenue did I take this photo?

Note: I am currently on vacation at the moment and I will be back on August 27. I can read your comments, but will not be able to reply until I return, thank you.

37 comments:

  1. Let me just say that close up and personal, especially compared to the other monument we saw yesterday, this one is HUGE, ENORMOUS, IMMENSE, MASSIVE and ... so BEAUTIFUL!!

    As far as the quiz is concerned, well, let see if the non-Parisians want take a shot at it first :-)

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  3. This is just a wild guess but from the angle of the sun giving the photo a "from the north" perspective and the fact that it is perpendicular to a side, my map has it as Avenue de Wagram.

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  4. My guess: L'Avenue de la Grande Armée.
    Did I win?

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  5. Yeah, I changed my mind. The sides have but one single relief. I'll go with edulabbe: L'Avenue de la Grande Armée. The red circle is not sun-caused but the brightness of cloud on raindrop.

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  6. Yep, me 2! Grande Armee! Hurry back Eric! We miss you LIVE! (=

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  7. Just a little help for those non-Parisians, the streets coming out from the centre of the Arc were named after generals who commanded French troops during Napoleon's rule. I still need a map if I want to find the right one though!

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  8. This arc is definitely one of the grandest monuments for the French. I'm not sure but I think the World-famous cycling tournament, the Tour de France, has the arc as the finishing line.

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  9. Wonderful shot! I love how the trees frame the arc. can't wait till you get back.

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  10. I'm going for Avenue Kleber as well.

    Please visit Copenhagen Daily Photo today - I have a little competition, too.

    /Kathrine

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  11. No idea, but it really is a great monument. Nice shot.

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  12. This is like being on holidays in paris while you are on holidays in Turkey. Maybe you can relive yours and have a look at my Istanbul blog!

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  13. Avenue de la Grande Armee...if i were wrong I'll "punish" myself by going on site and review the angle ;-)

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  14. I concur, this view can only be from Avenue des Champs-Elysees or from Avenue de la Grande Armee. I guess you went with the less unusual shot, and took it from Avenue de la Grande Armee.

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  15. very nice photo.
    it look like there is touriste on top , can you visite the arc de triumph

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  16. Antoine. You most definitely can go to the top. I think it costs 7 euros. I too am voting for the Champs.

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  17. OK, I'll go now. My money is on the avenue that runs from La Defense up to Place de l'Etoile, is that Grand Arméee?

    But these trees are just OUT OF CONTROL!!!

    For those of you who want to know more about Arc de Triomphe, there is a nice, comprehensive entry at Wiki:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe

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  18. Ok, I made a big mistake and left the pool, and couldn't resist checking my mail, blog, etc., etc...

    So, here I am with a lot of people guessing the answer to this little quiz and I don't want to keep you on the edge of your seats any longer.

    The answer is...

    Oh wait, the waiter is bringing my cocktail....

    I'll have to get back to you later.

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  19. What a tease! Thanks for making me laugh out loud, Eric.
    -Kim

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  20. OK, now... I'm back. The cocktail was kinda good and so was the dinner by the pool ;)

    So we have several winners here - it's definitely the avenue de la Grande Armee (yes, Tomate, the one leading to La Défense). I took this shot from La porte Maillot at the bottom of the avenue.

    PS: I took it with the powerful zoom of the camera that Michel from Spirit of ParisSpirit of Paris and Paris Snapshot lent me while he was on vacation.

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  21. Oh, so....what was the term...cliche, right? Great photo. Have a drink for me, Eric. Sante! (I suppose you're eating fast food there, too, eh?)

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  22. I took this shot from La porte Maillot at the bottom of the avenue.

    Wow... Yeah, I was just gonna say that next, that's SOME ZOOM you got there!! But now that explains the perspective with the trees looking like they practically form a canopy over that avenue..

    And now, of course, we all want to know ... WHAT DO WE WIN?!!! :-D

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  23. Darned, and I'm too late to give my answer. Oh well, I'll give it anyways. It was the avenue that you were standing on, of course!

    I answered you Michael!

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  24. *takes a bow* Yay! Do I get a prize? Like maybe a postcard. Wasn't I gonna get one once?

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  25. This quiz is a great idea Eric. I love it.
    So… If we look closely at the picture we can see important architectural details (under the frieze) that give us the answer. Ah, ah!!!
    Each pedestal is covered with a bas-relief that evokes the Napoleon wars. The ones that faces Avenue de la Grande Armée is decorated with “la prise d’Alexandrie” on the left pedestal and “le passage du pont d’Arcole” on the right pedestal.
    Voilà... But it's too late anyway!
    D- (from Bostonweeklyphoto)

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  26. soosha_q...now the same question for your, but in looking for your response, "where, where?" Can't find your response anywhere that is!

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  27. zut alors
    i missed the quiz: and it's ok cos i was gonna guess Avenue des Champs Elysees anyway..
    not bad for two days in Paris..

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  28. Kate: Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees... pretty good association anyway! :)

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  29. I know the photo's are probably a lot of work for you-but I just wanted you to know that I appreciate them everyday. I just moved from a different state and am looking for work. Normally I take a weeks vacation in Paris-but without a job I can't afford it this year. Your pictures help tide me over-I especially like the scenes of everyday Paris. It is the most beautiful city in the world!

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