Paris, France - Big Bus City Tour (draft)

March 31, 2026

We walked from the hotel to the Arc de Triomphe to our first stop on the Big Bus tour of Paris. We decided to stay on the whole time to get an overview of the city.

After driving down the Champ de Elysee, we passed by the Grand Palais. Built in 1900 for the Universal Expedition in Paris, it boasts one of the largest glass roofs in the world. A statue of Charles De Gaulle, the leader of the French Resistance that fought the Nazis and later became France's first president in 1959.

Across the street, stands the ornate Petit Palais, also built for the 1900 expedition. It now houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts.

We crossed over the Pont Alexandre III Bridge. This ornate Art Deco bridge was also built for the 1900 expedition and connects the Champ de Elysees to the Eiffel Tower district.

We then passed by the Flame of Liberty, a replica of the flame held by our Statue of Liberty, a gift from France. Now it is seen as a symbol of Princess Diana who tragically died in a traffic accident in the nearby Pont de l’Alma tunnel.

The Palais Galleria is the Fashion Museum of Paris.

American gave this statue of George Washington to France for the 1900 Exposition.

Throughout our tour of Paris, we were amazed by the beautiful French buildings.

More to come later.