Mar 3 - St. Michael Fountain, Latin Square - home of the Sorborne University.

Today was a sunny day, yet it was still a cold morning.

Azmah and I ventured out early to celebrate the probable arrival of early spring.

At the station near where we are staying

First we went to ESIEE, our daughter's school (1st time for Azmah but 3rd time for me).

Then we took the train ride to the Parc Disneyland. We did not however go inside the Disneyland park. The park is probably too young for us. Besides we have been to  Disneyland Anaheim Los Angeles CA and Disneyland Florida before.

Next we stopped at La Chapell (again) for lunch.

Our next stop was at Barbes Rochechuart (an district with many shops run by people of Arabic descent) for a little shopping, followed by the next stop, Anvers (again).

We then hop into the Metro again to go St. Michael Fountain and St. Michael Boulevard. This general area forms the Latin Square, where the Soborn University is located.

When I was first here in 1972, this place did not seem to be as crowded as it is now. The guidebook that I used at that time described it as the cheaper part of  Paris (with respective to accommodation and food prices). But now this has all changed. It is modern, commercial and full with tourists. But it still remains the intelectual part of central Paris.

Sunny but cold

At the Fountain of St. Michael.

People still prefer to drink inside where it is warmer and more comfortable

Later part of the day, it was warm enough for people to drink outside the cafe

Mar 2 - Blvd de Clichy, Moulin Rouge

The Famous Entertainment Icon:

Metro station:

It is getting sunnier. Walked along Blvd Clichy

Mar 1 - Malaysian Embassy + Le Defense, a modern part of Paris.

Address of the Embassy of Malaysia in Paris:

2 bis rue de Benouville 75116.

Metro/RER station: Porte Dauphine.

It seems an incomplete visit without visiting the embassy of your own country.

Inside, Chancelery

Visit with En. Faris,

JPAM (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia) Education and Training Officer,
taking care of  the welfare of Malaysian students sponsored by JPAM and other sponsors.

La Grande Arche la Defense

(The big arch of Le Defense)

According to a description in a guide book, it is a massive, archlike building at La Defense making the western point of the longest urban axis in the world.. 

It has a panoramic view of Paris, exhibitions, bookshops, restaurant, lots of modern sculptures.

The sprawling esplanade in front of La Grande Arche and the steep but wide steps that lead up to it reflects a very different look at Paris. There is a big underground shopping mall accessible from the Esplanade.

From the arch, you can follow the axis that lines up the Arc de Triomphe on the road Champs de Ellyse, the obelisk at Place de la Concorde, the pyramid at the Louvre, and onward to the column at the Bastille, eight kilometers of perfect symmetry. La Defense is far from beautiful, but this outcrop of sky scrappers, malls, office towers, and apartments comprises the heart of Paris's contemporary corporate culture. 

Arc de Triomp in the far background (not clear) on the axis.

The other opposite end of the axis behind Azmah

inside a shopping dome

outside again