This week’s Monday Memory is the second (here’s the first) from UnTourists Eleanor and Bill Kover.
The first time we saw Paris was in 1973. Eleanor was 29 and I was 28. Our hotel, Etoile Park, was on 10 Avenue MacMahon, just down the street from the Arc de Triomphe.
After 35 years we were finally able to travel back in time and walk in the footsteps of our youth.
Friday April 4, 2008, during our Paris UnTour, we took a walk down Avenue McMahon and found the Etoile Park Hotel still lives, along with the pedicure shop that was next door to it. Except for some minor changes, the exterior looks the same.
The small secondary street in front of it is now a wide sidewalk. The view up towards the Arc de Triomphe is basically the same except for bigger trees and modern cars.
After the photography session, we couldn’t resist going inside. We went up to the lady at the front desk. Eleanor asked “Parlez-vous Anglais?”. She said “Oui.” I then pulled out the 1973 photo. She was very surprised and delighted. She noticed the old cars immediately. We then told her our story.
She asked to make a copy of the photo. I asked for the email address “so I can email you both the 1973 and 2008 photos.” The copy she made at the front desk will go up on the wall in the meantime. Her name is Cathy.
There had been some changes in the interior. But Eleanor remembered the location of the toilette. Cathy was kind enough to hold the door for us when we left.
As we were leaving I said “We’ll see you in 35 years!” She replied “I hope so!”
Thanks to Eleanor and Bill for sharing yet another wonderful memory!
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