Got on the Eurostar found our seats and settled in for the trip to Paris. Easy as pie. Got a light meal on the train and with a one hour time difference arrived at Gare du Nord at 12:45.
First little hiccup (and trap for new players). I had booked some metro passes online when booking the tickets, but you cant pick them up at Gare du Nord so it cost a few extra euro’s and a side trip to Tulleries to pick them up. This was ok in the middle of the day as we had plenty of time but it could be a pain. Lesson – you can buy a metro pass at Gare de Nord.
After picking up the tickets we went back into the Metro and travelled to our hotel, dumped our bags and went out for a walk to familiarise ourselves. Walked for bloody miles up the Rue de Rivoli and along the Seine. Had a meal, picked up some wine, cheese, strawberries and a baguette and went back to the room. By 8.00pm I was asleep (must have been tired).
Sunday was pretty much the same. Had a bit of a sleep in then went and had some breakfast (standing up because its cheaper) in a restaurant near the Bastille. Served by a beautiful French “maid”. After breakfast we decided to go to Versailles. Easy as pie – buy a ticket (eu$11.60 return for two) and get on the train.
Second little hiccup – no pre-purchased entry tickets to Versaille – queue for tickets is about 3 hours long. We stood in it for about 10 minutes before deciding we could do Versailles another day. The place is very grand from the outside so I am sure it will be equally as grand from the inside one day. The little town near the castle is very French so we walked around that for a couple of hours then got back on the train and went back to Paris.
During the afternoon it rained a little on and off, but we just zipped our jackets up and kept walking. Dinner comprised a couple of quiches, a lemon tart and a bottle of red wine. About 5.30 we decided to go watch the sun go down from the Sacre Coeur. It was pouring at times but again we just soldiered on. The sun didn’t go down, but we got some nice pics of the church and around the Montmartre area. When we got home we had a supper - some cheese and baguette and a bottle of vin rouge. We bought some chocolate during the day but didn’t eat it (must have been full). Had another relatively early night for me – 10.30.
Monday we visited Notre Dame – I am not particularly religious but you can’t help being awed by the grandeur and elegance and spiritual feel of these great cathedrals. The structures are awesome and the stained glass windows are simply works of art. Following Notre Dame we wandered into and out of the Latin Quarter. It is still interesting, but quite touristy. We then found our way over to the Champs Elysys and walked up it, before jumping on the metro and ending up in place de italie. Here we had a real meal before heading back to Bastille and then home.
Again dinner consisted of some pastries and a bottle of vin rouge. Sue had a bath to soothe her weary legs and settled down to read her book. Not sure what tomorrow holds but it will probably be just as interesting before we head back to London for a rest.
Tuesday we just wandered around in Paris. We went to La Defense and then walked back to the Arc de Triumphe. La Defense is amazing for the scale and diversity, but clearly planned, architecture. After wandering down this grand avenue we walked through the Tulleries back to the Louvre and then went to Les Halles before finding somewhere for lunch. It is so easy to do.
Got back to the hotel and picked up our bags and went back to Gare du Nord. Final lesson – it doesn’t take long from anywhere to get there and border control is way simpler than an airport.
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