Tuesday 12th Our Day trip to Paris
Woke up early, a heavy mist hanging over the fields around us. With the promise of a sunny day it should all burn off pretty quickly.
Made sure that pinkle purr was still OK and set out food for her to eat before the trip in the car.
Managed to finally put her in the carry box after much chasing, she obviously sensed that she was going somewhere.
Elizabeth arrived and the two of us squeezed into the back with pinkle purr in the space behind us. With three of us in the back it was a bit tight, as Elizabeth was taking her friend with her to see the exhibition and giving a male friend a ride up to Paris.
Dropping the cat off at Marks, we went on into Paris and Elizabeth being a Parisian girl knew her way around as we looked to park the car somewhere and then catch the metro in for the last few stops.
Paris what can we say; we had a coffee in one of those typical cafes you see in all the photos, with everyone sitting out on the pavement facing the road. Rode the metro from Denfert Rochereau to Luxemburg and then walked all around and along the Seine (La Rive Gauche), to the Musse d’Orsay. We left Elizabeth and Eileen to see the Cézanne to Picasso exhibition as they had pre-booked tickets. We would have had to have lined up and perhaps waited a good hour to get in so we decided to venture out on foot and be back to meet them a couple hours later.
We walked across the Pont De La Concorde stopping half way across to finish the banquette we had purchased for our lunch and looking out we could see the Tour Eiffel in the distance.
Then on through the Jardin Des Tuileries, L’avenue des Champs Elysees et l’arc de triomphe, and then to be standing in front of the glass pyramid of the Magnificent Musee du Louvre.
Having seen many photos and of course in the movie De La Vinci code it was all just so unbelievable to actually be there.
Unfortunately the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays so we were unable to go in. However we will probably do so when Marisa joins us in a few weeks time.
We walked and walked, on through the Court Napoleon, and so many other places that it’s hard to recall them all. We crossed back over the Seine on the Pont des Arts. Then through the back streets with all the various galleries, auction houses, hotels, cafes and of course the souvenir shops, heading back to the Musee d’Orsay for our 3.30pm rendezvous as arranged. How different it all is to us,nearly everybody smoking here, cigarette butts everywhere, dogs not leashed with the poo left where it was dropped, people just doing anything they like in regard to crossing the road or cycling,(no helmets required here!).France is so less controlled than we are. Not sure yet whether that's a good thing or not as yet.
Elizabeth being born and bred in Paris decided we should walk back to the Metro so she could show us some of her Paris. Where she went to school, the street she livid in where she played etc etc. What better introduction could we have asked for as we passed tourist upon tourist wandering about looking at the maps, street names, guides books, we had it all explained in perfect English. I just wish I could remember it all. The St Severin (A most beautiful church), La Sorbonne, down Saint-Michel to the Jardin Du Luxembourg. Looked over and saw the Notre-Dame, that would have to wait for another day. Down into the metro and the train back to where we had left the car, however it was off to Elizabeth’s favourite Chinese restaurant where she was well known having been there for lunch for most of the 15 years she worked in the area.
With that it was back to the car, this time only four of us so the trip would be much more comfortable. Negotiating the cobbled roundabouts was an experience, no lane marking, cars coming from everywhere; you just sort of weave your car around dodging all other cars and the pedestrians. It was amazing, to Elizabeth it was nothing! Then on back through the suburbs twisting and turning through the narrow streets, being short cuts, to the start of the auto route back out of Paris and heading for Nevers.
Back home safe and sound nearly two hours later. Our heads in a whirl and lots to think and talk about we were quite exhausted and knew we would be dreaming like mad about the whole days events.
We took many photos, which I have attached.
We look forward to visiting again, though next time we will be on our own and will also be one of those tourists walking around with a guidebook and map, hopefully not looking so lost though.
Elizabeth has invited to take us up to Paris again when she next visits, which she tells us she does quite often. We couldn’t ask for a better guide, so we might well take her up on her offer.
Woke up early, a heavy mist hanging over the fields around us. With the promise of a sunny day it should all burn off pretty quickly.
Made sure that pinkle purr was still OK and set out food for her to eat before the trip in the car.
Managed to finally put her in the carry box after much chasing, she obviously sensed that she was going somewhere.
Elizabeth arrived and the two of us squeezed into the back with pinkle purr in the space behind us. With three of us in the back it was a bit tight, as Elizabeth was taking her friend with her to see the exhibition and giving a male friend a ride up to Paris.
Dropping the cat off at Marks, we went on into Paris and Elizabeth being a Parisian girl knew her way around as we looked to park the car somewhere and then catch the metro in for the last few stops.
Paris what can we say; we had a coffee in one of those typical cafes you see in all the photos, with everyone sitting out on the pavement facing the road. Rode the metro from Denfert Rochereau to Luxemburg and then walked all around and along the Seine (La Rive Gauche), to the Musse d’Orsay. We left Elizabeth and Eileen to see the Cézanne to Picasso exhibition as they had pre-booked tickets. We would have had to have lined up and perhaps waited a good hour to get in so we decided to venture out on foot and be back to meet them a couple hours later.
We walked across the Pont De La Concorde stopping half way across to finish the banquette we had purchased for our lunch and looking out we could see the Tour Eiffel in the distance.
Then on through the Jardin Des Tuileries, L’avenue des Champs Elysees et l’arc de triomphe, and then to be standing in front of the glass pyramid of the Magnificent Musee du Louvre.
Having seen many photos and of course in the movie De La Vinci code it was all just so unbelievable to actually be there.
Unfortunately the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays so we were unable to go in. However we will probably do so when Marisa joins us in a few weeks time.
We walked and walked, on through the Court Napoleon, and so many other places that it’s hard to recall them all. We crossed back over the Seine on the Pont des Arts. Then through the back streets with all the various galleries, auction houses, hotels, cafes and of course the souvenir shops, heading back to the Musee d’Orsay for our 3.30pm rendezvous as arranged. How different it all is to us,nearly everybody smoking here, cigarette butts everywhere, dogs not leashed with the poo left where it was dropped, people just doing anything they like in regard to crossing the road or cycling,(no helmets required here!).France is so less controlled than we are. Not sure yet whether that's a good thing or not as yet.
Elizabeth being born and bred in Paris decided we should walk back to the Metro so she could show us some of her Paris. Where she went to school, the street she livid in where she played etc etc. What better introduction could we have asked for as we passed tourist upon tourist wandering about looking at the maps, street names, guides books, we had it all explained in perfect English. I just wish I could remember it all. The St Severin (A most beautiful church), La Sorbonne, down Saint-Michel to the Jardin Du Luxembourg. Looked over and saw the Notre-Dame, that would have to wait for another day. Down into the metro and the train back to where we had left the car, however it was off to Elizabeth’s favourite Chinese restaurant where she was well known having been there for lunch for most of the 15 years she worked in the area.
With that it was back to the car, this time only four of us so the trip would be much more comfortable. Negotiating the cobbled roundabouts was an experience, no lane marking, cars coming from everywhere; you just sort of weave your car around dodging all other cars and the pedestrians. It was amazing, to Elizabeth it was nothing! Then on back through the suburbs twisting and turning through the narrow streets, being short cuts, to the start of the auto route back out of Paris and heading for Nevers.
Back home safe and sound nearly two hours later. Our heads in a whirl and lots to think and talk about we were quite exhausted and knew we would be dreaming like mad about the whole days events.
We took many photos, which I have attached.
We look forward to visiting again, though next time we will be on our own and will also be one of those tourists walking around with a guidebook and map, hopefully not looking so lost though.
Elizabeth has invited to take us up to Paris again when she next visits, which she tells us she does quite often. We couldn’t ask for a better guide, so we might well take her up on her offer.
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