En Paris 2nd & 3rd June

Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
We left 'home' at Manor House in London at about 7.10 yesterday morning and took the tube (using our Oyster card) to Victoria. Then walked to Victoria Coach Station - NOT the Bus Station, as it's in the other direction. (I know this from experience!) We got there at 8 for a 9.30 departure - so had plenty of time. An east European guy and his wife missed their coach and we were privileged to witness what went down between the tired, angry & admittedly rude customer and the over officious clerk. Looks like that man isn't traveling via Eurolines today! The clerk was on the phone to the 'police' when we moved on. Funny how you can change sides in an argument - at first I thought the customer was rude and was definitely out of order; but then I ended up feeling sorry for him!

So we were the first people to book in to our coach - but the 8th to board (pushy French) . We left 15 minutes late as the bus waited for a group of 7 late passengers. Then there was chaos - Vauxhall Bridge was closed and traffic was practically at a standstill. We made it to the Eurotunnel Shuttle gates by 12.50 and thought we'd be on the 13.20 shuttle. However, by the time they took our passports and stamped them and dithered around, we ended up on the 13.50 train. Arrived en France at 14.25 and our bus was first off! The landscape was very flat - and I thought the soil was odd. Very white soil (looked like sand), but so much greenery!! Not just the trees - loads of crops as well. We drove over the Somme River and I started visualising that white soil as cloying white mud.

The bus had to drop people at Charles de Gaulle airport - now that is an interesting place to drive! Hard to explain - but drove around a road in an oval shape above everything: we seemed to go around twice before we descended to the bus stop, and then another one and a half to leave (well that's what it seemed like!) We arrived at the Gallieni Coach Station in Paris 45 minutes late (19 .00), so we didn't try & walk. Eventually bought a carnet of Metro tickets at the machine and caught the Metro to Pere Lachais stop and walked a few hundred metres to our hotel - Hotel Obododo. Got there with 10 minutes to spare - check in was until 20.00.

Room looked okay - yes, it is the only room with a balcony; however, the balcony is covered in flower pots. And somehow I missed that even though the room is 'superior', it has a shower - but no private toilet. Sacre blue! Dinner called, so off down la Rue de la Roquette towards La Bastille we went. Ended up having dinner at "Quatre fois Cinque" - which we discovered is a wine connoisseur's restaurant, AFTER we'd ordered the house red! The food was delicious - we had 2 different entrees and 2 different plats (mains)

It's almost time to go out for dinner and I haven't started on today. Merdre!   We had le petit dejeuner at the hotel and started walking at 9 .30. Down la Rue de la Roquette to the Bastille; then went the wrong way around the circle to find Rue Saint Antoine (no map).

(Dinner was great - just a little way down Rue de la Roquette. Now back to today.) We walked it all except for Montparnesse to Pere Lachaise on the Metro to get home. From the Bastille to Notre Dame, on Isle de la Cite. Le Palais de Justice and the Conciergerie - and I had to leave via Pont Neuf - it's all to do with school French lessons!! I forgot to say we walked through Le Marais when we walked from the Bastille to Notre Dame - I thought Le Marais was a rather large area, but if so I missed the rest of it. We thought we'd found the bridge with all the love locks, but it was just a few on Pont Neuf. The bridge that was literally covered in locks was a foot bridge further west. After crossing Pont Neuf, we just walked west - through the Louvre area, then Les Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysses, Arc de Triomphe . Getting a bit foot sore by now. I was heading for the Modern Art Museum on President Wilson Avenue. First thing we did when we got there was go to the cafe - coffee and muffins for 2. Sat outside and could see the Seine - only a 10 minute break. Then we did the cultural bit and went inside. Either there wasn't much Matisse, or I missed it. Never mind - I liked the Raymond Mason room best.

Over another footbridge (just starting with the love padlocks) to le Rive Gauche and le Tour Eiffel. The Algerian war memorial was interesting . So many things I wanted to remember - but I can't! After walking under le Tour Eiffel, we sat on the grass and watched a bit of the tennis. The screecher was playing - and was losing at the time. When we got to the other end of Champs de Mars (sorry if the French names are wrong - no time to check them) - there was some sort of parade happening. So we followed the parade to Montparnesse. Then caught the Metro back to Pere Lachais. After a beer at our hotel, Hotel Obododo, we went looking for Jim Morrison's grave (well we are staying overlooking the Pere Lachais Cemetery!). More walking - got lost, came back to look at the map, then found it. Very quiet and peaceful place.

 
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Comments

anneandsteve
2014-06-04

What a big couple of days Anne. I'm living vicariously here and enjoying the experience. Keep it coming

alvin and chrissy
2014-06-05

Great to hear your your news our family are in Paris as well

anneandsteve
2014-06-05

Amazing enough so was our son. He has left now for warmer climes. Israel

Rae Smith.
2014-06-05

I felt I was there with you. Keep them coming.

2025-02-10

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