Hi all - have recently returned from my third trip to Paris in 18 months. First one was a 3 day visit with daughter (in between time in the UK), second was with very unhappy and unwell hubby and stressed sis-in-law and kids (ghastly time, refer previous posts) BUT THIS TIME - it was with my mum and sister - we were the Three Amigos!! (and yes, we all sew!)
Before I left Oz, a buddy at work gave me a %26quot;scrap book%26quot; in which to write up highlights, paste in tix etc.., so with my trusty scrap book by my side, these were some of the highlights of the trip.....
DAY 1 - The ticket machine at CDG train station accepted my credit card. This was a very serious relief as the queues were a mile long for the auto machines, but queues for the %26quot;real people%26quot; were three times as long!
Found a public toilet on the way to the apartment. VERY IMPORTANT!
Shopping for essentials in the Montorgueil and realising %26quot;I%26#39;m back and it feels sooooo right!%26quot; (also, the cost of bananas - E1.40 per kilo - storms in Oz last year mean that ours are $12 per kilo!)
First main stop - Sacre Coeur and THAT view and coffee, dessert and rose at Montmartre. I%26#39;d been waiting for this.......!!
The first night - sitting at the window of our tiny apartment on rue d%26#39;Aboukir - leaning out and smelling the air - hearing the people walking past, looking at the sky - just so in love with Paris......and not wanting to sleep because I don%26#39;t want to miss a minute of it.
DAY 2
Strolling around the Ile de France -there was a large gathering of people outside in the square - I enquired and was told that it was a march for peace - peace within yourself and peace in the world. Very calm, quiet gathering of hundreds of people, hardly any police to be seen. Then as we got close to the cathedral, hearing the organ and choir at Notre Dame - we went inside and ended up staying for Mass. Understanding a fair bit of the sermon - those 4 years of french lessons are starting to pay off!
Walking for miles, had a late lunch (much subtle groaning from the other Two Amigos cos they were hungry and had sore feet) at Iolanda cafe - delicious pizza, salad, great rose. But the bruchetta was the best - with garlic-infused olive oil drizzled over the top - yum!
Seeing la Tour Eiffel again - how beautiful she is! My sister%26#39;s exclamation of wonder at the size and beauty of this amazing structure.
Boat trip up the Seine, seeing Pont Alexander again - what a beautiful bridge - saying %26quot;bonjour%26quot; again to all of the beautiful buildings and sights along the river - and then home to laugh until we cried - at the sight of my mother trying to soak her feet in a glass salad bowl (it was the largest container and we did wash it well afterwards :)
DAY 3 -
A day in Chartres. I%26#39;d been waiting so long to see the cathedral. The day was overcast and therefore the interior of the cathedral was very sombre, but still quite awesome. We took the little train ride around and I was quite frustrated that it was difficult to get good photos whilst bumping along - **tip here** I thought it would be better to sit in the 2nd carriage to avoid the exhaust - bad move. Better to sit close to the engine as the exhaust by-passes you on its way to the second carriage**
Great fun back at the apartment as we discovered that there%26#39;s heaps of fresh towels, pillows etc in the building%26#39;s laundry (which was in the next room to our apartment and which we paid to use), so we changed our bed linen and pillows for the best there - sneaking in and out, hoping that the other tenants wouldn%26#39;t catch us (they probably were all doing the same thing!)
DAY 4
- A day in Disneyland. Not much to say here cos I don%26#39;t think this is good use of a day in Paris - I%26#39;m not into Disney - but my sister is, so off we went. I did buy lots of little pressies for the tribes back home and enjoyed Fantasy-land the most (next to the chocolates).
That night, my sister and I went for a walk around the streets. Paris was just beautiful that night. We stopped for coffee and crepes in a restaurant near Les Halles, so many people were out strolling around. The view from The Louvre, through the Tuileries, up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe was spectacular. I love the night lamps and the lttle streets....and the trees in Autumn colour were floodlit - beautiful.
(Better break this up into 2 reports - it%26#39;s getting too long)
Sandra
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Hi Sandra Amigo
lovely, cheerful report - one can feel that special Paris-happiness in every word.
Keep them coming.
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Sandra - Your enthusiasm is delightful. It%26#39;s such a pleasure to read how much you enjoyed yourself.
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I hear you on the price of bananas!!
E1.40 WOW
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