Sunday
After another big buffet breakfast (this is to be a theme throughout the trip) it was straight to the Eiffel tower for our bike tour of Paris. Despite it not snowing the air was bitterly cold and I was not looking forward to being on a bike for 3 hours. We met our guide, picked our bikes and off we went. It turned out to be a really good way to introduce us to the city. We got around to many of the main attractions and were able to mentally plan where we wanted to go back to> We were told some history and got a few opportunities to take some photos. My hands and feet by the end of the tour were frozen but it was a good experience and I would definitely recommend it (in spring!)
After another big buffet breakfast (this is to be a theme throughout the trip) it was straight to the Eiffel tower for our bike tour of Paris. Despite it not snowing the air was bitterly cold and I was not looking forward to being on a bike for 3 hours. We met our guide, picked our bikes and off we went. It turned out to be a really good way to introduce us to the city. We got around to many of the main attractions and were able to mentally plan where we wanted to go back to> We were told some history and got a few opportunities to take some photos. My hands and feet by the end of the tour were frozen but it was a good experience and I would definitely recommend it (in spring!)
After the bike tour we lined up at the Eiffel tower but, sick of people already, Alex suggested we come back where there are less people (ha). So instead we went down to the river where there were some Christmas markets still open so we bought vin chaude and marrons chaude and watched the river rise.
The rising river was the unfortunate catalyst for the cancellation of our river cruise so instead we headed to dinner at a little restaurant where we made the embarrassing mistake of ordering cocktails in France! They came out garnished with lollies and a smug look from the waiter (we did not ordered cocktails again in France).
After dinner we headed back into Paris to see the Eiffel tower at night and to meet up with one of my Cavilam friends, Danielle who took lovely photos of us with his DSLR camera. We then journeyed over to the Champs Elysees to see the lights and Christmas stalls. The street was packed but we still managed to make our way to the Arc de Triumph and take some more photos.
We slowly made our way back to the hotel to get some rest for the next day. I endeavoured to pack as much into our time in Paris as possible but, as Melanie said, there is no way you can see it all in a week!
Monday
Our second day began with (after breakfast) the line at the Louvre. The line was very lovely… but after we got into the museum and saw the obvious musts; the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo but we also saw some amazing things in the Egyptian exhibition and the ancient Greek and Roman collections. We spend the next three hours trying to take in the amazing the collections and the beauty of the actual building itself. Although I could have stayed there all day we left and walked to the Military museum to see Napoleon’s Tomb and learnt about France’s turbulent (yet impressive) military past. We also saw Napoleon’s horse, which they stuffed and stood in the corner of the museum… nice.
Our second day began with (after breakfast) the line at the Louvre. The line was very lovely… but after we got into the museum and saw the obvious musts; the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo but we also saw some amazing things in the Egyptian exhibition and the ancient Greek and Roman collections. We spend the next three hours trying to take in the amazing the collections and the beauty of the actual building itself. Although I could have stayed there all day we left and walked to the Military museum to see Napoleon’s Tomb and learnt about France’s turbulent (yet impressive) military past. We also saw Napoleon’s horse, which they stuffed and stood in the corner of the museum… nice.
We stayed in the museum until security herded us out. We then decided to head to Notre Dame where we took some photos and explored the Latin quarter of Paris. We found a little restaurant on the outskirts which read “authentic French cuisine” on the menu so we decided to head in for some dinner. Turned out it was owned by a Chinese family where the mum cooked in the basement, sending the meals up to the son who, during his ‘service’ interludes watched videos on his laptop at the table across from us (perhaps this is authentically French service?)Our food, thanks to “mum” was amazing and cheap! All in all an exhaustingly productive day!
Tuesday
For our last day in Paris we decided we would visit Versailles to see the Chateau. . We got off the train to face the biggest line I have ever seen. Inside the Chateau was no different; I have not been in such a small space with so many pushy people! The Chateau itself was amazing though, particularly the room of mirrors.
For our last day in Paris we decided we would visit Versailles to see the Chateau. . We got off the train to face the biggest line I have ever seen. Inside the Chateau was no different; I have not been in such a small space with so many pushy people! The Chateau itself was amazing though, particularly the room of mirrors.
We returned to Paris and trekked to the hotel where we were meeting the tour group. After a treacherous and dirty walk through the suburbs of outer Paris we found the hotel and met our lovely Scottish tour leader, Lindsay. Ian and Michelle (the couple who were planned to do the tour with) we staying in the room next to us so we had a good catch up with them before our group dinner. Dinner for 40-something people on the cheap would be a challenge for any restaurant so I wasn’t expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised with French onion soup and an omelette and salad. The others also got to try escargot. (I tried to but just couldn’t do it; those snails had families too!)
After we went all got on the bus to do a city lights tour. It was nice to sit back and see all the areas or Paris we had been in. We also drove past the Moulin Rouge, down the Champs Elysse and around the Arc de Triumph round about (twice)! After stop at a church and the Eiffel tower we headed home.
Wednesday
Our final day in Paris!! We headed to the Eiffel tower first to make sure we got at the front of the line. We climbed the stairs to the second level (a good 800 or so) and had a look at the view. After the Tower we were to the Catacombs where we were faced with a two hour long line. Thankfully we had Ian and Michelle to talk to and before we knew it we were descending some more stairs into the mass graves. The bones were all arranged into patterns and we walked through the tunnels surrounded by more than 8000 skeletons of ancient Parisians who had fallen victim to the plague. It was a humbling and hallowing experience and we all left in a subdued silence.
Our final day in Paris!! We headed to the Eiffel tower first to make sure we got at the front of the line. We climbed the stairs to the second level (a good 800 or so) and had a look at the view. After the Tower we were to the Catacombs where we were faced with a two hour long line. Thankfully we had Ian and Michelle to talk to and before we knew it we were descending some more stairs into the mass graves. The bones were all arranged into patterns and we walked through the tunnels surrounded by more than 8000 skeletons of ancient Parisians who had fallen victim to the plague. It was a humbling and hallowing experience and we all left in a subdued silence.
Our spirits quickly escalated as we stepped onto the Champs Elyesse. We walk the length of the street and the boys say and watched the traffic at the roundabout. Despite him being sick it was the happiest I had seen him all day! (boys..) We window shopped and bought souvenirs from the stalls then rushed to Notre Dame to meet our group for dinner. Despite the overwhelmingly packed metro we got there early so we went into the church. It was magnificent. I cannot describe how beautiful the building is and the rich history behind it made it even more incredible.
We met our tour group and walked to the Latin Quarter to have dinner which was, for me, a goat’s cheese salad, vegetables drowned in cream and cheese, and sorbet. One of the boys in the tour got a bug in his dinner and so, in an effort to make us all forget the experience, the waiter gave us copious amounts of free wine. It was a good night!
After dinner we went to a cabaret show. It started off a little tacky with motorcycles however they did the traditional cancan at the end. There was also an amazing male gymnast, juggler and tap dancer who were incorporated to entertain the female component of the audience. There is something in the fact that the men actually have to have some type of skills while the women just have to look pretty... my thought for this post...
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