We were all very tired from the day before so had a little sleep in. By 10am we were out the door and heading to the same bakery for breakfast but it was closed. Plan B – we caught public transport (metro train – 3 different trains to be precise), to get to the Eiffel Tower. By this stage it was after 11am so we had a big brunch (croque monsieu ....cheese on toast with ham but ours with an egg as well) and a couple of good strong coffees.
I dropped Betty and Maria off at the Eiffel Tower as they were going to go up (I did it in 1992 and didn’t really feel the need to go up again) so then headed off to wander around by myself for an hour or so to take photos. Betty and Maria called me back – due to congestion to top of the tower was closed and the line was so long so they didn’t bother going up.
We decided to follow the river around for a way then used the daily metro tickets we purchased (great value!!) to get to the Arc de Triomphe. Had a Kodak moment as it is such a beautiful structure, before we then followed the Champs Elysees, walking past the shops most people can’t afford to go into. There were street performers along the way which was enjoyable but I also noticed a large number of beggars and homeless. Paris is, like many cities, a land of extremes.
Again making the most of the metro ticket, we decided to head to Montmatre (the highest point in Paris), to enjoy the views, street artists and atmosphere. We caught the funicular car instead of walking up all the steps to Sacre Coeur (work started on the building in 1877 and it was completed in 1914). The area was teeming with tourists (being a Sunday), so we did not join the long line to go inside or up to the spire. Instead we sat on the steps, as many other people did, having a drink and snack whilst people watching.
Walking around looking at street artists was great. I had thought that if I see a small painting I liked I would buy it but nothing thrilled me. We headed back down along all the narrow cobbled streets, looking at a number of shops. I found a shop that sells graters shaped like the Eiffel Tower – I had to have one as a reminder of Paris. Whilst having a drink (Maria and I a quiet white wine – cheaper than a coffee!!), light rain started and it got cold. We headed back to the hotel to get warm clothes before going out to dinner.
Again the Time Out book was a winner – we went to this fabulous restaurant with really reasonably priced food called Ambassade dÁuyergne. I had lamb terrine with caramelised onion, followed by beef cheek casserole (a lot like silverside). The meal was fabulous, so was the white wine Maria and I shared. It has been so nice having dinner with people and playing musical forks – I really get to experience so much more than I do when travelling by myself and enjoy the company.
The rain has really set in so we made our way back to the hotel. All of us are tired, it has again been a big day.
NOTE – I am half way through my trip.
As a recap, I have to date:
- Been to 3 countries I had not been to before
- Used 5 different currencies
- Been on 12 full flights ie not including stop overs eg LA on way to New York
- Tried to get my head around 3 languages apart from English and more accents than I can even dare to count
- Been on 2 overnight trains
- Been to 3 new countries (counting Ireland as 1 whole country – controversial I know but as per Lonely Planet)
- Made 91 blog entries
- Driven over 2,200km in a hire car
- Taken more photos than I ever thought possible
- And experienced the weird, wonderful, beautiful, painful, and exhilaration that comes with travelling
- Embraced life TJ style in the past 13 weeks and will continue to do so for the next 13.
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