Sunday, September 13, 2009

ok - so shoot me!

yes, I know we promised to write regularly & keep this up to date, but we are truly doing just so many things that it's really difficult. Almost 2 weeks have passed and we haven't told you anything!
We caught the train with Vi & Robert William from Chalon to Paris via Lyon, a relatively comfortable and problem-free trip, to the apartment on Rue Edmond Roger in the 15th arondissment in Paris. The apartment was charming and comfortable, with local shops & bakeries and a Metro station only a few minutes walk. On Monday we had a 'day off', did some grocery shopping, walked around the neighbourhood and had a beer in a local cafe as we watched the world walk past. Vi cooked curry for dinner, a most welcome change from the fare on the boat.
Tuesday saw us out early and on the train to Versaille courtesy of the ParisPass, which included bus and rail travel plus entry to museums and monuments across the city. Despite a cold and rainy day we had a lovely time and came home in a state of 'Rococco overload' - I think you need many visits to see and appreciate all of the Palace, so much art, gilt and marble in one place. And of course it really illustrates the great class divide in France in the days of Louis XIV. Tonight Vi felt like a rest, so Robert joined us for a trip to the Latin Quarter in search of dinner. There was really too much choice, and every pavement cafe and brasserie has a hawker in the street touting for business - not until we were seated did we realise the 'fondue speciality' restaurant we picked was actually GREEK! And BAD Greek at that - oh, well.
What a day Wednesday turned out to be - we started out to see the Louvre, intending to visit the Jardins de Luxemburg briefly and have lunch beforehand. For lunch we had selected a restaurant, 'Le Ferrandaise' from an article in the Australian Financial Review, close to the Luxemburg. Well the gardens are so lovely - clean, pretty, colourful - and peaceful despite being well-used - that we sat and had coffee and wrote postcards and talked together for far longer than we intended. Then we went to lunch, and what a meal it was - in keeping with many French cafes it offered a 3-course set price option, which we took, and enjoyed every mouthful. As the AFR article said, lunch is a leisurely affaire in Paris, and 3.30 rolled around so quickly, leaving us too little time for the Louvre. Instead I wandered off to the Tuilleries, another beautifully kept garden close to the Seine, walking there along the banks, looking at the street vendors and the old buildings. Almost forgot Wednesday was the night we had tickets to Moulin Rouge, so quick dash to the Metro and off to a great show. (Surprisingly good meal and wine, too). I know it's all about the girls, but the other acts were very entertaining, a ventriloquist, a juggler and a pair of acrobats.
Ok, so Thursday we started out to see the Louvre, but after our late night at the Moulin Rouge we didn't get up in time, so a lazy day was had by all. The four of us decided on buses rather than trains to visit Sacre Coeur, the elegant church on the hill overlooking the whole of Paris - spectacular views, graceful architecture and a busker doing VERY bad Paul Simon. Richard really appreciated the hundreds of steps up to the cathedral, and Vi & Sue enjoyed the designer shops on the Avenue Montaigne and the Gallerie Lafayette. Lunch at the Food Hall in Gallerie Lafayette - delicious Serano ham & chorizo at a Spanish tapas place. Then down to the Eiffel Tower - HUGE queues, so we took a cruise on the river around the Ile de Paris and the many bridges. Back to the Eiffel Tower and slightly smaller queues, but as night fell the wind rose and the intrepid travellers.....................piked it & went home!
Right, Friday is here and we are BLOODY WELL GOING TO THE LOUVRE! But first we had to go to the post office and send home several kilos of surplus clothing and assorted tat. As we left the post office the heavens opened - it actually RAINED! So of course we did the Parisienne thing and ducked into a cafe........ Then we went to the Louvre. Yes it's worth waiting for, filled with wonders, we saw the real thing instead of prints & copies. Rembrandt, Reubens, and the most beautiful coxyx in the world above the bum of the Venus de Milo. Dinner in an Arab restaurant tonight, really multicultural, isn't it.
Saturday and the end is nigh - what can we cram into today? We really wanted to take Vi & Robert to Le Ferrandaise, so arranged to meet them after a visit to Musee d'Orsay. This was a real treat, much smaller than the Louvre but home to fabulous works by Degas, Monet, Whistler, Van Gogh, you name it. The atmosphere was much more intimate and really hard to leave, could sit for hours. Unfortunately our new favourite restaurant was closed, but a great lunch at Les Editors followed, then Vi & Sue returned to Avenue Montaigne to press noses to the windows of Dior & Chanel, whilst Robert & Richard took the scenic route back to the flat.
Sunday - pack bags, tidy flat, eat last food in fridge & catch plane to Birmingham to be greeted with open arms by Den & Barb (with Liz in tow).
This is a fantastic holiday, packed with things to do & see (and eat) but we do think of friends & loved ones and wish you could be with us to share what we are experiencing - we will try to do better with keeping you up to date & posting photos. TTFN

1 comment:

  1. Musee D'Orsay was actually my personal fave. I remember it being exceedingly hot while we were in Paris and I whiled away so much of my free day there.

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