PARIS December 2007
Wednesday 12th December 2007 saw us setting off for a week in Paris. Our friend Theo drove us to Nantes station where we boarded the TGV (High Speed Train) and after 2 hours of a very quiet and comfortable journey we arrived.
It was cold and overcast but undeterred we took a taxi to our hotel.
The hotel was chosen from the internet for it’s proximity to the main areas of interest, however, it proved to be small and cramped, in fact the foyer/corridor was the width of a double door, half of this area was taken by the reception desk and if one person was checking in or out no one else could pass. However, it was adequate for our needs being within walking distance to the Louvre, Notre Dame and the Seine.
Thursday continued cold with a chill factor giving a temperature of about –7C (19.5F) so not only did we find our way round we also found the best cafes for hot drinks and soups. Afternoon siestas were paramount.
During the week we visited Notre Dame and took a boat trip on the river to the Eiffel Tower then back to the Botanic Gardens. The gardens were in their winter state but must look a picture in spring.
We ducked into every shopping complex, including C&A which Jeannie had not seen for almost 40 years.
Here we purchased just a ‘few things’. J
We took the Metro to the Champs Elysees (Arch de Triomphe), after a short walk it was time to have coffee/hot chocolate as it was just too cold.to be walking. We promised that we would return in spring or summer and retrace our steps.
Before leaving Brisbane Jeannie had heard on ABC Breakfast Radio about Andre Rieu beautiful music.
We went in every Department Store music department and every music shop asking for his CD, nothing; in fact one music shop owner, flicked his hand at us and told us we would get that from the theatre. We did not nor did we find it anywhere else in Paris, we found it in our local supermarket in Blain when we came home.
We picked up a flyer in our hotel advertising Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto being played in a church close by, that very night, so off we went in the freezing cold again, it was even colder in the church but we thoroughly enjoyed it and decided it was one of the highlights of our visit to Paris.
We returned to Nantes on the TGV where Theo and Anne were waiting to drive us home to Bel Air.
So if anyone would like a recommendation of where to buy the best coffee or soup – just ask J
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