I had researched how to get to the Airbnb apartment; we follow the signs to the tramway (I always love a city with a tram!). Purchasing the tickets is nice and easy and within 8 minutes our tram arrives. Talk about convenience.
4 stops later we are getting off and go in search of our next mode of transport - the C train. This definitely isn't as easy as the tram; absolutely NO idea if we are on the right platform and there is only one other person around (who's on the other platform). She does her best to help us then her train arrives. Eeks here comes the rain, let's hope we don't need to change platforms as we would get very wet! Finally more people arrive on our platform and one person speaks English and helps us out. Great, we are on the right side! Now a 30 minute wait for the train...... we definitely should have taken a taxi. Whoops.
When we arrive at our station a friendly man takes us out onto the street and gives us instructions on how to get to the apartment…..perfect!
On arrival at the apartment, Helen (the owner) shows us around (takes a few minutes). She had cooked me a birthday cake, so nice!
We wander the streets, making our back down to the river then through a park to the Bercy area.
It’s definitely warm and decide a cold beer is required.
Back at the apartment we chill before deciding to head out to a local place for a drink. Choosing a place at an intersection which is great for people watching.
Dinner wasn’t so easy to locate, everything seemed to be closed on a Sunday night. In the end we finally found an Italian restaurant. Not the best given we have just had a week there but needs must.
Monday, 12 September I head out for a run. On the way deciding my route - which was along the river. So lovely at this time of the day.
We walk to our train station and take the train to the Notre-Dame station. Getting out was a tad confusing until we found some signs then asked a policewoman. As soon as we were on the street it was very easy to spot!
Before heading over there coffee was needed. We decided to sit outside, at one of the closest tables to the road suggested by the waiter - when the bill came we decided we wouldn't be doing that again!
I'd visited the Notre-Dame Cathedral the first time I had come to Paris, which was back in 2001. Mum and Dad had never been there.
We join a long line which thankfully is moving rather quickly. The line reduces when a lady wants to take her dog inside (it's sitting in its own push chair).....how she hasn't seen the signs everywhere that says no dogs, is beyond me! After having our bags checked we are in.
Not sure I need to say much about the Notre-Dame de Paris given it’s one of the most widely recognised sights of Paris!
The inside is as amazing as you would expect!
Once outside we decide to walk to the Louvre….was a false start to begin with as we went the wrong way.
Buying tickets doesn’t quite go as one would have expected! For whatever reason my visa card wasn’t accepted so I joined an extremely slow moving ticket line. Thankfully in the end Dad came looking for me so I sent him off to the visa line and hey presto we have tickets!
The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and another historical Paris monument. I had visited at least once before but was happy to return. It’s not every day you get to see the Mona Lisa!!
As you can imagine we aren’t the only ones here visiting! The area around the Mona Lisa is packed. Thankfully we do manage to see other pieces on display without other people around.
We wander out into the beautiful blue sky hot Paris afternoon and through the Jardin de Tuileries (gardens) to Place de la Concorde.
The metro ride home was nice and easy. After going down to catch the metro at Concorde station we realise one of our lines is only a few minutes’ walk away so we head upstairs to locate it (saves us having to change metros).
Andrew and Paula had recommended a couple of places to eat so early evening we headed off to locate one of them. Seems odd going for dinner when it's still 100% day light - the joys of day light saving. Dad and I had researched how to get there so now it's a matter of following the instructions provided by Google. On switching lines Dad's ticket decides not to work so off I go to buy a new one.
On arrival at the restaurant we're asked if we have a reservation - no. Sorry but they are fully booked this evening. What a shame! We are told the wine bar opposite (same company) will open in 5 minutes so we hang around for that with a few other people.
Once the doors open we all orderly join a line. Thankfully we get a table with crazy high stools that looks directly into the kitchen!!
Dinner is delicious! Highly recommend and we would 100% come back to this place.
On the journey home we reversed our trip. Thankfully this time there were no issues with the tickets.
Tuesday 12 September I went for a walk around the streets then managed to locate the patisserie that Helen had recommended. Breakfast is coffee and pastries at the apartment.
While waiting for the train to come we are kept occupied by watching a man put up the ad’s – man alive he’s super quick!!
We wander up the Avenue des Champs-Elysees doing a spot of shopping / looking followed by a coffee break.
At the top of Avenue des Champs-Elysees is the amazing Arc de Triomphe. Another well recognised monument of Paris.
We went up to the top – Mum struggled up the 100+ stairs. Amazing views of the city!
Instead of walking back down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees we take a parallel street towards the river. On the way stopping at a supermarket to buy some lunch.
Lunch is enjoyed at a small park overlooking the Eiffel Tower. WOW!
We continue to walk along the river well past the Louvre as Mum had seen a painting she liked. Unfortunately it was no longer there.
We continue to the Notre Dame RER C line where we jumped on the train. FAR OUT IT’S BLOODY HOT!!!
Dinner is near our apartment – we had done A LOT of walking today so didn’t need to walk any further this evening. We did sit outside and enjoy the balmy warm evening.
Wednesday 13 September I walk out to get pastries for breakfast - yum.
We stop for coffee on the way to the train. It’s 10.15am and two of the locals here are drinking a glass of rose. Yeah no, far too early for that!
On arrival at Bastille metro station we follow the instructions for Coulee verte Rene-Dumont / Promenade Plantee (a 4.47 km elevated tree-line walkway that was built on top of an obsolete railway infrastructure).
There are some impressive looking buildings as we wander along.
At the completion of the promenade we walk to Bercy Village for lunch.
Within minutes of choosing and sitting down at a place we decide this isn’t for us and head back to the train station to go to our area.
As we leave the train station we take the “exit” to the supermarket where we purchase a few things for lunch.
Mid-afternoon I walk back to the train station to buy our tickets for the bus tonight. Dinner tonight (another recommendation from Andrew and Paula) is only a bus route. Walking back to the apartment I stop off to see Anna who’s just arrived from New York.
Early evening Anna heads to our apartment. Getting the bus is nice and easy!! 7 stops and we are there (Les Papilles Bistro).
We have a table outside on the pavement. Great for people watching! Within minutes the heavens absolutely open!! Dinner was a 4 course set menu that was absolutely delicious! Dad went inside to choose the chardonnay.
Thursday, 15 September the alarm goes early - never fun on holiday, and especially before the sun rise! We are off to Reims this morning so need to be up and at ‘em! There was crazy heaven rain, thunder and lightning in the night - unbelievable.
We had the owners come and do the check-out process, thankfully nice and easy! Time to leave Paris. We walk down the road to Anna's hotel, then order a taxi. It's been a great 4 days in Paris! Champagne district here we come.
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