Apr 8, 2013 - La Premier Weekend

Friday: Tried to go to the Musee d'Orsay. Too many visitors. We knew it was chancy because it is school vacation week in France this week and in Belgium next week. So our museum visits are postponed until later in the month. Had croissant & coffee nearby at a small place in the 6th (our usual stomping grounds here), and then, deciding that shopping could replace museums this weekend, we headed for Bon Marche to look for "warm legs" for Denise - and we found some! Out to dinner at "la Rotisserie" formerly "la Rotisserie d'Beaujolais," our...

Apr 4, 2013 - Getting Oriented in 2 days

The flight over on Air France was superb. We managed an upgrade to business where we found a wonderfully engaged cabin staff.  Certainly made the night's passing enjoyable and comfortable. Upon landing at CDG, the temperature was 0 C! And complete with frost on the runway! Fortunately, no snow. An easy clearance through customs, and a taxi into town (in morning rush hour) brought us to the front entrance to our apartment. Just across the street from France's gold storage center. (very secure area) Day 1 We unpacked, and went out to...

Apr 2, 2013 - Paris

Thank you to everyone who has posted comments – it’s encouraging to know someone is reading & enjoying my story. Today was a beautiful, sparkling, sunny day & I could tell that my favourite patisserie was open again just from the aroma when I went out the gate. The Conciergerie was high on my to-do list so I started off there. It’s right in the middle of Paris & has been a residence of the Kings of France since the 6th century. Even though they built & lived in lots of other palaces & stopped living here in the 14th century, it remained the...

Apr 1, 2013 - Paris - Montmartre

It’s a brilliantly sunny day with hardly a cloud in the sky although still chilly – it’s forecast to get all the way to 9°C this afternoon. As promised, I had a reasonably quiet day but I still did a lot of walking so my feet & legs are tired tonight. I walked from here to Montmartre, which took a bit over ½ an hour then caught the funicular up to Sacre Coeur. As usual, there were hordes of people everywhere &, as at Versailles yesterday, there seem to be an abundance of Italians. They must have school holidays now whereas the French...

Apr 1, 2013 - A Small Apartment in the 1st

Here's our great little apartment! Located in the corner of the top floor of a refurbished 5-story Parisian, renaissance era, "city house", it is situated in the heart of the 1st Arrondisement just across from the Louvre. Sleeping area Sitting area Kitchen We arrive here on the 3rd of April for the start of our adventure. Stay tuned.....

Mar 31, 2013 - Paris - Versailles

After changing my mind several times I opted for Versailles today because: a) I could go via Gare du Nord & check out what I needed to do to catch Eurostar on Wednesday, b) My travel pass which covers all 5 zones, expires tonight, c) Versailles is closed on Mondays, d) The sun was shining, and e) The Versailles Musical Fountains show was on for the first time this year. However, I expected it would be very crowded but I thought it would be a nice train ride even if I couldn’t be bothered with the queues. I didn’t really want to go back to...

Mar 30, 2013 - Paris - Vincennes

It was quite overcast this morning & still cold (0°C at 8:00am) but there’s no rain in the forecast until maybe Wednesday which is when I leave for London, so that helps. Apparently this weather is caused by the Jet Stream being further south than is usual at this time of year which is blocking the warmer weather systems. I thought I’d go in the opposite direction to Versailles & have a look at the Chateau of Vincennes which is a royal castle to the east of Paris. The early French kings had a hunting lodge in the forest of Vincennes but the...

Mar 29, 2013 - Paris - St Denis

I’ve seen & enjoyed many gothic cathedrals so today was the day to visit the Basilica of Saint Denis, the mother of them all, generally considered to be the first truly gothic church ever built. It was bright & sunny this morning but when I got outside I realized that it felt much colder than yesterday so I went back & put some more clothes on – a good move as the church was freezing, especially the crypt. Today is Good Friday but you wouldn’t know it here, which amazes me as France is historically a very Catholic country. It’s just a...

Mar 28, 2013 - Paris

My apartment is very cosy, in fact it got a bit warm upstairs in the bedroom last night & I certainly didn’t need the little electric blanket which travels with me. The heated towel rail keeps the bathroom nice & warm also. My first task this morning was to visit the Tourist Office to get a decent map & some brochures of places I want to see. I’m trying to stay away from attractions I’ve already been to but it’s difficult not to go back to Versailles or Notre Dame – I’ll see how much time I’ve got. It was overcast & rain was forecast but...

Mar 27, 2013 - Kuala Lumpur to Paris

The flight was scheduled to leave just before midnight but it was about 20 minutes late taking off. The A380 is very spacious but not the same configuration as the one I flew with Emirates. This was the normal 6 seats across whereas Emirates only have 4 seats in a row but again I was lucky not to have anyone next to me – in fact there was no-one in the whole row. We were given another meal & although I wasn’t really hungry I couldn’t pass up on the lobster so at 2:00am I was having lobster & champagne. Why not? In fact the lobster was...

Mar 21, 2013 - France

Hello, I am in Paris France. I went on a hot-air balloon ride I was SO scared I almost fainted! The capital is Paris.Then I try the food The wine was making so dizzy but the crimps were we we then I tried a thing that is Candi like a donut but it was SO good. Then I went to the Eiffel tower it was HUGE. At night i went to the top of the Eiffel tower the light were so beautiful! Well i better go to sleep GOODBYE!!!

Mar 21, 2013 - France

Hello Everyone, Today I went to France and I saw the Eiffel Tower and I learned that that the Eiffel Tower was built from January 26, 1887 to March 31, 1889 that is 2 years, 2 months and 5 days. It was so unique and interesting. I also went on a hot air balloon ride and I learned that the first hot air balloon was built in Annonay, France. The views from the hot air balloon were beautiful. I was so surprised when I found out the first hot air balloon was made in France. When I got really hungry I had French toast for lunch. Although French...