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We enjoy our frequent travels through Italy and Franc. If you share our passion for travel in those countries is of interest you may find any of the following of interest:
The first week started with a flight from Vancouver to London and London to Paris - and it was great to be in Paris again.
After a couple of years of flying directing to Paris, or to Nice in the South of France, a visit to Paris was long over due. So to be adventurous it was no to the cab ride from the airport and yes to the RER train. Taking the train from the airport to Paris is actually is easy and cheap. A free shuttle bus goes between the four Terminals to the rail station which is located a few minutes away. Tickets for the train ride are reasonable — about 7.25 E per person. Within thirty minutes we arrive at Châtlet. The train route goes along a series of major points with numerous shared Metro stations.
From Châtlet there is a short cab ride to our hotel. All very easy, however, after flying over 13 hours I have to ask if it is the right decision. The ride itself and getting to the train is very easy. But the lugging of your luggage up the endless stairs of the metro stations is not that easy with flight fatigue.
Of course the Eiffel Tower |
Monument in park |
Galleries LaFayette |
This year our hotel was in the area by the Eiffel Tower. This was quite different for us as previously we have always preferred to Marais District. Our hotel was a good value. The room comfortable, a reasonable size and at a good price for Paris. The Eiffel Park Hotel (Best Western) on rue Amélie was in a quite section of the town. None of the endless street noice of the Marais - but we missed the action and being closer to some of the areas that we prefer.
A very good bistro was close by, the "Le Bistrot Du 7" located at Boulevard de la Tour Maubourgh, 56 - (located down from rue de Grenelle). It is a great little restaurant and we recommend it as a good place to eat.
Of course, there is plenty to see in Paris. The Eiffel Tower, various monuments and, for me, no trip to Paris is complete without visiting my favorite gallery: Galleries LaFayette. This department store was built in 1906 as part of the Belle Epoque or "beautiful age" of Paris. Paris entered this age after the Franco-Pressian War and from 1890 into the early 1900's Paris was a city of prosperity and rebirth - the beautiful age.
This year because of flight arrangements we ended up being in Paris for the last part of the last week of August. The August shut down is a real event. There was a major difference in terms of traffic, people and businesses being open as soon as August concuded. No impact on the large sites like museums, but small, family run ventures were all closed. Yes for me, that meant some noted pen stores I searched out were closed.
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1800's shopping mall |
The Metropolitan |
Square on left bank |
Of course there are lots of other sites to see. Around Madeline there is a charming mall from the 1800s, and the art-deco metro signs a reminder of the rebirth of Paris. Off rue St. Germain we came across a most pleasant square. We recommend a few hours be put aside to walk along this street.
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This was my first trip to the catacombs and I found them very interesting. These exist as a result of a massive project that started in 1786 to clear out the millions of bones from the various cemeteries that had sprung up across the city. Each night the bones were collected and taken by cart to the old quarries near Montparnasse. At that time Montparnasse was outside of Paris. You enter by walking down 130 steps and going along a network of tunnels. At the entrance to the main catacomb the inscription over the doorway reads: STOP THIS IS THE EMPIRE OF DEATH. |
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Sainte-Chapelle should not be missed. I was glad that I returned for another visit. Located near the Palais de Justice, this used to be the home to the French Kings before the revolt of 1358. Then the Kings move to the Louvre because it provided them with greater security. Sainte-Chapelle was originally built to house a collection of relics that Louis IX bought from the bankrupt empire of Byzantium. The Chapelle was finished in 1248. The height of the stained glass windows is stunning. From Paris we traveled to Fontevaud l'Abbaye and then on to Vannes to visit friends. |
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