Paris City Break

With France only across the Channel, and it only being a two hour train ride, it was about time that Sarah and I got off our bums and caught a train. Transport sorted, Sarah found a really good hotel and we were both set. Saturday morning, and we jumped in the car for a cruse down the M4 to London, the a couple of stops on the tube before arriving on schedule in St Pancras. I was amazed at the ease of the travel, much less stressful than catching a plane, and more comfortable. A couple of hours later we were in Paris!

So rewind 4 - 5 months when the trip was planned. It was supposed to be the end of March / start of April, the start of spring, sun shining and a comfortable temperature. What we ended up was overcast, bitterly cold wind and temperatures around the 5 to 6 mark. Not ideal for strolling around Paris, but it didn't matter. Scarves on, gloves on, beenies on. We were set of the streets of Paris. We spent the rest of SAturday strolling around the streets, from Gare De Nor to Sacre Cur, then down to the Luvre and along the bank of the River Seine to the Rodin Meuseum. A Lot to take in, but I like to think that we absorbed a lot of the Paris culture. One of the Highlights was the markets beneath the Metro. From fish to vegies, to baked goods, there was everything there. What we seem to miss out on a weekend. The Roath markets don't really compare to this. We ended the dinner with a few drinks and dinner in the St Germain area of Paris, near to our hotel. What a day!

Sunday was spent at a relaxed pace, staying out ofthe cold wind and temperatures. We again set off walking the streets of Paris, arriving at a Art and Craft Market, jsut as they were setting up for the day. After then setting off in the wrong direction we turned around and headed for the Eifel Tower. Loads of tourists as usual, coach loads miling about beneath the tower, all waiting for the chance to climb the famous landmark. Not too keen to wait in line in the temperature, we set off for the river and decided to go on a boat trip. Good choice. It turned out to be a glass house on the river, the perfect antidote to warding off the chill of the weather. I think it was what we both needed, to just warm up a bit.

 

After our boat ride we again strolled the streets, The Eifel tower, Champs Elesee, Arc De Triumph, down toe the Luvre again, before heading off tot he station for our train ride home. We stopped for a few drinks and a bite to eat in various places along the way. It turns out that if you stop somewhere for a drink you have a very poor selection of places to sit. If you want to eat something then yo get the best seats in the house. I don't know if it something that we just went along with or if you can sit where you like? I don't know. I will have to ask the question next time...