Paris Bucket List

Our first view of the Eiffel Tower

Yes, we really did go to Paris!!! What a fun time - we took in many of the sights, but basically we concentrated on the top 5: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe & Champs Elysee.


Our commute up to Paris was speedy...the TGV (train grand vitesse...very fast train) flys at 150 mph!!  Check out this video...

 

We arrived at Gare Montparnasse but it took us awhile to figure out where the heck we were...we had assumed that we'd arrive where we first left town but happily we were much closer to the heart.  Bought a 3 day Metro pass and found the #6 line which we used exclusively for our stay.  Near the eastern end of the line was our Hotel Claret in the Bercy district. At the other end (west) of the line is the Arc de Triomphe...our last stop for our tour. 

We arrived at the hotel and the clerk handed us the key.  Things are very streamlined here...they don't require ID at this time.  When we wanted to use WIFI, then I had to cough up the passport....go figure! Also, you must hand your key to the clerk when you leave the hotel...i'd forgotten that detail and had a mini lecture the first time we came home...oh well!

We strolled to Bercy Village, a collection of shops and bistros centered around the Cinematique, their movie palace.  While we ate a snack and had a bit of wine, the heavens opened up and rain started...our first storm since we've been in France and out walking!  We managed to get back to the hotel, but were drowned rats. 

In the morning, we arrived at La Tour Eiffel at 10:15,  miraculously there were probably about 50 people in line to take to elevator up, so we hastily made our way to the line and were up to the middle of the tower by 11:30!  I've been under the Tower before, seen it from a distance but never ascended to the heights.  What a view!  The sun was out and everything looked sparkly after a bit of rain from the night before. 

Looking down at the Arc de Triomphe

Here is the Arc de Triomphe from the Tower...very impressive.  The layout of the streets are amazing...not a straight line to see, except the Champs Elysee...

We did a little strolling around the district, had lunch and decided to take a boat ride, a tour of the city from the water.  Such a different way to see Paris.  I am in love with the amazing penthouses you see as you motor by. 

Ah, a boat tour of the Seine, how fun...except as we waited in line to embark, 4 busloads of children in bright green vests arrived and got in line, also!  Hey, it's 2pm - shouldn't they all be getting ready to head home?  Nope, this is France...things start later than at home.  So, with the amazing views we were subjected to kicking, screaming kids.  That made us even more sure we needed to find a place to have a cocktail.  As we walked back to the Metro stop, I viewed a red awning down a side street...aha!  We made a beeline for this lovely bistro - where we ate escargot and sipped Champagne while another rainstorm missed us!  This picture was taken after we left - sunshine!!!