This is posting a day late as yesterday was a very busy
day. It began at 6:15 am with the alarm
to wake us in time for Mary and me to leave to meet her friends from
Florida. Four of them have been on a
whirlwind fifteen day trip through Europe with Trafalgar and they arrived in
Paris last night. Tomorrow they will fly
home to Florida. Jane (yes another Jane)
and Jean are childhood friends and Jane has Violet, her husband’s aunt who is
87 years old with her. Jean has her
mother Jeanette who is 90 years young with her…they are quite the
foursome.
Our plan that was made prior to leaving the USA was to meet
them in front of Notre Dame Cathedrale for the 8 am Mass. We arrived at 7:30 am and the “girls” arrived
about 7:45 am. You’ll see in the
slideshow that they descended from the grand entrance at the top of the viewing
stands that has been built in the square in front of Notre Dame for the 850th
Anniversary celebration. At 8 am the
door opened and we, along with about a dozen other people, walked into the dark
and serene Cathedrale that was just beginning to awake for yet another day of
hordes of tourists.
We all walked to the choir area that is between the new
altar and the old altar for the first Mass of the day. It was a beautiful experience for all of us
as we enjoyed the start of our day by saying good morning to the Lord and
thanking him for our safe journey as we travel.
After Mass we walked…slowly, each with a partner on our
arm…across the bridge to the left bank and the first brassier where Jane
treated us to coffee. Rested, we
continued to walk along the left bank past the Shakespeare and Company, still
closed, many shops that were still closed and a few that had just opened. Soon they were shopping; Mary found a new
scarf.
Walked all the way to the
Sainte-Michel Fountain where we caught the number 21 Bus, I had Metro Tickets
for the girls and Mary and I used our Navigo Pass. At the Luxembourg Gardens we all got off. Mary took the girls into the gardens while I
headed back to the apartment two blocks away to check on Bonnie &
Jane. They were just getting up as
they’d enjoyed the quiet apartment for some extra sleep.
Agreed to meet them at 2 pm at the Eiffel Tower and then was
out the door to go to the RER Station in front of the Luxembourg Gardens to
pick up some more Metro Tickets for our Florida friends to enjoy our adventure
today. On the way up the stairs heading
out…I was fast walking because I’d promised to be back at a certain time…I
caught the front of my shoes (for the second time on this trip) and down I
went. This time I injured more than my
pride; I broke the lens out of my glasses and the frame which cut the area
around my eye. Dripping blood I arrived
back in the garden sans glasses.
Fortunately I need them for reading and not for seeing!
The bleeding eventually stopped and I found that I could see
well enough through the remaining lens and continued to wear my glasses with
only one lens for the rest of the day.
This allowed me to read the Metro Map and get us to where we were
going. We’d decided to give them some
different experiences that also didn’t include too much walking. Back on the bus number 21 to Sainte-Michel
and then down into the Metro Station for a ride all the way north to the Barbes
Rochechouart Station. Thank goodness the
escalator was working as Jeanette could not have walked up to the next
station! Soon we were on Line 2 and only
had to go one stop to Anvers where we walked out of the station into the mobs
of people heading up the hill…a very slooooow walk for us…for two blocks to the
Funiculaire that took us to the top.
Mary and all the girls except Jeanette continued up the
final flight of stairs to visit Sacra Coeur Basilica while I stayed with
Jeanette on some chairs outside of a coffee shop. After they returned we did a slow walk around
the bend to the taxi stand at the top.
There we took two cabs; three to a cab; and started the long ride to the
Eiffel Tower. By the time we arrived it
was after 1 pm; just time enough to enjoy a quick lunch of sandwiches that Jane
purchased and then it was 2 pm. Bonnie
and Jane arrived right on time and we approached the special line for those who
had pre-purchased their tickets on line.
We were put ahead of all those people who’d stood in line for hours to
purchase their tickets on site. The
disadvantage of pre-purchase is that had the weather been bad we had no
recourse of going another time with the tickets! But, it was well worth the chance we
took.
Soon we were up on the second level and Jeanette and I found
a seat while the others got in line with the others for an hour wait for the
elevator to the top. No special
privilege here. But, they all enjoyed
the experience and the views from the top.
I’ve seen it so many times previously; that I didn’t mind sitting with
Jeanette…I sent my camera up with Mary instead.
It was nearly 4 pm when we arrived back on the ground, said
our goodbyes and sent the Florida girls off to their taxi for a quick ride back
to their hotel in La Defense area; they have a party with their tour group
tonight and then fly home tomorrow.
Bonnie and Jane grabbed a sandwich to share and we were back
on the RER and then the Metro for a return trip to Montmartre as Jane has never
been and Bonnie has only seen it once many years before.
The RER took us to Sainte Michel Station where we switched
to the Metro and then followed the same trip that we’d taken in the morning
with the exception that the long escalator was not working and we had to walk
up two flights of stairs to reach the last Station. When we walked out of the Anvers Station is
was even more crowded than in the morning; it’s the start of the weekend and
everyone in Paris seems to be in Montmartre.
We again took the Funiculaire up to the top where I sat with
Mary while Bonnie and Jane toured the Sacra Coeur Basilica. Mary’s
foot is still giving her pain so we try not to have her walk places she has
been before! Soon they were back and we
were off to walk the artist area of Montmartre where we also enjoyed an early
dinner of Onion Soup; the French version: dark brown with bread and covered in
wonderful cheese. Bonnie and Jane walked
down and then up a short street to see the Au Lapin Agile, the La Maison Rose
and the only remaining vineyard on the hill.
After dinner we continued our walk down Rue Lepic finding
the Moulin de la Galette, a residence of the Van Gough brothers and other sites along the
way. Suddenly Jane said; “Are you up for
crepe desserts?” Of course we were and
spent half an hour consuming delicious dessert crepes in a small shop as a
treat from Jane. Then off we went for
two minutes to the Blanche Metro Station on blvd de Clichy. When you put your back to the entrance to the
station you have a picture perfect view of the Moulin Rouge. Since it was already dark and nearly 9 pm;
the lights were on for great views of all the buildings on our way home. Bonnie checked the price of a ticket at the
Moulin Rouge; they start 180 euros.
We were finally home in our apartment by 10 pm. We’ve got the bus 21 from Sainte Michel Metro
Station down pat! The Place
Sainte-Michel was teaming with people but we only stopped for a minute to watch
a performer. We had phone calls home to
make and photos to download.
Hope you enjoy the slideshow:
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