A day in Paris - Day 4

A day in Paris

Monday, 24 September 2012
We bravely trusted Bernard and set off to drive into Paris. He gave us an address for a parking building and instructions as to where to go to get to the Batobus. Well...we made it! It wasn't too hard but I would never do it without a GPS. We caught the Batobus from Jardin des Plantes and then got off at the Louvre. I had read somewhere that there was a faster queue for the Louvre from the food hall downstairs... And we found it. It's called the Carousel Du Louvre. We had lunch there...we are talking about a very upmarket food hall with excellent choices and of course....Paris Louvre upmarket prices to go with it! It was very very crowded when we there so we really chose the nearest option rather than browsing. It was goodItalian so we were all happy. Then we headed into the Louvre and spent a number of hours there. I had forgotten how beaUtiful the building is! I really loved The winged Victory of Samothrace. Bruce took Michael up close to see the Mona Lisa but I really couldn't be bothered with the crowds. If I were staying in Paris central for a time (like we stayed in London for a week) I would buy a museum pass and go back a number of times. I still want to see the medieval portion.
We decided we were over it all and so headed off on our next mission...to find an Orange Store and buy a SIM card and plan. We were on the right street but had to move from number 180 (or so...I can't remember) to 47 or so! A long walk...but we did it. The store has an interesting system...you tell a staff member. ( a little like a concierge) what you want...he takes your name and you wait for a staff member to come to you. They speak OK English and after a bit of too-ing and frooing we got it sorted! We think! I have read some horror stories about people having problems with their Internet cards but ours still seems to be working. I have no idea about how to check the balance and they couldn't't help us in store as they said it takes 2 days to show up.....so antiquated! I'm writing this on Wednesday 26th and have just been talking with fellow guests (. More to follow) about the on and off Internet here...apparently once you leave the house you have to get Bernard to reconnect you...which is why our old iPad Is still connected but the new and iPhone don't work!
So...after the SIM card purchase we headed back to the Seine and the found the Hotel de Ville stop and caught the boat. We got off at Eiffel Tower (around 6.20pm) to have a look and take photos. The last boat was 7.00pm so we didn't take long. Michael was quite taken with the security with machine guns.
Then back on the boat until the end of the line. The light was fantastic and the rain had cleared so we had a great time taking photos. Then it was time to find somewhere for dinner which ended up being what I could best describe being the equivalent of an American diner. This was cheap and cheerful.....for Paris that is. Madame was wonderful though - previously in Parisian restaurants we have found that no one will use English...she was quite different. if we could do it in French...that was fine - but if we were struggling she would help out in English. She complimented Michael on his French so he is feeling very encouraged. It started to rain while we were at dinner...so the raincoats proved useful for the walk back to the car park. it was then about 30 minutes back to our ChambreD'Hote. Great day!

	Waiting for the Batobus [Map]		Beautiful palaces.... [Map]
	Part of the Louvre [Map]		Part of the Louvre... [Map]
	Michael thought this was the Arc de Triomphe...no. [Map]		Dogs! [Map]
	Roofs in the louvre! [Map]		Statues... [Map]
	The Winged Victory [Map]		Incredible roof paintings everywhere... [Map]
	Interior rooms... [Map]		Le Tour de Eiffel [Map]
	Another angle of the Eiffel Tower [Map]		Notre Dame [Map]
	Detail of Notre Dame [Map]		Notre Dame [Map]

---

Sent from my iPad by My Vacation HD app (www.myvacationapp.com)