Paris, been there, done that

Friday 22/6 and Saturday 23/6. As mentioned for Friday, we took the Metro to the city, the 10:30AM Metro from Port de Clichy (seven stations from the Champs E.) was standing room only, and very, very cozy at that. We searched out the nearest Hop-on Hop-off Bus stop and headed off on a quick trip around the city. Quick it was not. After completing about ¾ of the circuit, we got off at La Fayette. This is one of the larger department stores in Paris. The store is spread over 3 buildings, one for home goods, one for men’s wear and one for women’s wear. Each building comprises a basement, ground floor and 3 or 4 floors above, and the floors are huge. It the ladies’ wear building, there is one floor devoted wholly to shoes, another to just jewellery and perfume. It was then back onto the bus, but we never made it to the Arc de Triumphe as it was peak hour traffic and the busses are not allowed there. So we get on the Metro and came home.

Saturday morning, back on the Metro, back on the Hop-on bus and off to the Trocadero. We walked from there to the Eiffell Tower. Due to a technical issue only one lift is working and pre-booking tickets to the lift doesn’t work. Usually pre-booked ticket holders jump the queue. We had a good look around, had lunch and then took a river cruise of the Seine for an hour. It is just impossible to describe the enormity of the Tower. It’s like the first time you look into the Grand Canyon. Photos just can’t describe it. The whole of Paris is big things, or extremes. Today we heard that there are 14km of corridors in the Louvre Gallery and there are near 38,000 art items on display which is less than 8% of their art collection. After this we Hopped-on and headed for the Arc de Triumphe, and had afternoon tea with nice French pastries. Headed over to the Arc and saw the daily memorial service to the lost and missing soldiers of the wars. Afterward, we walked up possibly 280+ stairs to get to the top of the Arc de T. and had a spectacular view of Paris from there. After we came down, jean commented “It’s ten to eight!” It felt like 4PM to her. We headed back to the hotel had a late dinner, and that’s it for the day. Tomorrow, Charleville here we come.