• Somewhere in Europe

Paris by train

Paris three nighter Les mer
  • Reisens start
    18. mars 2025

    Hotel Bellevue Le Marais

    18.–21. mar., Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Left Norwood for St Pancras at 11.30am. Eventually met Liz at 12.30pm when she appeared from a different direction from the one I expected. Bit of a pantomime getting through the ticket barrier as Liz's ticket decided not to work.
    Once through passport control etc. we just had to wait for the train. We let the marauding hordes rush to get on, and then made our way to our seats.
    We settled down once Liz had managed to sort herself out and then later managed to tip the grapes all over the floor. All hugely entertaining.
    We were assisted by a very nice SNCF man to jump the queue at the taxi rank and arrived about 6pm at our hotel. Lovely friendly reception guy and our room is fine.
    Headed off to get a snack and ended up with a rather indifferent, but edible, galette. On to Notre Dame for a concert. Music by Bach. Went on a bit, but the singing was spectacular..
    On the way back we stopped of for hot chocolate viennoise and a sugar crepe!
    Les mer

  • Les Halles, Cathedral St Eustace and Not

    19. mars, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Headed off after a lazy start to visit St Eustace Cathedral at Les Halles. Lovely building but in much need of Tlc. Wandered round Les Halles gardens and admired the blossom on the trees. Stopped off at a nice cafe and had a brunch in the sunshine.
    Our timed ticket for Notre Dame visit was 1.45pm. We strolled down to the river and had a wander round the flower market before we went in. It really is astonishingly beautiful.
    We then had a bit of an explore.visited Notre Dame de Lorette and came across a Greek Christian church as well.
    We stopped off for a rest and had some refreshment and then back to the hotel
    We went out later and had a very nice meal sitting outside. We had the set menu. It was delicious.
    Les mer

  • St Martin Montmartre musee D'Orsay

    20. mars, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Up early and out to walk to Concorde. Our boat trip left from porte de Paris below Place de la Concorde. We set off and were taken through the vaults under the Place, which is where Bastille stood before 14/7 and the Revolution began with it being burnt down. As we went through, we saw the crypt of the Bastille. The only remaining part. It was a very pleasant ind information 2.5 hour cruise along the St Martin canal to La Villette, which was once the biggest busiest porte of Paris.
    We set off for Montmartre part on foot, part by metro and the took the funicular to the Butte. It was inevitably very busy. We had a look round and I managed to find the restaurant Julia and I ate in when we went. Our lunch was delicious. Duck, followed by creme brulee. Heaven! We visited eglise de St Pierre and then went in to Sacre Coeur.
    Things went slightly downhill after this. We took the metro to Concorde and had a stroll through the Place des Voges. It then became apparent that the map we were given was not helpful and it was problematic finding public transport to get us to the Musee D'Orsay. We walked, and walked, and walked some more! Most of the walking along the river Seine north bank. More of an endurance test a lot of the time but we made it. Liz found a shop to buy the chocolate she wanted, and we fetched up at the Musee at 6.05pm just in time for reduced price tickets.
    When we had finished, we got a taxi back to the hotel and after 2 hot chocolates, went to bed exhausted!
    Les mer

  • London

    21. mars, England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Heading home today. We had breakfast in the hotel and took a taxi to the Gare du Nord. To kill time we sat in the sun for a while with a coffee. I then took Liz on the walk to Gare de L'est. This station has been the gateway to my travels recently. When we walked in I was taken again with the urge to get a train and head off somewhere. Not be be just yet!
    Back to Gare du Nord. Checking, passport control etc. I set off the alarm again with my hip but no great hold up. Then a wait and the usual melee at boarding. Straightforward journey with arrival on time.
    Liz was off to Euston to finish her journey to Hereford. I was heading for South London to stay with relatives until Monday 24th when I go to Spain with my sister.
    An enjoyable few days. Good company and in one of my favourite cities.
    Les mer

    Reisens slutt
    21. mars 2025