Francja
Boulogne-Billancourt

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    • Dzień 4

      Day 3 Celebrating my birthday

      26 maja, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

      Woke to lots of lovely messages from home for my birthday and a sweet card from Janet and Chris. Another cool start to the day with glimpses of sunshine, 15 degrees to great walking weather.
      We decided to walk to Roland Garros and see how far it was from our apartment. Breakfast was first stop at a cafe with outdoor seating. Shame about the smokers and vapers. Despite this we enjoyed our platters of orange juice, coffee, croissant and a piece of baguette with jam. At the same time we marvelled at the traffic and how the roundabout was negotiated by cars, bikes, trucks and pedestrians.
      Continuing down rue Victor Hugo we made it to Roland Garros. Tight security with areas cordoned off and long lines to get in. Discovered we need to be around the other side for our night ticket entry but our side for our day ticket which was good to know.
      Heading home we stopped for a Panochet, shandy at home. Lunch and started watching the tennis on TV.
      Snoozes all round in readiness for the Moulin Rouge.
      On approach the outside was just how I remembered it from years ago. Sadly the windmill is not there. The path into the Moulin Rouge was lined with beautiful mosaic tiles showing the iconic windmill. Our table was close to the front and shared with another a group of Australians!! Champagne flowed as the cabaret style band played dinner music and sung. We had a yummy 3 course dinner, starting with prawns, then salmon with a red rice risotto and dessert was a mandarin jasmin tea ganache with crunchy rhubarb and almond crumble.
      The show went for 1.5 hours and was incredible. The combination of dancing and circus acts were amazing as was the iconic Can Can. It lived up to expectation and more. The costumes, music, choreography and dancing was entertaining and well performed. Lots of smiles, thrusting, gyrating and energetic dancing right up close and personal. To quote Chris, 'not a pimple in sight'!! Oh to be so fit and flexible.
      The end of a great day of birthday celebrations.
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    • Dzień 2

      Day 1

      24 maja, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

      We made it!
      BA 16 via Singapore to Heathrow and on to Paris. A long flight but I got some sleep using my fabulous travel pillow.
      Our apartment A801 22 ave Pierre Lefaucheux Boulogne Billancourt overlooks the Seine and Parc de Billancourt. There is a football field, exercise area and lots of green with paths.
      We had a well earned Italian lunch next door then went for a walk. The aim was to find the Metro and we discovered you can't use your credit card and weekly tickets start on a Monday!!
      The sun has been out all day and just like home, it has got warmer as the afternoon went on. Writing this on the verandah listening to the children in the park.
      Early bed time for everyone tonight.
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    • Dzień 3

      Day 2

      25 maja, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

      Woke after a good night sleep to a cool morning and the sun shining. In the Parc de Billancourt across the road Saturday soccer was in full swing just like at home. After a slow start, we walked into Boulogne Billacourt for a coffee and look around. We sat outside in the sun with the locals and their dogs enjoying P'tite Faim, a coffee, croissant and a fresh orange juice.
      At 2pm we caught an Uber to meet Bill O'Reagan for lunch at Cafe du Commerce, a favourite of his and Mary's and very popular with the locals. The streets were busy, shops open and the cafes full of people. On the way we saw the Eiffel Tower, our first real glimpse of Paris!!
      Lunch was great fun, lots of laughs, chatter and stories. The food was amazing as was the wine Bill chose. The desserts were incredible, especially mine. The waiters brought it out last with a sparkler and sang 'Bonne Anniversaire' which was a lovely surprise. It was great to see Bill in Paris. He is so at home here, smiling, chatting to the waiters and enjoying himself. 3 hours later we left lunch and wandered Rue du Commerce while I bought a black pair of jeans. Hugs all round and we went home.
      The other excitement for the day was Fred Stolle messaging us with Wimbledon tickets for Wednesday of the first week!!
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    • Dzień 8

      Day 7 Roland Garros

      30 maja, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

      After a 130am bed time we had a lazy start to the day. The sun kinda came out and then it rained again. All matches on the outside courts were on hold as a result. 13 degrees and cold today with Roland Garros suggesting we dress warmly for the night session!!
      With a break in the weather we headed out for a coffee. Found a lovely cafe with outdoor seating and enjoyed a Cafe Gourmand. Espresso and 4 different sweet treats. They were fruit salad, chocolate mousse, pink panna cotta in gorgeous little pots and 2 Madeleines on the side. On the way home we bought panini and wraps for dinner at the tennis tonight.
      Dressed in warm clothes and wet weather gear in the bag, we headed to RG by Uber. Gates opened at 630pm for the night session. Queues were already forming at 545pm when we arrived having already been through a bag check. 615pm they let us in which was exciting. We headed straight to the merchandise shop then saw that Alex DeMinaur was playing on court 6 so headed there instead! We were not the only Aussies cheering! Into the 2nd set it poured and poured....15mins later all over and the sun came out even though it was 730pm. Fascinating watching the process of mopping up the water, taking off the covers and readying the court for play. De Minaur won in 3 which was exciting. Court Philippe-Chatrier was our next stop to see Gael Monfils play Lorenzo Musetti. Our seats were considered restricted viewing but we were happy with the view of the court. Much better than our seats at the US Open! 3 sets and Musetti had won even with the very one sided crowd. Monfils was out played. Fun to have been in centre court and experience the vastness, noise and energy. All over by 11pm so we hit Le Grande Boutique to do our shopping. 2 storeys of merchandise...overwhelming! However, I did manage to buy a cap, keyring, towel and tshirt!!! Peter bought a cap.
      Uber home tired but happy and it had stopped raining!!!
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    • Dzień 6

      Pt. 3 of Paris

      30 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      Part 3 Paris photos!

      -The stairwell in our hotel
      -Our breakfast buffet (and fresh squeezed apple juice... I had 3 glasses.)
      -I found out that there was a train gate named after the Queer icon, Josephine Baker, just down the street so we visited (yes... I had to buy tickets just for this picture lol).
      -We went to the Catacombs and it was way more intense than I was expecting. Pictures to follow....
      -The RER we are on has cherubs on the roof.
      -Enjoy this video of the way the hallways are laid out in the hotel we stayed at and how the lights are at each door for you to turn on the lights in the hallways.
      -I have determined that everyone in Europe can either juggle, play the accordion, or both. I have yet to see someone do it simultaneously though. This was fantastic entertainment.
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    • Dzień 5

      Day 4

      27 maja, Francja ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

      After a late night from Moulin Rouge, we had a quiet morning washing and planning our next few days, in particular how to get to Monet's garden in Giverny tomorrow!
      Cooler today and overcast. The cranes across the road were up and running today as were the military helicopters doing low altitude exercises along the Seine.
      The need for a good coffee finally got us moving. We walked in a different direction today along the Seine. A totally different part of Paris. With supplies from the Carrefours the local supermarket and a bottle of gin we went to find lunch. The rain had started so we stopped at the first restaurant we saw. Yummy food and great coffee.
      With happy tummies and the rain stopped, we headed home to watch Rafael Nadal play in potentially his last match at Roland Garros. He played well but Zverev was the better player and beat him in 3 sets. Both were very gracious in their post match interviews. We witnessed the end of an era!!
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    • Dzień 7

      Day 6

      29 maja, Francja ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

      Woke late to a wet and cold day. We had a quiet morning in unit after our long day yesterday.
      Yummy panini and coffee at a Boulangerie around the corner, some grocery shopping and home. Still raining with a few breaks and 14 degrees!!
      Mid afternoon we walked to Billancourt, our closest Metro, bought a pack of 10 tickets (carnet), worked out how to access the gates and the rest was easy. Sadly the rain did not stop so walking along the Champs Elysees was not quite as spectacular as I had hoped. Nevertherless we persevered up towards the Arc de Triomphe, taking photos in the middle of the road and admiring the designer label shops. The Gucci shop must be used to the rain because all the beautiful shopping bags had plastic covers specifically made to fit the bags!!
      Hot chocolates and coffee along the Champs Elysees were a must but sadly inside. We did warm up and dry off! From here we continued down towards Place de la Concorde then right to the Seine over Pont Alexandre III. This bridge is going to be part of the 2024 Paris Olympics at the end of July as there was a grand stand already set up and only pedestrians were allowed over it. As it was still raining we found a pop up bar on the Seine and had glass of bubbles or 2! Walked over 10000 steps so we had earned our bubbles not that we needed an excuse!!
      Our sunset dinner cruise started at 9pm....we were starving...3 course dinner which was lovely as we cruised towards past the Musee d'Orsay and Notre Dame. My first time seeing it after the fire. We were hoping to have a look through but it is opening in December. The boat turned around and we headed to the Eiffel tower. It was lit up and looked amazing. Many many photos were taken and you can see the rain drops on the camera lens! Lots of fun and laughs.
      Another late night as we caught the Metro home and walked the streets to our apartment....130am is way past my bedtime!!
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    • Dzień 9

      Day 8 Sacre Coeur and Montmarte

      31 maja, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

      Another very slow morning after getting home late from Roland Garros. I think we were all exhausted after a few busy days and especially the nights. Woke to clouds and no rain...very exciting.
      Metro 9 from Billancourt to Saint Augustin then Metro 12 to Abesses which is the closest station to Montmarte. Enjoyed a yummy Italian lunch and coffee before sightseeing. We continued down the road following the masses towards the funricular up to Sacre Coeur. Our first real experience being with all the tourists in narrow streets and lots of tourist shops! Chris climbed the stairs to Sacre Coeur while Janet, Peter and I caught the furnicular up. Then the rain came again!! Even so, we enjoyed walking around Sacre Ceour and listening to the bells toll. Umbrellas up and battling the crowds, we wandered through Montmarte and saw the painters doing portraits and caricatores. Many cafes and restaurants all around the outside with people taking refuge from the rain. We headed down side streets admiring the houses before heading back down. The rain had slowed so we walked down through the park in front of Sacre Coeur. At the bottom was the carousel that the children had gone on in 2008!! We settled into a cafe for a well earned Aperol while watching the passing crowds and looking up at Sacre Coeur...as you do!!
      Walked back to the station but got distracted. Firstly for the most amazing ice cream, then Pylones, a shop that is full of colour and wonderful things! Bought a gorgeous scarf in bright pinks and blues. Look out for it in tomorrow's photos. Then we found the 'Paris Duck Shop'!!! In we went...bought Stephen a rubik cube duck...couldn't resist!
      Finally made it to the train and home via the supermarket for more cheese, crackers and chips! Gin and tonics all round with bubbles to follow!!
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    • Dzień 6

      Day 5 Monet's house and garden

      28 maja, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

      Early start this morning as Monet's garden and house is in Giverny which is 74km west of Paris. Sadly it was drizzling so not looking promising but fingers crossed. After an uber to Saint Lazare station, driving past the Arc de Triomphe on the way, we caught the TER to Vernon Giverny. Actually it took the 4 of us and 2 ticket machines to work out the tickets so we could board the train, then we sat in 1st class without realising until the guard suggested we move or pay the extra fee!! An hour later we followed the masses to find transport to the gardens.
      From the carpark, it was an easy walk to the gardens past souvenir shops and cafes. Once inside the you could smell the roses and perfume from the other flowers in bloom. We headed straight to the Lily pond! Along the way the flowers were out and everything was very green as it had been raining. Luckily it stopped for us to walk around! The colours were amazing and the gardens just how I had imagined. Many many photos of beautiful flowers later, we stood on 'the bridge' posing with all the other tourists. Meandering along another path we came to Monet's house. Again, magnificent greenery and colour with raindrops still on the petals and leaves. The blue tiles in the kitchen were stunning as were the copper pots hanging up. The gift shop called followed by more of the gardens as we walked back to the shuttle for the station and train back to Paris.
      Yummy Italian dinner next door for 4 weary travellers!
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    • Dzień 10

      Day 9 Notre Dame

      Wczoraj, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

      Woke to no rain just overcast and 13 degrees. Umbrellas packed just in case!!
      Metro 9 to Strasbourg Saint Denis then Metro 4 to Cite. Cite is on the island with Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelel. 2 minute walk to Notre Dame. Hoarding in front but there is a viewing platform. Still as breathtaking as ever just not how I remembered it!! Great to see and take photos though. Sadly we didn't get to go in as it doesn't reopen until December. Crossed the river into the St Germain area for lunch. Omelettes all round with coffee and yummy crumble for dessert. Then it started raining. We had been so lucky until now.
      Luxembourg gardens was next stop despite the rain. Everything was very green and some flowers were still in bloom. It was nice to see the pond with the ducks swimming not skating on the ice as they were in December 2008 when we were here with the children. Also seeing the statues as they were not boarded up. The rain was relentess as we walked towards Pont Neuf through more narrow streets, past many quaint shops interspersed with tourist ones. The Seine was flowing and we could see Notre Dame from Pont Neuf. Metro 7 was in our sights so we headed home. With more tonic, cheese and chips in the bag, we sat and watched Zverev battle it out with Griekspoor from the
      Netherlands. After a tight 5 set match with a 10 point tiebreak Zverev won 10-3.
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