Paris in the Spring time!

Apologies for the delay in getting this updated - for some reason there was a crisis with the autosave option and it kept cancelling what I had done. One was not amused! Still, it all seems to be okay now...so, where was I?

Ah, yes....the final part of our continental jaunt and our last chance to experience driving with Hugues, although it must be said that both Rachel and I were quite happy to let the other one drive that leg. In the end though, Rachel stepped up to the challenge and off we went. It was all going smoothly until we hit roadworks on the ring road and then became slightly disoriented with the unhelpful signage (how French!), but we did eventually make it to the Gare SNCF - once we had found the Avis office tucked in a corner and determined exactly where to abandon Hugues. In total we drove 758kms over the three days - not bad and the scenery was so beautiful in many places. It was nice there!!!!

Having safely handed over Hugues' key, we then discovered that there was a strike happening that day as the transport people took the opportunity to vent their frustration at Sarkozy's retirement/pension overhaul. This meant that instead of taking our planned train, we were able to 'enjoy the ambience' of Rouen's station for almost three hours, watching the riot police strolling back and forth looking for trouble, imbibing café créme and eating baguettes stuffed full of camembert, and of course, then there was the expected bunfight to get on the train with all of the luggage. This was easier than expected for the hour-long journey into Paris' Gare St Lazare on the double decker train which afforded good views over the countryside. Cathryn even spotted Monet's Giverny as we passed through Vernon.

Our arrival into the city also brought our penultimate trudge with all of the baggage. Thank heavens - I think we were all a bit over the backpacks by then, especially since Rachel and I had been moving every day or so with them for over six weeks by that stage. Eventually we made our way to the hotel that Rachel had booked a few days before over the internet (after a nice guy at the bistrot on the corner interrupted his lunch to point us in the right direction), only to discover that the hotel in question had cancelled our booking and it was full anyway. This was despite our confirmation of the booking. Hmmm.....still, it was all sorted out in the end after some tense moments and we were soon ensconced next door at the four star Le Petit Manoir instead.

Finally we were able to set off on a promenade through the city, starting with Galleries Lafayette to see if Rachel needed to purchase her 'Empire' Gien plates. She was strong though - backpacker fatigue had well and truly set in making the thought of more fragile things to carry quite unpalatable. She did point out the gorgeous dessert plates which I will add to my never-ending list of things to purchase since you can never have too many of such items. Next we stopped in Printemps for an overdue coffee, then we caught a sardine style Metro to Montmatre for a stroll around the vineyard, Sacré Coeur and the Place du Tertre. We bought crépes from the little 'hole in the wall' for dinner and wound our way on foot back to the hotel, stopping at the bistrot where the man had earlier helped with directions to have large beers (as a delayed reaction to dropping off Hugues) and Rachel indulged in a créme brulée. Back in the hotel, the evening ended with us being sucked into watching some of Eurovision, including a snippet of Spain's 'Chicky chicky' song. Truly frightening!!!

Our last day on the continent involved the obligatory coffee stop at the Café de Flore (not de Ceiling as Dad remembers it by) on Boulevard St Germain, a final indulgence at the Fragonard shop, a closer look at the gargoyles on Notre Dame, a walk along the Seine down to the Champs Élysées and back along the Rue du Rivoli, and finally, a quick trip back to Montmatre to check out the cafe used in Amélie. Phew!!! And that was all before the final trek to the Gare du Nord to catch our Eurostar to London - First Class of course! The journey naturally included being served tea - with a choice of a hot or cold meal (chicken with couscous or a cheese selection), and the time passed rather quickly. Before too long we were arriving in the new fandangled St Pancras Station which only opened a few months ago and then took a cab to the Ridgemount (£5 for the cab vs £12 on the Tube - go figure their extortionate pricing system!). Mr and Mrs Reese are just the same, and our room overlooks the back garden so it's nice and quiet.

Being pushed for time and given that it was a perfect evening, we dumped the gear and headed down along Charing Cross Road (via the Fish Man in Leicester Square) to the Eye. Sadly, it closed for tickets just as we got there so it will have to wait for another day. Instead we stopped at Pizza Express for a late dinner before returning to the Ridgemount for more compulsive Eurovision viewing. Hmmm....