Monday, 16 September 2019
Paris...last day of our trip.
Today was a tourist day...or as much as we can in 8 hours or so! Tony wanted to visit the Arc de Triomphe, last visit being 1978. We bought a day pass for the Metro and kept the network map handy.
We chanced upon the right exit at the Arc’s closest station as it was one of those emerge -from -the -stairs moments and there it was. Loved by the bus loads, but still an imposing presence. Despite the umpteen steps, Tony tested his knee and climbed to the top. The views are a treat.
After musing over the spread of Paris, we moved on. Actually hungry by now and found a classy Salon de Thé near Le Concorde, after catching the train there. Despite the sweet temptations, we ate a salad!!! Tony was interested in the route of the final day of Le Tour. So having seen the Champs Élysées and the roundabout at Le Concorde the next Tour’s finale will mean a bit more.
Next was the forlorn Notre Dame. From the front she looks clean and normal, but oh so sad from the bank of La Seine. We leaned on a barrier and watched mesmerised by the workers moving so carefully around the vast scaffolding. Those “Flying Buttresses” are well and truly reinforced by chunks of oak. Cannot imagine the experience required by the engineering team. I remember that stopping the structure from falling in on itself was the first major priority. The Cathedral is still a tourist magnet, unfortunately for sadder reasons.
Tony returned to the hotel as he declined my invitation to wander La Cimitiere Pere Lachaise. It was only a few stations away and I wanted to seek out the memorial to Oscar Wilde. I have always thought that his demise in Victorian society was disgraceful, if not a reflection on the era. So after a lot of wandering, I found it. A little sad that the site is such a popular one that the family have surrounded the memorial by reinforced glass.
After 5 most varied weeks, we fly home tomorrow. We both now have more understanding of regions that had been relatively unknown to us. Tony has had times of exhilarating fun on the bikes, but also some tiring days and annoyance with technology! Hats off to his skills. I always felt safe.
It has been an adventurous holiday, time now to return home, to return to familiar routine and do very little for a while. Thanks for reading and a special thanks to my comment-tators. Cheers K and T xx
We chanced upon the right exit at the Arc’s closest station as it was one of those emerge -from -the -stairs moments and there it was. Loved by the bus loads, but still an imposing presence. Despite the umpteen steps, Tony tested his knee and climbed to the top. The views are a treat.
After musing over the spread of Paris, we moved on. Actually hungry by now and found a classy Salon de Thé near Le Concorde, after catching the train there. Despite the sweet temptations, we ate a salad!!! Tony was interested in the route of the final day of Le Tour. So having seen the Champs Élysées and the roundabout at Le Concorde the next Tour’s finale will mean a bit more.
Next was the forlorn Notre Dame. From the front she looks clean and normal, but oh so sad from the bank of La Seine. We leaned on a barrier and watched mesmerised by the workers moving so carefully around the vast scaffolding. Those “Flying Buttresses” are well and truly reinforced by chunks of oak. Cannot imagine the experience required by the engineering team. I remember that stopping the structure from falling in on itself was the first major priority. The Cathedral is still a tourist magnet, unfortunately for sadder reasons.
Tony returned to the hotel as he declined my invitation to wander La Cimitiere Pere Lachaise. It was only a few stations away and I wanted to seek out the memorial to Oscar Wilde. I have always thought that his demise in Victorian society was disgraceful, if not a reflection on the era. So after a lot of wandering, I found it. A little sad that the site is such a popular one that the family have surrounded the memorial by reinforced glass.
After 5 most varied weeks, we fly home tomorrow. We both now have more understanding of regions that had been relatively unknown to us. Tony has had times of exhilarating fun on the bikes, but also some tiring days and annoyance with technology! Hats off to his skills. I always felt safe.
It has been an adventurous holiday, time now to return home, to return to familiar routine and do very little for a while. Thanks for reading and a special thanks to my comment-tators. Cheers K and T xx
Sunday, 15 September 2019
Pentultimate Paris
A slick early journey to the Barcelona airport, where the rot set in. Our original arrival here was marred by inadequate passport systems and now departure,through Air France, was worse. We lined up for the personal service only to be firmly directed to the “Quick Check-In” machines. Forty minutes later and with 2 malfunctioning machines, we defiantly lined up with The Person. We were joined by a bevy of equally disgruntled passengers. As there seemed to be several passengers that had ticket issues even with The Person, we put ourselves in two different lines to see who could be served first. Finally through and thumbs up to our fellow annoyed -people who were pleased that at least one of us was on their way. Security flowed well and arrival in Paris was slick as most of our fellow passengers had connecting flights so there were few people collecting baggage. Forty minute taxi to our small hotel.
After a hot and correct-strength coffee with a fresh bruschetta, we began to wander. Parisians were enjoying their day off, outside of their apartments. We just happened to reach the St Martin Canal as cruise boats were negotiating the locks and the swing bridges. Watching the entertainment was a thing to do. So was les glaces. The afternoon stroll revealed activities for everyone...children’s games, sand pits, enjoying the water play, painting. For the next generations there was skateboarding, youth building their muscles at park equipment, couples playing pétanque while sipping a beer, permanent table tennis tables, checker games and even the time for that favourite French pastime, a demonstration. This one was against the military regime in Algeria.
On the tourist side I walked to both Place de Republique and Bastille. The latter, with its grand modern Opera House, was a far cry from the smaller less congested meeting place where Lorraine and I celebrated NYE in 1973. I also found Place Des Vosges. True, the architectural design had that French appeal, but the revelation was the internal park area that was CROWDED with those wanting to relax on a patch of grass.
By the time we sought dinner, it was 7.45 and places were busy. We opted for a pleasant Japanese restaurant. A sleep-in tomorrow.
After a hot and correct-strength coffee with a fresh bruschetta, we began to wander. Parisians were enjoying their day off, outside of their apartments. We just happened to reach the St Martin Canal as cruise boats were negotiating the locks and the swing bridges. Watching the entertainment was a thing to do. So was les glaces. The afternoon stroll revealed activities for everyone...children’s games, sand pits, enjoying the water play, painting. For the next generations there was skateboarding, youth building their muscles at park equipment, couples playing pétanque while sipping a beer, permanent table tennis tables, checker games and even the time for that favourite French pastime, a demonstration. This one was against the military regime in Algeria.
On the tourist side I walked to both Place de Republique and Bastille. The latter, with its grand modern Opera House, was a far cry from the smaller less congested meeting place where Lorraine and I celebrated NYE in 1973. I also found Place Des Vosges. True, the architectural design had that French appeal, but the revelation was the internal park area that was CROWDED with those wanting to relax on a patch of grass.
By the time we sought dinner, it was 7.45 and places were busy. We opted for a pleasant Japanese restaurant. A sleep-in tomorrow.
Saturday, 14 September 2019
To the coast and Barcelona Nine Ten
A couple of days to catch up on and the end of our Pyrenees travels.
We have had a couple of pleasant surprises in our last two days on the road.
Leaving the Puigcerda and its lonely belltower, we once again hit the mountains. We were accompanied by many early morning cyclists and bikers, all trying to be on the road before the traffic. Once again the hills were pristine, no wonder that we have seen several mineral water enterprises. Makes you laugh though...surely this lovely water is going into their own catchments, and are they taking it unadulterated from these clear streams and immediately pouring it into a bottle?!A few queries there. Hope the cows with bells are not too near the streams.
Previously, At Arties, we met some Spanish riders. They suggested that we make a diversion to Cap de Creus because it was beautiful! Heading to the coast today, we did just that. The Cap consisted of the harshest terrain so far..cactus and rocks. We could also see quite early that this was going to be one of those white-washed popular coves overrun with people. Not our idea of beautiful. It was also very warm. I know...snow a couple of days ago. Nearly as bad as Melbourne weather. HOWEVER, its saving grace was ...it turned out to be the home town of Salvador Dali!! We happened to lunch next to a lovely retired French couple who told us all about the Dali connection. Although tickets for entry into the house were unattainable for that day...of course...we managed to peak at the exterior, with its out-there silver heads and egg shapes on the roof. Our accomm for that night was also an unexpected delight. A lovely cove within the pine trees, NOT overrun by too many visitors. Drinks overlooking the cove was special.
So to our final day on the bike. We wandered the coast road that borders the Costa Brava. So many people on bicycles and on many purpose- built paths. We quickly found ourselves on a cliff-hugging road that at that hour of the morning was shared with the die-hard cyclists and bikers. Special clifftop views, but also more lovely coves besieged by humanity.
Our final mountain leg took us to the summit of a range very popular with hikers. We stopped at the eatery. What a find. A family-run affair offering simple local dishes and produce. My asparagus was nearly white with freshness and Tony learned to rub his toast with a cut garlic before adding the rich red tomato slices. The place was hopping as cyclists, bikers and hikers kept moving through.
And so finally to Barcelona. A spirited highway run back to our original hotel. Tony was very pleased to return the bike unscathed. Tomorrow we fly to Paris. A small French fix for me! 😊
We have had a couple of pleasant surprises in our last two days on the road.
Leaving the Puigcerda and its lonely belltower, we once again hit the mountains. We were accompanied by many early morning cyclists and bikers, all trying to be on the road before the traffic. Once again the hills were pristine, no wonder that we have seen several mineral water enterprises. Makes you laugh though...surely this lovely water is going into their own catchments, and are they taking it unadulterated from these clear streams and immediately pouring it into a bottle?!A few queries there. Hope the cows with bells are not too near the streams.
Previously, At Arties, we met some Spanish riders. They suggested that we make a diversion to Cap de Creus because it was beautiful! Heading to the coast today, we did just that. The Cap consisted of the harshest terrain so far..cactus and rocks. We could also see quite early that this was going to be one of those white-washed popular coves overrun with people. Not our idea of beautiful. It was also very warm. I know...snow a couple of days ago. Nearly as bad as Melbourne weather. HOWEVER, its saving grace was ...it turned out to be the home town of Salvador Dali!! We happened to lunch next to a lovely retired French couple who told us all about the Dali connection. Although tickets for entry into the house were unattainable for that day...of course...we managed to peak at the exterior, with its out-there silver heads and egg shapes on the roof. Our accomm for that night was also an unexpected delight. A lovely cove within the pine trees, NOT overrun by too many visitors. Drinks overlooking the cove was special.
So to our final day on the bike. We wandered the coast road that borders the Costa Brava. So many people on bicycles and on many purpose- built paths. We quickly found ourselves on a cliff-hugging road that at that hour of the morning was shared with the die-hard cyclists and bikers. Special clifftop views, but also more lovely coves besieged by humanity.
Our final mountain leg took us to the summit of a range very popular with hikers. We stopped at the eatery. What a find. A family-run affair offering simple local dishes and produce. My asparagus was nearly white with freshness and Tony learned to rub his toast with a cut garlic before adding the rich red tomato slices. The place was hopping as cyclists, bikers and hikers kept moving through.
And so finally to Barcelona. A spirited highway run back to our original hotel. Tony was very pleased to return the bike unscathed. Tomorrow we fly to Paris. A small French fix for me! 😊
Thursday, 12 September 2019
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