Day 3
Yesterday was not enough. We managed to do a lot today as well.
Slept late and skipped breakfast. Headed for the Eiffel Tower via Metro. Got there at about 10:30 and bought a ticket for the top. The view was spectacular – the weather a perfect 75 and sunny. You can see every sight in Paris from the top.
Slept late and skipped breakfast. Headed for the Eiffel Tower via Metro. Got there at about 10:30 and bought a ticket for the top. The view was spectacular – the weather a perfect 75 and sunny. You can see every sight in Paris from the top.
Strolled around the Champs de Mars and took some photos. Then headed back to home base.
After a brief respite, we took a boat cruise on the Seine, which gave us a chance to rest and was very scenic. Took lots of photos.
Afterwards, went to the top floor of the Samaritaine department store, where there is an observation deck. Jill looked for a souvenir pocketbook, but decided against it since there was nothing under $200.
The exchange rate is poor right now for the dollar – everything is very expensive. Burger King’s ads brag about a burger, fries and Coke for the equivalent of $6. Our hotel is $170 a night, and it’s hard to get a good dinner for less than $50. It should be cheaper once we hit the road.
After the Samaritaine we Metro’d to Montmartre. The surrounding area was a little too blue collar for Jill’s taste, and it was very touristy. However, there were some quiet streets where I got a few photos. Sacre-Coeur church was also quite splendid.
When we got back to the hotel we realized that the Louvre won’t be open tomorrow but that it is open tonight until 10. We hurried over around 7:30 – 8:00, but unfortunately discovered only one wing is open – and none of the “must-sees” are in it.
We entered anyway, and spent about 1 ½ hours looking at 17th c. art, sculpture and the old medieval Louvre walls. The place is really amazing inside and looks nothing like what you would expect fro the outside – quite modern and large spaces.
Saw some Reubens, but few other artists I recognized- but I’m no art critic. By this time we were pretty tired and getting hungry, so we left. Saw the pyramid, illuminated, from the outside. The space below is very well done, but we both think the above-ground structure is an interesting mistake.
Dragged ourselves back to St. Germain and sat down to dinner at Muniche, which got 13 toques in our Gault Millau guide. We both ate from the 125F prix fixe menu and skipped wine. (Ed. Note: egads!) Dave – oysters, steak and sorbet, Jill – Shrimp / avocado salad (sans shrimp), roasted chicken and raspberry mousse. I liked my sorbet and oysters, the steak was ok. The staff was friendly, despite the fact that we needed some help with menu translations.
Jill’s packing and groaning (along with the elevator), our window is open, and there are bells in the distance. (Well, there were 10 minutes ago.)
I’ve finally caught up with the diary – tomorrow we leave for Versailles- but not till I see the inside of Notre Dame. In the a.m., we exchange Jill’s blow dryer (now that the one from the German trip works), and we buy a couple of Eiffel Towers (3”, not full size!)
I must say almost everyone in Paris has been very friendly. I can almost get along in my poor French, and I think the effort helps. The food has been good but not great – maybe because we don’t want to spend $400 on a meal.
So far so good!
Day 4 >>>
After a brief respite, we took a boat cruise on the Seine, which gave us a chance to rest and was very scenic. Took lots of photos.
Afterwards, went to the top floor of the Samaritaine department store, where there is an observation deck. Jill looked for a souvenir pocketbook, but decided against it since there was nothing under $200.
The exchange rate is poor right now for the dollar – everything is very expensive. Burger King’s ads brag about a burger, fries and Coke for the equivalent of $6. Our hotel is $170 a night, and it’s hard to get a good dinner for less than $50. It should be cheaper once we hit the road.
After the Samaritaine we Metro’d to Montmartre. The surrounding area was a little too blue collar for Jill’s taste, and it was very touristy. However, there were some quiet streets where I got a few photos. Sacre-Coeur church was also quite splendid.
When we got back to the hotel we realized that the Louvre won’t be open tomorrow but that it is open tonight until 10. We hurried over around 7:30 – 8:00, but unfortunately discovered only one wing is open – and none of the “must-sees” are in it.
We entered anyway, and spent about 1 ½ hours looking at 17th c. art, sculpture and the old medieval Louvre walls. The place is really amazing inside and looks nothing like what you would expect fro the outside – quite modern and large spaces.
Saw some Reubens, but few other artists I recognized- but I’m no art critic. By this time we were pretty tired and getting hungry, so we left. Saw the pyramid, illuminated, from the outside. The space below is very well done, but we both think the above-ground structure is an interesting mistake.
Dragged ourselves back to St. Germain and sat down to dinner at Muniche, which got 13 toques in our Gault Millau guide. We both ate from the 125F prix fixe menu and skipped wine. (Ed. Note: egads!) Dave – oysters, steak and sorbet, Jill – Shrimp / avocado salad (sans shrimp), roasted chicken and raspberry mousse. I liked my sorbet and oysters, the steak was ok. The staff was friendly, despite the fact that we needed some help with menu translations.
Jill’s packing and groaning (along with the elevator), our window is open, and there are bells in the distance. (Well, there were 10 minutes ago.)
I’ve finally caught up with the diary – tomorrow we leave for Versailles- but not till I see the inside of Notre Dame. In the a.m., we exchange Jill’s blow dryer (now that the one from the German trip works), and we buy a couple of Eiffel Towers (3”, not full size!)
I must say almost everyone in Paris has been very friendly. I can almost get along in my poor French, and I think the effort helps. The food has been good but not great – maybe because we don’t want to spend $400 on a meal.
So far so good!
Day 4 >>>