Paris in Earnest

After a leisurely breakfast in the hotel, we wandered over to catch the Open Bus Tours at stop 17 on the blue line. Which was only across the way from the hotel. Along with the subway which we will put to good use later in the trip.

With the sun doing it’s best to peek through we set off to explore Paris. It was a little chilly when bus moving but otherwise the weather is fine and definitely not too cold.

After couple hours on the blue line going around all the main sites we headed back to the room (stop 17) right near the hotel for a lunch of ham, tomato and cheese we purchased yesterday with a welcome cup tea me and coffee for mum.

We added another layer and headed back out to do the red loop on the bus which takes in Moulin Rouge, Sacrae Cur Gard De Nord (main station, and where Eurostar leaves for London) again we stayed on board and listened to the commentary. Arrived back at the room again at 3:30pm decided too early for dinner so decided on a rest before dinner. Both slept again until too late for dinner so it was a non event but we were not hungry and had plenty of fruit etc.

Paris and cruising the Siene

Next day dawned as check out day and we were due to catch a train to Rennes where we will pick up a car for the next week. After checking out and a very leisurely breakfast we set off to do a cruise on the Siene and visit Notre Dame. The cruise was great glad we started early on Paris terms as it got very busy later in the day. We did the full loop and gain a different perspective of many of the major sites from the river such as Louvre, Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower.

We left the boat at Notre Dame stop and wandered around the grounds. Decided against lining up in a very long line to go inside opted for a steak lunch instead of in a little place where we had eaten on a previous trip to Paris. It was good and the staff very friendly and helpful. After lunch it time to find the bus again and complete the green line and return to the hotel for the bags.

Our train was scheduled for 16:52 and we got a taxi to Montpasse station in plenty of time to allow for working out what we needed to do. Just as well, the whole place under renovation so took a bit to sort out where we needed to be. When the platform was announced we walked the length of the train (I swear we walked halfway to Rennes to find our carriage and seats.) managed to get the bags stored away and collapsed in the seat to enjoy/sleep 1h 30m trip.