Tonight we were bused to Montmatre for an explore before having dinner at a restaurant "La Bonne Franquette" DH and I chose the Escargots for entree, I enjoyed the Leg of duck with orange sauce where as DH had French Beef Stew. Red and white wine bottles were placed on the table for our use or beer/soft drink was available as well.
Cobblestoned walkways and roads made walking a challenge but we both came back to the hotel unscathed. We were dropped off at the Moulen Rouge theatre where we alighted what is called a "little choo-choo train" which took us up the steep roads to the pictureesque hill of Montmartre. Once at the top we explored the artist's quarter and Sacre Coeur. The views from the front of this beautiful church over Paris are stunning.
After dinner we caught the Funicular back down the hill to the awaiting bus. All around this area were signs highlighting 'pickpockets' were very active. It gave us a feeling of being targeted which I will assume will continue all the while we are in Europe. I just hope we maintain a good level of personal security.
Continuing our cruising experiences....World Cruise, Asia, Mediterranean, Baltics', South Pacific, Indian Ocean, Australia and New Zealand
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Day 2 Paris City sightseeing and a Seine River cruise
Great weather...actually perfect for sightseeing. We were up at what I considered a reasonable time, however in Paris a 8.15am start is considered VERY early. This worked in our favour as the roads were reasonably easy to navigate and the tourists were, I think, only starting to get out and about. We had a large 44 seater bus pick us up from our hotel, there are 21 of us who are staying at this particular hotel in Montparnasse, apparently there is another similar sized group staying in a hotel in another district. We were given a brillient orientation of the city.
First stop being the Hotel de Invalides. We travelled past Rodin's Museum, Place de Concord, past the Tulleries, Opera house, Le Louvre, Pantheon, Luxembourg Garden, Military School, Eiffel Tower before embarking on an hour Seine River cruise. After the cruise we were driven along the Champs Elysees after stopping at the Arc de Triomphe to watch the traffic weave around each other. We witnessed some incredible French driving skills. Bravo!
First stop being the Hotel de Invalides. We travelled past Rodin's Museum, Place de Concord, past the Tulleries, Opera house, Le Louvre, Pantheon, Luxembourg Garden, Military School, Eiffel Tower before embarking on an hour Seine River cruise. After the cruise we were driven along the Champs Elysees after stopping at the Arc de Triomphe to watch the traffic weave around each other. We witnessed some incredible French driving skills. Bravo!
Friday, September 11, 2015
Singapore to Paris
Singapore to Paris
We travelled with Singapore Airlines in the Business Class section. Wow-wee. What a utterly pure indulgence! No wonder it costs so much as the benefits are plenty. For us, this experience probably will not be repeated once we return home but we are living in the moment.
We were met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in Montparnasse. As our room would not ready for us till the afternoon, we headed off to the Montparnasse Tower Observarory, just a 15 mins walk. It cost Euro 15 each, to visit the 2 floors. First being 56th and the highest is 59th. The views are exceptional, taking in a full 360 degree vista of Paris. I should also mention the weather is ideal, warmish (20 C) but most importantly the skies clear. When the lift stopped at the 56th floor, we waited, thinking it continued to the 59th. No, not to be, we had to climb the last 3 flights. DH almost freaked out.......but he managed to get gold stars from me for the stair climb. The effort was well worth it. I saw several people drinking champagne on the open top deck in small plastic glasses wthout a stem. DH saw the prices were E12 and/or E15 for a glass. We had been drinking champagne since arriving at Singapore Airport all the way to Paris (Business Class privelege!), so we were both champagned out!
On the way be to our hotel and lunch in a little Pariseene restaurant, we walked through a garden which sits over the Gare Montparnasse called Atlantis. It has been designed to look like the Atlantic Ocean by incorporating grasses and plants which move in the breezes, representing the waves and other water movement. There are several sculptures which are shaped to look like large waves. It is quite effective.
That night we meet everyone from our tour group in a meet and greet, before heading off to bed for a much needed sleep.
We travelled with Singapore Airlines in the Business Class section. Wow-wee. What a utterly pure indulgence! No wonder it costs so much as the benefits are plenty. For us, this experience probably will not be repeated once we return home but we are living in the moment.
We were met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in Montparnasse. As our room would not ready for us till the afternoon, we headed off to the Montparnasse Tower Observarory, just a 15 mins walk. It cost Euro 15 each, to visit the 2 floors. First being 56th and the highest is 59th. The views are exceptional, taking in a full 360 degree vista of Paris. I should also mention the weather is ideal, warmish (20 C) but most importantly the skies clear. When the lift stopped at the 56th floor, we waited, thinking it continued to the 59th. No, not to be, we had to climb the last 3 flights. DH almost freaked out.......but he managed to get gold stars from me for the stair climb. The effort was well worth it. I saw several people drinking champagne on the open top deck in small plastic glasses wthout a stem. DH saw the prices were E12 and/or E15 for a glass. We had been drinking champagne since arriving at Singapore Airport all the way to Paris (Business Class privelege!), so we were both champagned out!
On the way be to our hotel and lunch in a little Pariseene restaurant, we walked through a garden which sits over the Gare Montparnasse called Atlantis. It has been designed to look like the Atlantic Ocean by incorporating grasses and plants which move in the breezes, representing the waves and other water movement. There are several sculptures which are shaped to look like large waves. It is quite effective.
That night we meet everyone from our tour group in a meet and greet, before heading off to bed for a much needed sleep.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Adeaide to Singapore
Arrived in Singapore after a comfortable and good flight for our overnight stay. Our Aussie dollar is low, so our value for money wasn't with us when we spent any money in Singapore. We walked from our hotel to Clarke Quay for an ideal table sitting, overlooking the river's little tourist cruise boats travelled up and down the river, people walked alongside the embankment and the slight breezes fanned our slightly sweaty bodies whilst we enjoyed our meal.
Next day we finally found our Hop-on Hop-off bus Singapore Airlines run. There are so many buses offering the same service, we had to wait while several pulled into the stop, then buzz off when the driver realized we weren't waiting for him!
Thursday, September 3, 2015
European River Cruise. Let's see how we go.
Countdown has almost come to an end, We now have 3 more days before we fly out to Paris via an overnight stopover in Singapore. Our lives have had an incredible turnaround over the past 2 years where we both didn't know where we would be at this time. My DH woke up one morning in June 2013 virtually completely paralysed as a result of the neurological disorder; Guillian Barre Syndrome. He spent three and a half months in ICU on a ventilator and Peg fed, unable to move or talk. Then another nine months where he slowly regained control of very weak muscles, learning to walk, feed and care for himself. He came home from rehabilitation 14 months ago still very weak but determined to regain his previous abilities.
Just over 12 months ago I entered a competition for a river cruise which had been advertised in our local Sunday paper. To my incredulous surprise I had won! I was stunned with the thoughts of DH and I actually being in a position to take up this opportunity, especially at the time when I had been informed I had won, he had stopped using the electric wheelchair but reliant on a walking frame, he required a high legged chair to sit in and other aids. No way would he have been able to stand up from an aeroplane seat, walk into a shower cubical, walk down a steep flight of stairs, the list goes on. But today he has recovered sufficiently to get on that plane on Monday. We expect he will not have the energy to go on all the ships' daily tours but then it would be just as lovely to enjoy the ship and the nearby ports when it is docked.
More to come......
Just over 12 months ago I entered a competition for a river cruise which had been advertised in our local Sunday paper. To my incredulous surprise I had won! I was stunned with the thoughts of DH and I actually being in a position to take up this opportunity, especially at the time when I had been informed I had won, he had stopped using the electric wheelchair but reliant on a walking frame, he required a high legged chair to sit in and other aids. No way would he have been able to stand up from an aeroplane seat, walk into a shower cubical, walk down a steep flight of stairs, the list goes on. But today he has recovered sufficiently to get on that plane on Monday. We expect he will not have the energy to go on all the ships' daily tours but then it would be just as lovely to enjoy the ship and the nearby ports when it is docked.
More to come......
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)