After a fantastic time in the French Alps staying with Aveen, Pascal and Ciaran - thanks a million for a great week, fab food and wonderful homemade bread- we headed for Paris on the trains arriving at Paris Lyon station to the hustle and bustle that is Paris. Managed the Metro to get to our hotel right in the middle of the old Latin Quarters of Paris cluttered with restaurants and bars around the narrow street. Found we were only a short walk or bike ride from most of the attractions such as Notra Dame, Eiffel Tower Louve and the Arc Triumpe. The velibs system once mastered was a great way to get around. The cars tended to giveway and we never felt in danger. Spent a few nights doing the romantic walks along the river Seine, picnicked on the walk bridge overlooking the Eiffel Tower and the Seine. We walked for km's. Actually stayed in the hotel used by the three muskiteers in their day. It had real character and certainly has been there for several centuries.
After three days it was time to move on back to the peace and quiet of the countryside. Picked up our rental car from the Paris Lyon train station and headed for the northwest to the Normandy/Brittany area, being the home of beautiful estates and chateaus, lovely homestays and B and Bs. We are staying in a lovely pension just out of Alencol in the countryside. We are treated to all the finer things of life and it feels like stepping back 100 years or more. The breakfasts are out of this world.
Who ever said the French are not nice people. Only cannot speak more highly of them. Yesterday we were fulling the rental car with gas. The system was automated and required my credit card for payment but the machine would not accept it. The guy in the other bay saw our problem and offered to use his card and we reimbursed him in cash. Also yesterday I went walking in a native bush reserve and got lost. I asked this family having dinner in their home for directions in my best French but could not understand their directions so their young daughter and son showed me the way, some kms from where I was. As a non speaking French, the French are great.
Plan to head to Britainy tomorrow to stay with friends before heading to Lyon and me to Slovenia and Kay back to NZ
No comments:
Post a Comment