When
London Sister first suggested Paris as a possible destination for our
weekend break I was ever so slightly underwhelmed despite never
having set foot in France in my entire life - not even to Lourdes or
Calais. I'm not sure why this was but perhaps it might have been that
I had seen so much of the city in films that I was under the
impression I'd already been there. But that turned out to be the most
exciting thing. For, like London and (I suspect) New York, Paris
seems terribly familiar and yet, like London, it is even more
exciting to see it for real. And now that I've been there and come
home again I cannot wait to return.
On
the Saturday we bought 3-day Metro tickets and headed to the Place de
la Concorde and the Jardin des Tuileries. The weather was delightful,
sunny, balmy, Spring at least three weeks ahead of Ireland. We
checked out the Louvre but it was far too lovely a day to hang about
in queues and then be indoors. The Louvre isn't going away. Another
time.
Just wandering around, taking in the
sights, walking by the Seine,
enjoying Spring. That was enough for me. In the afternoon we went to
La promenade
plantée, which is
an elevated planted
area follows
an old
railway line. We
walked its entire length for
LS and I are both
very keen on gardens and plants. Over
30,000 steps we
walked that day. Tired
and happy. That
evening we dined well
in the Quartier
Pigalle and
later that
night we were asleep
before our heads
touched our pillows.
A great day indeed.
Everywhere there were brides having their photographs taken, on the Seine, by the Seine, by churches beside the Seine.
Next: A very unfortunate incident on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
