Packed and up early to set off for Paris. We were all assembled downstairs at the hotel, and put onto a bus with a local Cosmos girl to go to St Pancras station. We went to Paris via Eurorail through the tunnel. First you go through the ticket barrier, then passport control. The Cosmos lady said "do Not lose your ticket!". Well, guess who dropped their ticket just after passing through the ticket barrier. *blush*. Minor panic until I was told that once I was through the barrier it was ok, and just sit in the vacant seat. The train ride was pretty boring - country side either side of channel is just flat, and uninteresting.
At the end of the platform, we met our tour director, Patricia, who is French but lives in Italy. She has an offsider, Claudia, who is learning the job. Giorgio is our Italian driver. Collected our luggage and took it out to be loaded onto our coach. Margie's bag had been ripped down the back about 6 inches during the journey. Patricia has assured her that it will be replaced during our travels.
Our hotel is Novotel La Defense, in the business district of Paris. Sadly, there is only a bed and a fold out couch in the room. My turn for the couch. Other than that, the room is nice; separate toilet and bath. Free wireless internet.
The optional tonight was a cabaret show which none of us was interested in. Margie went shopping and Alex and I decided to go to the Eiffel Tower. Our tour only has photo opportunities for the tower not a climb. We caught the Metro and walked up to the tower. All the way from the station there are African men selling, and harassing, tacky mini towers and the like. There are also many shell games trying to lure the unsuspecting in.
Despite being told there would probably be an hour long wait for just the tickets, we actually were in line for around 20 - 30 minutes. You get into a lift which takes you up to the 2nd floor. To get to the top, you then have to take another lift.
Alex went up to the top but with my 'love'of heights, I opted for the 2nd floor only. The view was amazing; all off Paris laid out before you. I wandered around looking and taking photos for a while, then got a cafe au lait and a croque monsieur and ate it looking over Paris. We were glad that we had made the effort to get there. Coming back we got off at the wrong station and had a long walk back to the hotel. It was after 9pm and still light.
No comments:
Post a Comment