A Small World
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- Joined
- Feb 22, 2007
Trip report part 3a- - Yeeha -A fistful of Euros!
Fri 21st March- Paris trip
Cast:
Me - 5th time to DLP
DH - 5th time to DLP
DD (8) - 5th time to DLP
DS (21) - 1st time to DLP but has been to WDW 3 times but not for over 10 yrs
We had decided to do a day trip to Paris on Friday 21st (Good Friday) and had decided that the easiest way was to drive to DLP, park the car there and catch the train in. We planned to try and be at DLP by 10.00ish so we went to bed in reasonable time the night before. Unfortunately during the night it absolutely poured down and anyone who has been in a caravan in the rain knows how loud it sounds. Its a lovely feeling being all snug and dry inside whilst hearing the noise outside but when you are trying to sleep its rather annoying after a while. DS mentioned the next morning that there was a large puddle outside his window and he could hear the rain all night splashing into the puddle.
Anyhow we set off only slightly later than intended and DH drove towards Soissons (the nearest large town). He then reached a roundabout and drove down the road towards Paris. We had driven from the campsite to DLP a few times so really should have known where we were going but it was only when we had been driving for about 40 minutes that we realised we had taken the wrong road. We knew exactly what we had done wrong (we shouldnt have taken the road to Paris). We didnt want to have to drive all the way back so pulled into a layby and looked at a map. We worked out which road we were on and which we should be on then I worked out which way we could go to avoid driving all the way back managing to direct DH and they say women cant read maps!!!!
Eventually we joined the A4 and were back on a familiar road. We drove into New York and parked there. It was strange doing that knowing that we werent going into the parks (we couldnt even be tempted as DSs pass couldnt be used as it was day 3).
We made our way to the station and were hit by a massive queue to buy tickets. Why were all these people going to Paris? They should be in the parks!!! We left DD and DS in the queue whilst we went to investigate the machines. We managed to get tickets from the machines (had to do it in 2 gos though once for full price tickets and once for childs reduced ticket). As soon as we got the tickets we realised our mistake we had only got single tickets. We had wanted to buy mobilis tickets to be able to use on the metro as well. We did have another look at the machine options and couldnt see a way of doing this so possible you cant get them from the machine. Never mind we at least had tickets to get there and the queue at the ticket booth had hardly moved.
We made our way down to the train and there was one there waiting. It soon set off and before we knew it we were in central Paris.
We know Paris really well and had a rough idea of where we wanted to go. We had also decided we would do a 2nd day in Paris so werent too bothered about seeing everything in one day. DS was especially pleased to be going into Paris as he was only 6 last time he went.
We had decided to get off the train at Charles de Gaulle Etoile then change lines to line 2 and go up to the Sacre Coeur and Montmatre first. As we didnt come out of the station we were able to continue to use our ticket for this change. As you exit from the RER part of the station you need to put your ticket into the machine to get out so make sure you keep hold of your ticket for the whole journey.
We got off the metro at Anvers and walked up the hill towards the Sacre Coeur you cant miss it- its right in front of you.
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It was really busy at the top of the road where the climb up the steps to the Sacre Coeur begins and there seemed to be a lot of people standing round as though watching something. We then realised because it was Good Friday there was a re-enactment going on. The main steps up to the Church were closed but the side steps were open. We climbed up (phew!!!! Its a long way) There is a funicular lift you can get (1 metro ticket or you can use your mobilis ticket if youve been sensible enough to get one) however there was a queue so we walked, stopping a few times to watch what was going on (well that was my excuse for stopping and Im sticking to it).
By now it was lunch time and we imagined all the crowds descending on the restaurants so once at the top decided to go round to Montmatre/ Place des Tetres to find a restaurant. We have eaten in Montmatre before and considering it is a tourist place you can get some very good reasonable meals. We found a lovely restaurant and as it looked as though it was about to pour down decided to go in.
DD had the 10 menu Salad, Chicken and fries, Crème Caramel.
The adults had the 19 menu. DS and I had Smoked salmon, Lamb chops with fries, I had Crème Caramel and DS had Tarte. DH had French Onion Soup, Steak with fries and Chocolate Mousse. It was delicious and exceptionally good value. We were glad we had chosen to go in when we did as we got a table really easily but it filled up very quickly afterwards. I think we had cider to drink and a coffee afterwards.
After lunch we wandered round Montmatre watching the artists. DS bought a few prints and DD a hand bag (She has got a thing about handbags and always makes a beeline for them).
We then walked round to the front of the Sacre Coeur but didnt go in. However we admired the view across Paris from the top and tried to pick out landmarks. I
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t was then down the hill (much easier than coming up) and back down to the metro at Anvers. We went one stop then changed onto line 4 where we got off at Cite as our next stop was Notre Dame.
We walked from the metro to Notre Dame (its signposted) and sat on the wall for a while admiring it and commenting on the Hidden Mickeys.
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We walked round the outside onto the other little island Isle St Louis where there is a shop which sells wonderful icecream. I cant remember exactly what flavours we all had but they were delicious. We wandered back onto Ile de la Cite eating them and through a little park at the back of Notre Dame. I love the view of the back of Notre Dame- it is so different to the front which is very square and angular.
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We then crossed the river onto the right bank and walked towards the Batobus stop.
We enjoy going on the Batobus which is literally a boat bus. There is no commentary on it like the Bateaux Mouches etc but you can get on and off as you want. The ticket you buy lasts all day. We got on at Notre Dame and the trip took us further up the river then back down the other side of Notre Dame towards the Louvre, passed Place de la Concorde towards the Eiffel Tower. It is nice to just sit there and sail down the river watching the hustle and bustle going on. I know people have queried before about whether its worth doing a river trip as you are quite low down so may not be able to see the buildings. My opinion is that it is definitely worth it. The architecture in Paris is wonderful. There are some beautiful buildings along the river and even the roofs are worth looking at.
We were going to stay on until we got back to Notre Dame again but we decided to get off at the Eiffel Tower. We got off but didnt actually go to the Tower. Instead we walked across the river and up to Trocadero. I think this is the place where you get the best view of the Tower from.
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We stayed in a hotel close by here a few years ago and the views from here at night when the Tower is lit up is wonderful.
We went for a drink in a café in Trocadero before getting on the metro back to Charles de Gaulle Etoile. We bought tickets from here back to Marne la Vallee and needed to go 3 stops on line 6 before changing onto the RER.
It was really busy on the way back as it was about 6.00 so people were still on their way home from work. We thought the train would get quieter as we reached the suburbs but it was busy until a couple of stops before.
We got off the train and decided to get a sandwich in the Village as we were a bit peckish. We went to the Sandwich place and DH had a ham and cheese baguette, DS and I had a hot dog all with fries and DD had a childrens meal mini hot dog, fries, drink and cake with a toy. We had it as a takeout and were first going to sit on a wall in the Village to eat it then decided it would be nicer to sit by the lake so walked there and sat at one of the tables near the ice cream stall before you get to New York. It was dark and quite cold but still really enjoyable sitting there looking at the view.
We then had to drive back to the campsite to a caravan which was even colder than normal as there had been no heating on all day. What a wonderful day wed had though. We love Paris it is such a beautiful city and even though it is so busy it can still seem a very peaceful place.
Fri 21st March- Paris trip
Cast:
Me - 5th time to DLP
DH - 5th time to DLP
DD (8) - 5th time to DLP
DS (21) - 1st time to DLP but has been to WDW 3 times but not for over 10 yrs
We had decided to do a day trip to Paris on Friday 21st (Good Friday) and had decided that the easiest way was to drive to DLP, park the car there and catch the train in. We planned to try and be at DLP by 10.00ish so we went to bed in reasonable time the night before. Unfortunately during the night it absolutely poured down and anyone who has been in a caravan in the rain knows how loud it sounds. Its a lovely feeling being all snug and dry inside whilst hearing the noise outside but when you are trying to sleep its rather annoying after a while. DS mentioned the next morning that there was a large puddle outside his window and he could hear the rain all night splashing into the puddle.
Anyhow we set off only slightly later than intended and DH drove towards Soissons (the nearest large town). He then reached a roundabout and drove down the road towards Paris. We had driven from the campsite to DLP a few times so really should have known where we were going but it was only when we had been driving for about 40 minutes that we realised we had taken the wrong road. We knew exactly what we had done wrong (we shouldnt have taken the road to Paris). We didnt want to have to drive all the way back so pulled into a layby and looked at a map. We worked out which road we were on and which we should be on then I worked out which way we could go to avoid driving all the way back managing to direct DH and they say women cant read maps!!!!
Eventually we joined the A4 and were back on a familiar road. We drove into New York and parked there. It was strange doing that knowing that we werent going into the parks (we couldnt even be tempted as DSs pass couldnt be used as it was day 3).
We made our way to the station and were hit by a massive queue to buy tickets. Why were all these people going to Paris? They should be in the parks!!! We left DD and DS in the queue whilst we went to investigate the machines. We managed to get tickets from the machines (had to do it in 2 gos though once for full price tickets and once for childs reduced ticket). As soon as we got the tickets we realised our mistake we had only got single tickets. We had wanted to buy mobilis tickets to be able to use on the metro as well. We did have another look at the machine options and couldnt see a way of doing this so possible you cant get them from the machine. Never mind we at least had tickets to get there and the queue at the ticket booth had hardly moved.
We made our way down to the train and there was one there waiting. It soon set off and before we knew it we were in central Paris.
We know Paris really well and had a rough idea of where we wanted to go. We had also decided we would do a 2nd day in Paris so werent too bothered about seeing everything in one day. DS was especially pleased to be going into Paris as he was only 6 last time he went.
We had decided to get off the train at Charles de Gaulle Etoile then change lines to line 2 and go up to the Sacre Coeur and Montmatre first. As we didnt come out of the station we were able to continue to use our ticket for this change. As you exit from the RER part of the station you need to put your ticket into the machine to get out so make sure you keep hold of your ticket for the whole journey.
We got off the metro at Anvers and walked up the hill towards the Sacre Coeur you cant miss it- its right in front of you.
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It was really busy at the top of the road where the climb up the steps to the Sacre Coeur begins and there seemed to be a lot of people standing round as though watching something. We then realised because it was Good Friday there was a re-enactment going on. The main steps up to the Church were closed but the side steps were open. We climbed up (phew!!!! Its a long way) There is a funicular lift you can get (1 metro ticket or you can use your mobilis ticket if youve been sensible enough to get one) however there was a queue so we walked, stopping a few times to watch what was going on (well that was my excuse for stopping and Im sticking to it).
By now it was lunch time and we imagined all the crowds descending on the restaurants so once at the top decided to go round to Montmatre/ Place des Tetres to find a restaurant. We have eaten in Montmatre before and considering it is a tourist place you can get some very good reasonable meals. We found a lovely restaurant and as it looked as though it was about to pour down decided to go in.
DD had the 10 menu Salad, Chicken and fries, Crème Caramel.
The adults had the 19 menu. DS and I had Smoked salmon, Lamb chops with fries, I had Crème Caramel and DS had Tarte. DH had French Onion Soup, Steak with fries and Chocolate Mousse. It was delicious and exceptionally good value. We were glad we had chosen to go in when we did as we got a table really easily but it filled up very quickly afterwards. I think we had cider to drink and a coffee afterwards.
After lunch we wandered round Montmatre watching the artists. DS bought a few prints and DD a hand bag (She has got a thing about handbags and always makes a beeline for them).
We then walked round to the front of the Sacre Coeur but didnt go in. However we admired the view across Paris from the top and tried to pick out landmarks. I
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t was then down the hill (much easier than coming up) and back down to the metro at Anvers. We went one stop then changed onto line 4 where we got off at Cite as our next stop was Notre Dame.
We walked from the metro to Notre Dame (its signposted) and sat on the wall for a while admiring it and commenting on the Hidden Mickeys.
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We walked round the outside onto the other little island Isle St Louis where there is a shop which sells wonderful icecream. I cant remember exactly what flavours we all had but they were delicious. We wandered back onto Ile de la Cite eating them and through a little park at the back of Notre Dame. I love the view of the back of Notre Dame- it is so different to the front which is very square and angular.
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We then crossed the river onto the right bank and walked towards the Batobus stop.
We enjoy going on the Batobus which is literally a boat bus. There is no commentary on it like the Bateaux Mouches etc but you can get on and off as you want. The ticket you buy lasts all day. We got on at Notre Dame and the trip took us further up the river then back down the other side of Notre Dame towards the Louvre, passed Place de la Concorde towards the Eiffel Tower. It is nice to just sit there and sail down the river watching the hustle and bustle going on. I know people have queried before about whether its worth doing a river trip as you are quite low down so may not be able to see the buildings. My opinion is that it is definitely worth it. The architecture in Paris is wonderful. There are some beautiful buildings along the river and even the roofs are worth looking at.
We were going to stay on until we got back to Notre Dame again but we decided to get off at the Eiffel Tower. We got off but didnt actually go to the Tower. Instead we walked across the river and up to Trocadero. I think this is the place where you get the best view of the Tower from.
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We stayed in a hotel close by here a few years ago and the views from here at night when the Tower is lit up is wonderful.
We went for a drink in a café in Trocadero before getting on the metro back to Charles de Gaulle Etoile. We bought tickets from here back to Marne la Vallee and needed to go 3 stops on line 6 before changing onto the RER.
It was really busy on the way back as it was about 6.00 so people were still on their way home from work. We thought the train would get quieter as we reached the suburbs but it was busy until a couple of stops before.
We got off the train and decided to get a sandwich in the Village as we were a bit peckish. We went to the Sandwich place and DH had a ham and cheese baguette, DS and I had a hot dog all with fries and DD had a childrens meal mini hot dog, fries, drink and cake with a toy. We had it as a takeout and were first going to sit on a wall in the Village to eat it then decided it would be nicer to sit by the lake so walked there and sat at one of the tables near the ice cream stall before you get to New York. It was dark and quite cold but still really enjoyable sitting there looking at the view.
We then had to drive back to the campsite to a caravan which was even colder than normal as there had been no heating on all day. What a wonderful day wed had though. We love Paris it is such a beautiful city and even though it is so busy it can still seem a very peaceful place.
