We started today at the Ibis Hotel at the airport (where we stayed last night to avoid the difficulties of trying to navigate trains and taxis after being awake for 24 hrs) … and having woken up a tad early … due to the circadian rhythms… It was dark and rainy… not Queensland rain… just steady drizzle… and dark because the sun doesn’t come up until 7:30.
A standard buffet breakfast was on offer… standard if chocolate croissants is standard… it seems it is in these parts. A train trip … and then a short interlude with the metro… and we were in Ramboulet…. We found tonight’s hotel (a product of a miscalculation on my part relating to arrival times). We checked in … and then set out on foot.
We are staying in the Marais district… so is a short walk to ‘Isle de la citie’ which houses Notre Dame cathedral for one. We stopped for coffee and croissants… with the view over the Seine… know that we’d really set today as a recovery day… so there was no real destination or purpose… except to shake off the jetlag.
Deb and me… rare photo … I know 🙂
We wondered around the alleys, laneway and gardens … taking in the sights… eventually winding our way to the Eiffel Tower. We found a restaurant in the backstreets and had a wonderful lunch of Foie Gras followed up with Guinea Fowl for me and a Fish Souffle for Deb…
The afternoon was spent taking more photos around the towr and wandering back to Marais through the gardens. A dessert stop needed to keep the energy levels up… Orange Creme Brûlée was in order.
By the time we got back to the hotel, our feet were a bit angry, so we took a break at the hotel… but soon realised that we have verbose neighbours who seem to have to leave their door open while they speak loudly… in a hotel which is little more than a collection of shoe boxes (in size).
Interestingly, I had noticed a couple of bars in our street where I’d though a light snack for dinner may be in order. As we walked along… the first one didn’t have many patrons… so move on… the next one … all men… and then I saw the man in the green latex vest… and thought… ‘probably not for me’. By the time we’d had dinner and walked back it had flooded out onto the street… mmmm too much latex for me…
So in the end it was just a great day… spent getting in the timezone and although we didn’t actually get lost … we did!
BTW: It seems my hotel throttles my connection … I may have to add the photos later (like last night)
Cheers
Rob
Rob's "Beats Working" Blog 