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After wandering around for about 2 1/2 hours there, I went across the road to Les Nympheas for lunch, and then wandered around town a bit. The town is very cute, and the changing colours made it even more picturesque.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9baf54b039.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...69d0d9056c.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a99f8a5884.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2906c32fb9.jpg What an absolutely lovely day! And we were back in Paris with plenty of time to do things in the afternoon/evening. I would highly recommend going with a small group tour like this one (not the big bus tours where they herd you around like sheep) if you want to get in before the crowds. |
Friday was my last day in Paris so I spent some time in the morning packing and tidying up the apartment and preparing for departure the next morning.
I stopped into a cafe for lunch, and then wandered down to Luxembourg Gardens, taking the scenic route (meaning I wandered down an interesting side street and then got a little lost). It was a beautiful Fall day, and the trees were just turning. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...fd7326bf68.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...858d9d397c.jpg |
Stumbled across an antique market while meandering my way home. Got chastised by a vendor for taking pictures. Oops! Wandered over to St. Sulpice, and then gradually back to my neighbourhood.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...df405f809d.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2701864458.jpg |
I stopped in at Paul for one last cafe creme and pastry. Sigh.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8111f190f3.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...946b521096.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7fcfaa5b87.jpg |
That night I went on the G7 website and booked a taxi for the following morning back to the airport. This was really easy and convenient, and you can pay by credit card.
As I was leaving Paris on Saturday morning, driving along the Seine, I got a bit verklempt, and I thought to myself “Goodbye my beautiful Paris, I'll be back soon.” This was a big trip for me, as I mentioned at the beginning of my report. I was celebrating a milestone birthday and I was testing the waters, so to speak to see if I could pull off an international solo trip, and if I would like it. Check and check. I am already dreaming about returning to France next year (Paris and Provence) for a longer vacation. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1fb4b80197.jpg My sentiments, exactly. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...bbff73b355.jpg The view from my window. |
So, that concludes my trip report. If anyone has any questions, I will try to answer.
Here are a couple of artsy photos I took where I was playing around with out of focus and reflections. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0c1e9922c4.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b62f0ba9b6.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...046163a818.jpg |
Whenever I have been chastised by shopkeepers or café owners for taking pictures, I just tell them that I have a website and wanted to promote their business, but it is not at all a problem of they don't want free promotion. That always shuts them up for some reason.
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I haven’t travelled solo and I haven’t been to Paris. You make me want to do both! |
Great report and great pics! We’re here now, and I already want to return for an autumn trip. Glad you had fun! |
What a lovely trip back to my favorite city. Thank you. And Bravo. ❤️
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Brava, pgtraveler. Congratulations on your first solo trip and sympathy for your loss. Great idea about the Staples phone.
Setting one's own agenda is very freeing. I do agree with kerouac about having a companion to share "yippees" and "oops" with though. At meals, I either write notes in a little booklet or on the kindle, or quickly look through photos. Because DH and I forgot where we were, one of us always kept track and made scrapbooks after trips. I am doing a TR as I go along now. Where to next?! You're off to a great start! |
Great pictorial report, pgtraveler. I'm late in responding, but enjoyed your report a second time. I'm so sorry for your loss, and admire you for traveling solo. Many more happy travels!
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Pgtraveler,
Really enjoyed your TR and particularly your photos!! I like some of the blurred focus effect and the night shots of the rain/reflections on the cobblestones. Can I ask what type of camera you were using? DSLR, compact, cell phone camera? I'm guessing some of the selective focus was done via an editing tool or filter? Thanks so much for any response you could provide. Best, wvdthree |
Great report !
Originally Posted by kerouac
(Post 17015283)
I learned at age 17 that you can't count on other people for a trip. Since I really wanted to travel, I struck out alone. And I would say that 80-90% of my trips since then have been solo. The down side is when you see something that you would have loved to share and there is nobody with you, but the up side is never having to negotiate about where to go, what to see, when to start, when to eat, how to travel and everything else.
The same goes the other way. My wife visited Israel alone and I barely looked at her pics. Eating alone is difficult for me. That is why I often end up in Asian restaurants. Fast. |
Originally Posted by wvdthree
(Post 17045690)
Pgtraveler,
Really enjoyed your TR and particularly your photos!! I like some of the blurred focus effect and the night shots of the rain/reflections on the cobblestones. Can I ask what type of camera you were using? DSLR, compact, cell phone camera? I'm guessing some of the selective focus was done via an editing tool or filter? Thanks so much for any response you could provide. Best, wvdthree The night shots were all taken with my DSLR, hand held, at a low F Stop. |
Originally Posted by TDudette
(Post 17044939)
Brava, pgtraveler. Congratulations on your first solo trip and sympathy for your loss. Great idea about the Staples phone.
Setting one's own agenda is very freeing. I do agree with kerouac about having a companion to share "yippees" and "oops" with though. At meals, I either write notes in a little booklet or on the kindle, or quickly look through photos. Because DH and I forgot where we were, one of us always kept track and made scrapbooks after trips. I am doing a TR as I go along now. Where to next?! You're off to a great start! |
"Whenever I have been chastised by shopkeepers or café owners for taking pictures, I just tell them that I have a website and wanted to promote their business"
reminds me of a funny story in Beaune. We thought the restaurant proprietor was coming up to yell at us for taking pics. On the contrary, she basically said, "Here, let me show you hot to get some great food photos." I sent her my write-up of her restaurant after getting back home, and she emailed back and said how appreciative she was of my review. |
Lovely report and wonderful photos! I really enjoyed your night shots, too. You capture such an unusual mood with your photos - it’s really a pleasure to see them as a series. I think someone earlier said your photos tell a story and I agree completely.
Congratulations on your solo journey! |
Pgtraveler, your photos look wonderful! I really want to go to Paris now :)
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How did I miss this the first time around? Your photos are lovely. Thanks for sharing the story of your trip.
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