Springtime in Paris and Provence – April 2015
Sep 28th, 2015, 06:13 PM
#41
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I can hardly believe it has been over 4 months since I posted anything to this trip report. My Mom passed away several weeks ago. It was unexpected and it has been a very tough last few weeks. It helps to think about the happy reunion she had with my Dad who she has missed terribly for the last eight years after 55 years of marriage. Right now it’s very hard to be positive and cheerful but she loved hearing all about our travels so it’s time to finish this report and figure out our next trip.
Paris Day 4:
Up early and my granddaughter and I went to La Petite Marquise (which was finally open) for our breakfast pastry. We also went to La Ferme d’Hugo for some fruit and cheese. One of the cheeses was extremely stinky but tasted fantastic on top of a slice of baguette with blackberry jam. The cheese was so stinky that every time we opened the refrigerator door it smelled up the whole kitchen – but it was worth it.
After breakfast we took the Metro back to Notre Dame so we could climb to the top. Even though we were in line a lot earlier than we were yesterday, it was still kind of long. While we waited in line, we took turns going across the street to get crepes from the Creperie du Cloitre. On both of our previous trips to Paris with our granddaughters they both loved the crepes from this place. Instead of using a round crepe maker where the batter is poured by hand, they have a rectangular one and the batter is dispensed from a container that glides on rails over the top of the griddle releasing the perfect amount. At least that’s what we believe and we do LOVE the crepes. After eating the crepes, the line had still not moved much so I decided to have a glass of wine. I went in to the café part of the Creperie du Cloitre and enjoyed a nice glass of red until our group was near the front of the line.
I’m not sure why but the climb to the top was not bad. We plugged along and before we knew it we were there. It was another spectacularly beautiful, sunny day. We spent a lot of time on this level and took a lot of pictures. The views were simply incredible. I knew we were going to have to do it so I didn’t even resist when we climbed the rest of the way to the very top – and again it was not a hard climb. It was even more spectacular from the top and you could walk all the way around to see the view in every direction. We then headed down and had a couple of very annoying kids behind us whose father for some strange reason would not let them pass us even though we pulled to the side and tried to get them to do it. So they followed right on our heels making nasty comments that their father who was behind them could not hear. My very pacifist oldest daughter said later she was ready to turn around and punch the stupid father for not just passing us when we asked them to. Anyway, we made it down with no assault charges being filed.
We then walked along the Seine towards Sainte-Chappelle and had a nice lunch at the same café my wife and I had warmed up in last night. We then got in line to go in and before long we were inside. This was my 4th time inside Sainte-Chappelle but I had never been inside when it was this sunny outside. The light shining through the stained glass was incredible. It gave everything a pinkish hue from all the red glass. I had not noticed this before but it looked like there was a really thick coating of dust on some of the higher up woodwork. I don’t know, maybe it was something else.
After we left, our youngest daughter and our granddaughter took off to meet up with some people from her running group. We made plans to meet later on top of the Arch de Triomphe to watch the sun set. We eventually made our way there and I found the elevator but no one was around to take us up. I asked one of the girls sitting in the little office where the operator was and she said she could take us up. It lets you out at a gift shop and there are some stairs to get up to the terrace. We walked around the top for a while and then the sun began to set. This may have been the most spectacular sunset I have ever seen – at least it’s in the top 5. Wow! We took way too many pictures of it and of the lit up Eiffel Tower but we couldn’t help it. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any prettier, it did. Wow again!
When we were ready to go down there was no one to ask to take us down in the elevator so we decided to walk. My group headed toward the stairs when all of a sudden the elevator door open and people got off. The elevator operator was the same person that brought us up and when I asked if she could take us down, she said yes so I quickly gathered up my group and we rode it down. It was just pure luck the door opened when it did. Even though everyone in my group is physically able to do the stairs, we were very happy to save our legs for other Parisian walking and climbing.
After leaving the Arch de Triomphe we stopped at a café for some late night wine and desserts. We then went back to the apartment and had a small nightcap of that really good, really cheap red wine before going to bed. An excellent 4th day in Paris!
Paris Day 4:
Up early and my granddaughter and I went to La Petite Marquise (which was finally open) for our breakfast pastry. We also went to La Ferme d’Hugo for some fruit and cheese. One of the cheeses was extremely stinky but tasted fantastic on top of a slice of baguette with blackberry jam. The cheese was so stinky that every time we opened the refrigerator door it smelled up the whole kitchen – but it was worth it.
After breakfast we took the Metro back to Notre Dame so we could climb to the top. Even though we were in line a lot earlier than we were yesterday, it was still kind of long. While we waited in line, we took turns going across the street to get crepes from the Creperie du Cloitre. On both of our previous trips to Paris with our granddaughters they both loved the crepes from this place. Instead of using a round crepe maker where the batter is poured by hand, they have a rectangular one and the batter is dispensed from a container that glides on rails over the top of the griddle releasing the perfect amount. At least that’s what we believe and we do LOVE the crepes. After eating the crepes, the line had still not moved much so I decided to have a glass of wine. I went in to the café part of the Creperie du Cloitre and enjoyed a nice glass of red until our group was near the front of the line.
I’m not sure why but the climb to the top was not bad. We plugged along and before we knew it we were there. It was another spectacularly beautiful, sunny day. We spent a lot of time on this level and took a lot of pictures. The views were simply incredible. I knew we were going to have to do it so I didn’t even resist when we climbed the rest of the way to the very top – and again it was not a hard climb. It was even more spectacular from the top and you could walk all the way around to see the view in every direction. We then headed down and had a couple of very annoying kids behind us whose father for some strange reason would not let them pass us even though we pulled to the side and tried to get them to do it. So they followed right on our heels making nasty comments that their father who was behind them could not hear. My very pacifist oldest daughter said later she was ready to turn around and punch the stupid father for not just passing us when we asked them to. Anyway, we made it down with no assault charges being filed.
We then walked along the Seine towards Sainte-Chappelle and had a nice lunch at the same café my wife and I had warmed up in last night. We then got in line to go in and before long we were inside. This was my 4th time inside Sainte-Chappelle but I had never been inside when it was this sunny outside. The light shining through the stained glass was incredible. It gave everything a pinkish hue from all the red glass. I had not noticed this before but it looked like there was a really thick coating of dust on some of the higher up woodwork. I don’t know, maybe it was something else.
After we left, our youngest daughter and our granddaughter took off to meet up with some people from her running group. We made plans to meet later on top of the Arch de Triomphe to watch the sun set. We eventually made our way there and I found the elevator but no one was around to take us up. I asked one of the girls sitting in the little office where the operator was and she said she could take us up. It lets you out at a gift shop and there are some stairs to get up to the terrace. We walked around the top for a while and then the sun began to set. This may have been the most spectacular sunset I have ever seen – at least it’s in the top 5. Wow! We took way too many pictures of it and of the lit up Eiffel Tower but we couldn’t help it. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any prettier, it did. Wow again!
When we were ready to go down there was no one to ask to take us down in the elevator so we decided to walk. My group headed toward the stairs when all of a sudden the elevator door open and people got off. The elevator operator was the same person that brought us up and when I asked if she could take us down, she said yes so I quickly gathered up my group and we rode it down. It was just pure luck the door opened when it did. Even though everyone in my group is physically able to do the stairs, we were very happy to save our legs for other Parisian walking and climbing.
After leaving the Arch de Triomphe we stopped at a café for some late night wine and desserts. We then went back to the apartment and had a small nightcap of that really good, really cheap red wine before going to bed. An excellent 4th day in Paris!
Sep 28th, 2015, 08:46 PM
#42
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I'm sorry for your loss. Finishing your trip report while thinking of your dear mother is a great thing to do - we Fodorites love hearing about your travels almost as much as she did!
I hope you'll post photos of that beautiful sunset.
I hope you'll post photos of that beautiful sunset.
Sep 29th, 2015, 07:32 AM
#43
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I am so sorry that your mother passed away, John. It is lovely that you are choosing to come back & share the rest of your journey with us.
I look forward to reading about other 'wow' moments your experienced in France.
Take care.
I look forward to reading about other 'wow' moments your experienced in France.
Take care.
Nov 14th, 2015, 07:05 AM
#44
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Watching the coverage of the terrible attacks in Paris made me think about our three visits to that wonderful city. Emotions range from incredibly sad to totally infuriated but one thing is for sure - WE WILL BE BACK! Terrorists will not win.
I have posted the first four days and I hope to eventually finish the writeup of our trip but wanted to at least get the last few days of pictures posted of our fun times and the great memories we made in this fantastic city last April. Like I said, we will be back.
Day 5: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/841
Day 6: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/869
Day 7: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/922
Day 8: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/945
Day 9: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/970
I have posted the first four days and I hope to eventually finish the writeup of our trip but wanted to at least get the last few days of pictures posted of our fun times and the great memories we made in this fantastic city last April. Like I said, we will be back.
Day 5: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/841
Day 6: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/869
Day 7: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/922
Day 8: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/945
Day 9: https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/970
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