ually we were on the new freeway, passing Bordeaux, Bergerac and Poitiers, the countryside flattening out significantly, with kilometers of maze fields and the the forests near Biscarosse that I'd visited on two occasions previously. It was all coming back to me. At the city of Tours we cut up along the Cher River to our campsite at Bleres.mit had been a solid 8 hr drive for Andrew and we couldn't have asked for a better position to spend the evening relaxing. It was moms birthday and we gave her a call. The seemingly static river, joggers and cyclists enjoying the path on the bank and hot air balloons overhead. Delightful!
By midday we had reached our campsite on the edge of the Bois de Boloigne and the banks of the Seine and were heading into Paris on the bikes. Andrew stayed at the campsite waiting for the RAC man to come and sort out our car problem, but as it happens, he never turned up. Such a pity! Our trip around Paris took us first through the park on wonderful little tar and gravel paths that cut through this forest in the middle of city. We passed a large lake with people boating on it, passed families on bikes and lovers on the lawns. Soon we were negotiating roundabouts and traffic driving in the opposite direction to what we are used to. Paul and Liz's bikes have been a godsend, perfect for the task. Avenue Foch (finish of my 2nd Paris marathon years ago) and the up to the arc de triumph. We walk/rode down the champs Elise, Gus and Caitlin wowed by the beautiful shops, Louis Viddiun in particular. Across the Place de la Concorde, past the Eglise de la Madeleine and then up the hill to Monmatre and the Sacre Coeur. We sat on the steps listening to the street artists, guitarists, opera singers, and a variety of other performers. We popped our heads into the Basillica but were disappointed by the seeming lack of Reverence paid by the tourists inside while the mass was in progress. I went to a little supermarket to pick up a picnic supper while the others walked through the busy little Place in Monmatre watching the street artists. We had our supper on the pavement with a very good mime artist as the centre piece to all the action. With lights, our ride back to the camp site took us past the Moullon Rouge, down to the Louvre, past the fun fair, with sounds, lights and smells dazzling the senses. Down the Seine and the back to Ave Foch then through the Bois de Boulogne. The forest is not the same place during the evening as it is during the day,mew were soon to realize, but we stayed together and navigated our way with the help of the iPad, back to camp. Andrew was there sprawled out on the ground reading his kindle and enjoying a bottle of wine, a handful of candles creating a lovely peaceful picture. We joined him for a glass and some cheese, eventhough it was 12.30.
The following morning saw all 5 of us cycling back through the forest and straight to the Tracadero and the Eifel tower. The lines were far too long so we decided to come back in the evening. Our cycle was amazing as we went passed the military museum, the Palace de Invalides where Napoleon is buried then up the river to the Pont Neuf and Notre Dame. We went in, and although the cathedral is large and the stained glass windows so beautiful, the lack of reverence by the throngs of tourists disappointed us. It was time for lunch so the job of finding a supermache was at hand. We had to go some way before finding baguette and 'the president', before settling down in a lovely garden on the Pont Neuf. The heat was intense but the shade, just cooling enough. Having the bikes was the best way of getting around the city as we picked up the vibe and saw so much. Our next stop was the Louvre where Gus, Caitlin and I went in to see the Mona Lisa, Vinus de Milo and more. Carol and Andrew sat in the Place waiting for us while we were lead through a corridors and corridors of art that took ones breath away. The audio guides the children hired were a necessity and gave them direction. Both of them amazed me the way they enthused about what they were seeing. We could have stayed a lot longer! We met up again and strolled through the beautiful Jardin de Touleries gardens, stopping for Caitlin and Andrew to have a ride on one of the fairground attractions. It was an artificial log ride on a water shoot. At least one could cool down a bit dipping ones hands into the water, as the temperature was above 40degrees that day. Riding down the south ban k of the river seine this time we had planned to go to the Eifel tower when the ticket lines were shorter and they were. 600 odd steps later and we were looking down on Andrew, a mere dot sprawled out on the grass with ou bikes. One forgets when climbing this amazing structure,must how exposed you feel walking up it. Every half hour they turn on the flashing lights for five minutes which gives it an extra special feel. By the time we were back with Andrew, cAitlin was in in need of something that would get her the 10!or so kilometers back through the Bois de Bolonge to our camp. A strawberry, vanilla ice cream cone did the trick and by 1am we were all fast asleep!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:A2,,United Kingdom
No comments:
Post a Comment