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Published: August 8th 2008
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Eiffel Tower - 36 degree heat!
What a way to arrive in Paris - steaming hot! Wednesday 6 August - Sandra, PJ and cousin Jamie departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) at 6.42 am to arrive in Paris at 10.35 am on the Thalys high speed train.
Unfortunately, our arrival was heralded by an uncomfortable 36 degrees and, as if adapting to the crowds and negotiating the Metro wasn't challenging enough, to do so in a lather of perspiration and in a largely un-airconditioned way of life, is indeed a test of endurance.
Upon arrival at Gare du Nord (North Station), we left our luggage in a locker (it soon became apparent that only those with tertiary studies in engineering could successfully do this). Finally, when our need for oxygen became overwhelming, we emerged from the basement "sans baggage" and began our adventures in Paris.
A cruise along the Seine filled in about an hour before we headed back to the Gare du Nord to pick our luggage and take the 1/2 hour trip out to St Germain-en-Laye, to attend the Fete des Loges, a 6 week long fair held in the forest near the Chateau St Germaine. After some walking in the heat and sun, we eventually found our hotel and checked in. The room was very
hot but we had a short nap before heading out to the fair on the special train-shuttle which left the town centre every 15 minutes. We all had a great time on the many rides and attractions and managed to not get sick on any of them. Despite believing he would win a Playstation or an Ipod on the sideshows, after successfully shooting 5 out of 6 moving balloon targets, the best poor PJ could come away with was a plastic BB gun! The dreams of the young are shattered at such events! At around 1 am, we limped back to our hotel room and enjoyed a night's rest with the sky throwing down thunder and lightning overnight. I insisted on sleeping with the windows open to counter the oppressive heat in the non-airconditioned room, but the children were worried by this. As a result, I booby-trapped the window by placing the fold-out metal luggage rack in the window so that we could hear any potential axe-murderers before they had their evil ways with us as we slept. Remembering, Europe enjoys sunlight until about 10pm every night. The days are very, very long!
After checking out the next morning,
we strolled through the grounds of the Chateau, breakfasted in town and took the train back to Paris. The heat was still quit oppressive so we took a taxi back to our delightful little hotel in the Eiffel Tower district. As our room was not yet ready, we left our baggage there but took a taxi out to Balard to spend a few hours at the Aquaboulevard, an indoor aquatic adventure park. Upon our return, we took a little nap befor venturing out at 7pm to dine at the George V Restaurant on the Champs Elysees, followed by a climb up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. At around 10pm, we returned to the George V to indulge in some dessert and a liqueur (for Sandra) and then a few Metro rides back to our hotel. Around midnight we found our way through the streets of Paris back to our little hotel room.
We checked out of our hotel before 10 am, left our baggage to collect later in the afternoon, and headed out on the Metro for our final day of Paris delights. Firstly, a stroll through the Champs de Mars and a last look at
the Eiffel Tower and the throngs of people lining up to take the lift up the tower. Back on the Metro to the Place de la Concorde, the famous obelisk which sits outside the Ecole Militaire. From here, a lovely stroll through the Tuilieries gardens towards the impressive Louvre building. Along the way, we sat briefly at one of the ponds in the centre of the park. Jamie, having dropped her mobile phone in the pond in a moment of absent-mindedness, thought nothing of climbing into the pond to retrieve it. Soaked from head to foot after her efforts, she then had to negotiate Paris in these clothes. Removing all but a single top and the wet shorts, we proceeded to the famous department stores, Galeries La Fayette, in the futile hope of finding some shorts for her under 50 Euro! We then decided we needed a plastic bag to put her wet clothes in but, alas, this department store doesn't give out plastic bags without a purchase, despite our sad tale of her falling in the pond. The French are quite firm about protocol! Sandra saved the day by retrieving a large plastic bag out of a garbage bin
in one of the clothing departments, then proceeded to buy an article of clothing just near the store exit whereupon we received a plastic bag anyhow!
Back down to the Metro and onward to the Grands Boulevards district to make a visit to the Musee Grevin (a wax museum and hall of mirrors operating since 1882). This seemed an opportune time to separate myself safely from the children and indulge in a little 'time-out' in Paris. Across from the Museum in a gorgeous arcade I found myself sitting amongst the most delightful cakes and chocolate, consuming my favourite sweet treat, a Rum Baba, together with an espresso. Just sitting here alone was like being in heaven. A few purchases later from a sweet little gift shop, followed by a cold beer at a sidewalk cafe, and it was time to get the children. They'd thoroughly enjoyed their hour in the museum and it was now time to hot-foot it back to the hotel, with a short stop at a supermarket on the way to buy supplies for the 4 hour train journey home. We raced in to the hotel and picked up our baggage, then hailed a taxi and
Hotel room St Germain-en-Laye
We made a new friend at the Fair - he came to spend the night with us and then we left him in the toilet just for fun! had just minutes to spare upon arriving at the Gare du Nord to meet the Thalys train heading back to Amsterdam.
The return journey was made a little more interesting by the presence of a psychiatrically ill man in the buffet car who was making grandiose claims of being the saviour of the world. The children were highly amused by his antics and by the near-fisticuffs which ensued with other male passengers whom he saw fit to insult with gay abandon.
Finally, we pulled in to Schiphol station in Amsterdam and our journey was complete. Three action-packed days of sightseeing and fun! Sandra's feet are desperately in need of rest, Amsterdam is being plagued by unseasonally heavy rain causing localised flooding; Aunt Corrie is busy putting 6kgs of meat on skewers to make satays for a relative's 50th wedding anniversary celebrations tomorrow. Sandra has declined to assist with this task on the basis that she needs desperately to sleep after having endured 3 night s'of PJ's snoring. PJ has been shipped off to spend the night at Jamie's house, to this end.
Well, our next trip is to the northern city of Groningen, and from there an
Chateau - St Germain-en-Laye
This was right near our hotel. outing to the Dutch islands offshore for, weather-permitting, a bicycle journey.
Till next time!
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