Advertisement
Published: October 7th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Joanne & Wes Captain's Table
This was very cool at the Captain's Farewell Dinner We're home following a great 10 day trip to Paris, a river cruise on the Seine to Normandy, and back to Paris for two days. I am starting with the end of the trip and working my way back. That is because the last of the photos are the most ready. First of all it was an incredible trip and we had the time of our lives. Next, a commercial announcement! A big thank you to Empress Travel on Upper Union St. in Schenectady, NY for making the arrangements and Uniworld, the cruise line we chose (the River Baroness gave us a lovely experience), and lastly The Good Feet Store (not kidding I would have NEVER been able to do all that wonderful walking (even hiking up a considerably big "hill" without the inserts from Good Feet Store on Wolf Road, Albany, NY.
We sailed back to Paris after a day split between Giverney and Versailles. We enjoyed the Captain's farewell dinner as guests at the Captain’s Table (don't know why we were picked, didn't lobby for it, but LOVED it - my Hyacynth (PBS) moment),danced the night away and went topside at 11pm to view the Eiffel Tower (already a
light show but it sparkles like a Roman candle for 5 minutes on the hour).
A motor coach tour of Paris in the morning was wonderful. Even tho' we had been on our own in Paris for three days before setting sail; and used a hop on hop off Grey Line type of double-decker bus; we were very happy we had decided to go on the tour. The local "step on" guides from Uniworld were amazing. Art, history, language majors (some Sorbonne educated)! We ended the morning with a walk through Luxembourg Gardens with our guide. It was a Saturday morning and "ever fit" Parisienne's were out in force jogging, rollerblading, practicing Tai Chi, etc. It seemed like "Dad's day with the kids." So many fathers were out teaching their kids to ride bikes and playing with their children.
Saturday afternoon, our last if Paris, found us with free time. Wes relaxed, finished his book, and worked on some e-mail business (he brought his PC - I went almost cold turkey re: technology). I found a friend, Marci, and took a stroll through a great park near the boat dock. We ended up at a treasure trove of a flea
market. No one with maps - we used our fractured, but sincere, French, sign language, facial expressions, etc. to buy and haggle. We stopped at a sidewalk cafe amidst the market and had a lovely day. Some of you will be "gifted" with our flea market finds. Marci found a cowbell still attached to a primitively painted wooden yoke. It's for her new garden - heavy - hope she got it home ok. We scurried back to the boat; met our guys for a glass of wine on the upper deck and left ourselves 10 minutes to clean up for dinner followed by a trip to the Avenue de Champs Elysees (glistening with light at night) and a wonderful T&A plus strong men and acrobats show at The Lido. Back to the boat just before midnight and packed (more like shoved things into suitcases) to be ready for our early departure and flight home via Philly. Passing through French customs coming in was a breeze. US customs coming back not bad; but crowded. We were glad we had a bit of a layover and didn't have to push it.
Enjoyed a very interesting conversation with a jewelry designer from Manhattan
in Charles de Gaulle airport before taking off for the US. She had been in France for "Fashion Week." Her jewelry is big and bold and she is in Bergdorf’s with her line. She said that retail America was virtually absent in total, from the Paris "show" this year. No buyers from Niemen’s, no Bergdorf’s, no Barney's, and on down the line. She also recanted a story about a high end French cafe where she goes for coffee frequently. This time she was also hungry and ordered an egg white omelets and was "haughted at" by the waiter with a quick "Madam, you are in Paris; we do not do omelet’s that way!" So she got a regular omelets and coffee for 45 Euro! We never experienced that attitude. Perhaps that is a virtue of avoiding "high end" cafes!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.076s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 11; qc: 26; dbt: 0.0545s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
jeff
non-member comment
what a trip!
Fabulous pictures and story(Jo-Anne,I am a fan!)........glad you guys had such a great time!!