We’ve been in France for a week now …well, almost. We landed one week ago tomorrow morning. And our flight over was a sleepless, and uncomfortable night. I used to be able to sleep on a plane, not anymore.
Somewhere over the Atlantic… Hello moon. We’re on our way to Paris!
To the Eiffel Tower.
Where we bought our ticket to go to the top and stood in a very, very long line. And then it started to rain. And then to blow and rain harder. And then it hailed. And what can you do at a moment like that except laugh ruefully and say… ah well, it’s Paris. It’s not like we have to paddle back to our campsite and sleep in a wet tent, is it? You see, those Algonquin Park adventures come in real handy sometimes.
See we’re wet, and freezing, but still smiling. Sunglasses are a great hair flattener when the natural curl and frizz kicks in.
While we were waiting in line they closed the top of the tower due to the strong winds, saying we would only be able to go to the second level. But, not to worry, we would get a refund, for which we would have to stand in line when we came back down. Great. But…. by the time we reached the front of the line, the sun was out and we were able to go right to the top. Once up there, though, it was still unnervingly windy, so we stayed in the extremely crowded plexiglass enclosure, getting in line again to go back down. So all my pictures are from the second level.
But the view from the top looked just like this, except smaller. But, hey, it’s the Eiffel Tower. You gotta do it once, eh? And never, ever do it again.
We spent a fabulous day walking all over the left bank. Aka Hemingway territory. Mecca for us literary nerds. I spent many years talking about A Moveable Feast in my writing classes. So we needed to track down Hemingway’s old apartment, at 74 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine. I know, I know…it’s just a blue door. But it’s a very special blue door.
And visit Shakespeare and Company. I know it’s not the same one that Sylvia Beach ran, where Hemingway used to visit to borrow books, but it is still a landmark. There were no pictures allowed inside, but I wandered around, sitting on the cots tucked into alcoves where impoverished visiting writers used to spend the night, looking at the new books and the old books and the resident cat. You gotta love a bookstore that has a cat, don’t you? And I bought a couple of souvenir book marks and a postcard that came in the best bag ever!
I could tell that Hubby is thinking he has had his fill of Hemingway shrines for today.
Okay. Maybe not. This establishment is definitely not a simple cafe anymore. And it charges prices Hemingway never saw, or paid, even when he was much older and very much richer. Ah well. It’s still Paris. And it’s a beautiful sunny day.
So we ambled on and found a simpler cafe. You might even quote Hemingway and say a clean, well-lighted cafe, if you wanted to be really pretentious. Where we ordered a glass of wine and watched Paris walk by.
We had lots of other adventures (and misadventures) before we left Paris. A visit with old friends, shopping, watching Paris street fashion, getting lost, and even following a French accordion player around on the Metro. But those are all stories for another post.
So…. watch this space. Bonne nuit… mes amies.
Posted with Blogsy
25 thoughts on “Adventures and Misadventures in Paris”
I hope you are enjoying the adventures and the misadventures both. And doing some things that are not Big Endeavours, just sitting on a sidewalk, and watching the world go by.
Yep, sitting and watching was on the agenda, as well. I did quite a bit of picture taking while watching, though.
Thank you for the update – how nice that you could do a kind of literary tour of Paris. I hope, though, that the weather improves for the next part of your trip – it looks pretty windy there!
Thanks Patricia. The weather has continued to be nice, but with a cool breeze most days. Glad I brought my warm socks!
What a great travel report . We all know holidays are never perfect – it's still the real world after all . The trick is to keep your sense of humour , which you obviously did . More please .
Wendy in York
Thanks Wendy. Real world holidays are the best. And the misadventures ganerally make the best stories afterward!
Looks like you're having a wonderful time Susan. Love the pictures! An apartment in Le Marais sounds just prefect … especially with a cafe at the bottom of the stairs! Enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Rosie
Thanks Rosie. That cafe made the best lattes I have ever tasted. If I can't get a good cup of tea…a great latte is a welcome treat.
It's fine for me to just see the pictures from up there on the Eiffel Tower: there is no way in the world I would ever, ever go up! Same for the Arc de Triomphe. But, of course, there is so much more to see in Paris for the height-challenged. Cant wait to see more!!
Hubby wasn't too keen about the height either. Funny that feeling of vertigo that some people get when they are way up in the air. And you're right, Libby, there's lots more to do on the ground.
It sounds like you've had a wonderful trip – I used to go to Paris every single year as a child, and it's where my husband proposed, so a special place indeed.
Thanks for linking up to #AllAboutYou
Well, that sounds romantic. Thanks for hosting "AllAbout You." It's a great link-up.
We've just come back from Paris too – and we stayed in the Marais! 🙂 Raining most part of the week unfortunately but LOVE Paris. Have a few photos on my blog. Thanks for a lovely post x
Life & Love by Victoria Lagnehag
Victoria Lagnehag on Facebook
Sounds like you're having fun in and managing to incorporate your various interests. Love the photos. Wonder how you found the local femmes in terms of remaining chic in inclement weather. Hope your trip continues to go well Iris
Thanks Iris. I took lots of street style shots, but none in the rain. Good coats and umbrellas I noticed, though.
It sonnds and looks like you are having an amazing time. You look like you're having a blast too! I love that part best. And what is it with that lousy lighting?? I think all hotels and rentals use dim bulbs to save on their electric bill!
And outlets where there are no mirrors, and no outlets where the mirrors are:)
Love your post, and your attitude, had to laugh at the comment about lighting and makeup. You sure covered some ground! Will look forward to more posts on the city of light. xx Nancy
Thanks, Nancy.
It sounds like you're having a great time, despite the 'challenges'. Funny, I knew from the first photo you posted of the apartment that you were in the Marais; it is the most charming part of Paris (I'm biased, that's where we are too) but the 17th century wood-beamed spaces are nothing like what you find in the less charming but more spacious 16th arrondissement. I'll have to look up your coffee joint. I always trek to Coutume for coffee, as most what I find in the 3rd is awful! I look forward to reading your next instalment! xx
Thanks. The Marais was really interesting… especially for a first-time visitor.
So glad you loved Paris too! (We went up the Tour Eiffel and to the top of the Arc de Triomphe with the kids some 25 years ago, and feel no need ever to do that again! Lovely to catch the tower sparkling, though, when walking back from dinner at night. . .
Next time I'm in Paris…I too will only admire it from the ground. And say..been there, done that.
Loved your Paris adventures. I had to laugh because when my husband and I went to Paris May 2014, we had bought tickets on line for the Eiffel Tower and it was only raining for the time we had selected in advance. And the day we went to the Arc of Triumph it was closed. We walked a lot too and even got to go inside the American Embassy, because my husband found an American passport in our room in Vincennes. And French bread is fabulous and your clothes selection great. One day I wore 7 layers to keep warm and glad I threw my Sketchers in at the last minute, they saved my feet.
Seven layers…it MUST have been chilly. And I wore my Adidas every day. So glad I packed them!
Comments are closed.