Day 1: Arrival in Paris

We flew from Tri-Cities to Charlotte then straight to Paris in7 hour, 40 minute flight but we didn’t get much sleep on the plane.  We arrived at 6:20 Paris time and because I was afraid morning rush hour traffic jams would drive taxi costs to high we decided to take the train into town.  Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport has a reputation of one of the worse airports in the world and we had avoided it in the past.  It wasn’t too bad and had more signs that I expected but involved a lot of walking.  We took the airport train to the RER station and then a straight shot into Paris taking 37 minutes to our St Michel stop. Hardly anyone was on the train when we got on but by the time we got to town it was jammed pack and I wasn’t for sure we would get through the wall-to-wall people to the exit but we made it.  I envy people who can travel with one small carry-on bag when traveling! 

At one stop along the way a man got on with a baritone and a speaker on wheels with taped music and started playing.  I was very amused and it reminded me of  the movie “You’ve Got Mail” when Meg Ryan told Tom Hanks about a butterfly getting on the NY subway and going a few stops before getting off, to presumably buy a hat at Bloomingdales J   I also loved watching the people on their way to work roll their eyes and I am sure thinking why me, this early in the morning.  After a couple songs he went through collecting tips then he was gone.

We had a pleasant surprise when we got to our hotel and our room was ready!  After getting checked in and rearranging out hand bags we set out for breakfast.  This is the same area, different hotel, which we stayed in last August with Tim’s mom and step dad, so we went to our standard “Paul” patisserie and had our first treats which were delicious.   Wayne, we had 4 twisted biscuits for you today!

We took the Metro to the Arc de Triumph and decided looking at it from street level was enough and not to go up to the top.  We walked to the Trocadero and had lunch at a museum café we had read offered great views of the Eiffel Tower and it did although the outdoor seating area hadn’t opened for the year yet.  After lunch we walked down by the fountains and found a bench to chill out on and watch the fountains.  Not feeling like dealing with the stairs in the Metro and train changes and consulting bus map and finding no good options we took a cab back to our hotel because we decided a nap was necessary today.  We usually try to stay awake all day upon arrival but just couldn’t today.  After a 3 hours nap (alarm set for 2 hours but not enough) we walked around the Latin Quarter pedestrian streets where we are staying, did a little shopping, had dinner and our gelato stop before calling it a day.  Life is good!

Looking down the Champd Elysees

Smallest hotel room ever