I have to admit that I wasn’t that excited to arrive in Paris. I knew it would mean a return to a big city and its traffic, noise, concrete, crowds, higher prices… the list goes on. I had been seduced by the French countryside.
Train strikes meant a four plus hour ride from Djion to Paris in a hot stuffy bus with poor AC and windows that didn’t open. We arrived at Bercy bus station on the city outskirts around 7:00pm and all I wanted to do was Marketshave a shower and go to bed.
A short coach ride from Bercy to our hotel in the 8th district changed everything! Suddenly we were cruising down wide boulevards with landmarks like the Louvre and Bastille Tower passing by. In the distance the Eiffel Tower stood proudly above it all. I looked at the wonder on the faces of my travel buddies, most of whom had not been to Paris before either, and it must have mirrored my face and everything I was feeling! All I could say was ‘wow’!
We checked in and had dinner at an Irish pub down the road. Funnily enough no one ordered wine! It was an early night as a visit to the markets was scheduled for the following morning.
The next morning we took the Metro and visited a food market. The variety of fresh food available was impressive.
Later a group of us walked along the left bank to Notre Dame then the Louvre and thru the Tuileries Gardens.
Paris Markets:
Louvre, Notre Dame and Tuileries:
The following day I checked into my homestay in the 15th district. My host Laura was a true Parisian and a gracious host who welcomed me into her home. I also picked up my four day Paris Pass which also included a four day transit pass for the Metro. I did the following:
- Monday, 11 June: The Louvre
- Tuesday, 12 June: Musee D’orsay and Quai Brandly
- Wednesday, 13 June: Palace of Versailles
- Thursday, 14 June: Montmartre, Dali Gallery and Montparnasse tower
All up my time in Paris was incredible! There were a few cool days with rain but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I would definitely recommend staying with a local if you can, as Laura gave me so many invaluable tips. She also made me warm goat’s cheese salad for dinner and had a foot bath waiting for me when I returned from Versailles! You can’t get that at a hotel or Air BnB!
Sunny Day 
Hi Em, hope you didn’t squeeze the produce in the markets…….Anna did and nearly got thrown in gaol. I would have bailed her out a week or two later! Paris is amazing, a bit like Fremantle except it’s interesting, bathed in history and a great place to visit.
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Haha somehow I don’t think a Paris gaol would be that bad Ross! Except perhaps for the toilet… Finding a decent public toilet in Paris was a nightmare and probably the only negative I didn’t mention in my post.
I’m also surprised you mentioned Fremantle without a jab at the Dockers! 😛
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You missed the subtlety in my Freo response……..I WAS having a jab at Freo, seriously, how could I resist. Don’t you love the streets in Paris and their “star” design, bloody easy to get lost!!
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