24 to 28 June, 2018 - Paris, Giverny - (France)
We are in Paris, yet our luggage isn't. Our packs are somewhere between Melbourne and Paris. "You will be happy to know, sir, that your bags have been found." That is, I guess, good news - location known. I don't know if I should be happy, though, because `bags.location() != us.location()`. Ultimately, `us.happy = bags.location() == us.location()`.
We have been told to go shopping. Not quite how we want to spend our first day in Paris. Especially when we have been on planes and in airports for 30 hours. And particularly since the first items we need to acquire are underwear, socks, and tee-shirts. We thought we might come out very fashionable, like National Lampoons European Vacation: National Lampoon
Shopping gave us a focus and prevented us from succumbing to sleep too early. By the time we got to our apartment, we had underwear and socks for 2 days, and a part change of clothes each. Supplies for dinner had also been collected - enough fromage and saucisson to sink a bateau. We picnicked at the window with our "to die for" view of the Eiffel Tower. Bed time was not late, we slept well, and awoke the next morning very entrenched in European time.
View from our Bed
The apartment description said "Eiffel Tower views". We still anticipated we would have to lean out, or stand on a box, or that it only works if the planets are aligned and it's Wednesday. But no, the tower looked like that, from every window.
We are loving our accommodation. We did not realise, though, that we slept within a block or so of the same location in 1995. Significantly different, though, was the fact that back then there were four of us, not two. Our accommodation then was a big yellow Volkswagen camper-van, parked in a quiet nook, in a not entirely legal manner.
I feel, at times, like we are in a big magic show. Children running around saying "voila" make me think they are about to pull some doves out of their sleeves.
So, day 2, Jo's birthday, and still none of our stuff has arrived. We had a glass of champagne at the Westin hotel, before hitting the shops again - some nicer clothes for dinner. And we met up with Alister and Anahi, friends from Melbourne, who flew in to Paris to celebrate with us. They are staying a few metro stops away.
Dessert, on the Actual Birthday
We think everybody at the restaurant sang. Our desserts came out, in spectacular fashion, and we ate them with coffee while the tower sparkled before us.
Day 3, still no clothes, and so we venture in to the shops once again. Sight seeing along the way included the sewer museum, and an art exhibition where we unknowingly walked in through the exit. It was only when we eventually finished at the entrance that we realised we had done it back to front, and we were supposed to have bought tickets.
An hour or so before dinner, our luggage was finally delivered - 55 hours after we landed in Paris. We changed in to our allocated finery before heading out to fulfill a 25 year desire of Jo's. Dinner at Maxim's.
Maxims
The sumptuous interior of Maxims. I thought we were dining late, but were only the 3rd couple to be seated at 20:15. The majority arrived quite a while after us. It gave us an opportunity to snap a couple of pics without too many people.
The Birthday Dinner
Maxim's was closed on Monday. So, we had our special dinner there the following night. A decadent splurge for an amazing wife. Congratulations on your milestone year.
Obligatory Post Dinner Stop
Since our apartment was so close, we felt that stopping by Trocadero was not optional. Birthday snap in our birthday finery.
Alister was quite unwell, and had spent the previous day in his room - mainly sleeping. On our final day together, he perked up somewhat, and the four of us went to the gardens of Claude Monet in nearby Giverny.
We had a final meal together, watching the world cup in a Portuguese bar. We're heading south, and they're off to Greece.
The Impression of Being a Painting
A popular spot for a photo or a painting, in Monet's garden in Giverny.
No Joyce, just Annie, Al, and Jo
Joyce was not ready for the photo, yet. Her friends went to look for her. We got our photo, and never worked out if elusive Joyce was found, or if she had in fact ditched her bossy travel companions.
Dinner with Anahi and Alister
Alister and Anahi flew in to Paris to meet up with us for a few days, to celebrate. This was the final meal we had together in Paris. It was at a crowded little Portuguese Bar, with tables spilling on to the street (literally, people drinking between parked cars), so they could squeeze as many people in as possible. Brazil were playing in the world cup.
Full Moon and Eiffel Tower
On our final night, the moon looked so amazing. I probably should have used a prop of some sort - I had no tripod - but it came out well enough held by hand.
We are in Paris, yet our luggage isn't. Our packs are somewhere between Melbourne and Paris. "You will be happy to know, sir, that your bags have been found." That is, I guess, good news - location known. I don't know if I should be happy, though, because `bags.location() != us.location()`. Ultimately, `us.happy = bags.location() == us.location()`.
We have been told to go shopping. Not quite how we want to spend our first day in Paris. Especially when we have been on planes and in airports for 30 hours. And particularly since the first items we need to acquire are underwear, socks, and tee-shirts. We thought we might come out very fashionable, like National Lampoons European Vacation: National Lampoon
Shopping gave us a focus and prevented us from succumbing to sleep too early. By the time we got to our apartment, we had underwear and socks for 2 days, and a part change of clothes each. Supplies for dinner had also been collected - enough fromage and saucisson to sink a bateau. We picnicked at the window with our "to die for" view of the Eiffel Tower. Bed time was not late, we slept well, and awoke the next morning very entrenched in European time.
View from our Bed
The apartment description said "Eiffel Tower views". We still anticipated we would have to lean out, or stand on a box, or that it only works if the planets are aligned and it's Wednesday. But no, the tower looked like that, from every window.
We are loving our accommodation. We did not realise, though, that we slept within a block or so of the same location in 1995. Significantly different, though, was the fact that back then there were four of us, not two. Our accommodation then was a big yellow Volkswagen camper-van, parked in a quiet nook, in a not entirely legal manner.
I feel, at times, like we are in a big magic show. Children running around saying "voila" make me think they are about to pull some doves out of their sleeves.
So, day 2, Jo's birthday, and still none of our stuff has arrived. We had a glass of champagne at the Westin hotel, before hitting the shops again - some nicer clothes for dinner. And we met up with Alister and Anahi, friends from Melbourne, who flew in to Paris to celebrate with us. They are staying a few metro stops away.
Dessert, on the Actual Birthday
We think everybody at the restaurant sang. Our desserts came out, in spectacular fashion, and we ate them with coffee while the tower sparkled before us.
Day 3, still no clothes, and so we venture in to the shops once again. Sight seeing along the way included the sewer museum, and an art exhibition where we unknowingly walked in through the exit. It was only when we eventually finished at the entrance that we realised we had done it back to front, and we were supposed to have bought tickets.
An hour or so before dinner, our luggage was finally delivered - 55 hours after we landed in Paris. We changed in to our allocated finery before heading out to fulfill a 25 year desire of Jo's. Dinner at Maxim's.
Maxims
The sumptuous interior of Maxims. I thought we were dining late, but were only the 3rd couple to be seated at 20:15. The majority arrived quite a while after us. It gave us an opportunity to snap a couple of pics without too many people.
The Birthday Dinner
Maxim's was closed on Monday. So, we had our special dinner there the following night. A decadent splurge for an amazing wife. Congratulations on your milestone year.
Obligatory Post Dinner Stop
Since our apartment was so close, we felt that stopping by Trocadero was not optional. Birthday snap in our birthday finery.
Alister was quite unwell, and had spent the previous day in his room - mainly sleeping. On our final day together, he perked up somewhat, and the four of us went to the gardens of Claude Monet in nearby Giverny.
We had a final meal together, watching the world cup in a Portuguese bar. We're heading south, and they're off to Greece.
The Impression of Being a Painting
A popular spot for a photo or a painting, in Monet's garden in Giverny.
No Joyce, just Annie, Al, and Jo
Joyce was not ready for the photo, yet. Her friends went to look for her. We got our photo, and never worked out if elusive Joyce was found, or if she had in fact ditched her bossy travel companions.
Dinner with Anahi and Alister
Alister and Anahi flew in to Paris to meet up with us for a few days, to celebrate. This was the final meal we had together in Paris. It was at a crowded little Portuguese Bar, with tables spilling on to the street (literally, people drinking between parked cars), so they could squeeze as many people in as possible. Brazil were playing in the world cup.
Full Moon and Eiffel Tower
On our final night, the moon looked so amazing. I probably should have used a prop of some sort - I had no tripod - but it came out well enough held by hand.
