Paris Day 1 - Windsor to Paris

The big day has finally arrived and this morning we set off for Paris by train. Sounds very romantic, eh? Well, yes, if you love trains, and we caught lots of them!

Suitcase, backpacks and stroller ready, we walked up to Windsor Eton Riverside station and caught the 9.23 train into Waterloo. James was happy to be back on a train and was keen to look for boom gates. There are only a few so we entertained him with songs and other distractions out the window. Check in on the Eurostar at Waterloo was seamless and fairly quick. We were all thrilled to receive train stamps in our passports!

James has a book from the library called "A day in the life of a Train Driver". It recounts the day of a Eurostar driver from London, to Paris and back again. He just loves it and the library don't realise it's sort of on permanent loan! We have been reading and discussing the book and our impending trip so James knows what's going on. I can't believe it's actually happening!

Upon finding our carriage, Martin, James and I went to the front of the train and had a chat to the driver, Chris. He invited us into the cab and allowed James to sit in the drivers' seat. Martin and I were so excited and James would have been too if he hadn't be so over-awed!

The train left Waterloo and picked up speed heading toward Ashford, the last station before entering the Channel Tunnel. The trip under the sea is only 20minutes and most of the trip is through the French countryside. It is picturesque for the most part. Arriving at Paris Gare du Nord we descended into the underground RER rail system and took the train to Luxembourg station. This is the closest to our hotel in the Latin Quarter, only about 5 minutes' walk/stroll.

We were delighted with our hotel, the Hotel Trianon Rive Gauche. We had interconnecting double and twin rooms with balconies overlooking the streetscape. It was recently renovated but maintained it's classic French style - timber, heavy but lovely drapes, pretty tiles in the bathrooms and flocked wallpaper patterned with French calligraphy. The beds were soooo comfy and we were glad to collapse every night.

With no time to waste we changed and caught the underground to the Eiffel Tower.Martin was happy to be back there once more, being 12 years since his last visit. All of us were amazed and awed by this sight. If you haven't been there it's hard to imagine such towering grandeur, but for those who have, it is so great! I was surprised by the colour of the iron and the curved beauty of the lower arches.We decided not to queue to go up as the lines of people snaked their way around the 4 pillars. I checked out the menu for the famous Jules Verne restaurant and was not entirely surprised by the prices! Main meal of lobster was 79 euros, AUD$136. Drinks, entree, dessert, coffee extra, best view in the world from the Eiffel Tower, free!

We walked to get the best vantage point so as to get the whole tower in the camera view-finders! All this was hot work so we sat on the grass nearby and had ice-creams. Glaces! Thanks Marty!

But that's not all! Back on the train and up into the glorious sunshine to Notre Dame. The white marble facade shone in the bright light and we went inside to the cool cavern. There was a service in progress so we had to convince James to use his "Church Manners". He was very well behaved except he wanted to blow out all the candles! We said "no,no, shhh, shhh" but he didn't want to leave. Anyway, we eventually got him out and strolled down to Boulevard Saint Germain. We found a convenience store where we bought some food for our trip to Giverny. By tis time we were hungry again and stopped for dinner at an Italian restaurant. James had a real French omelette and bubbly water! He was more interested with a parking ticket machine nearby than dinner, but at least it kept him busy!

Our hot, tired feet were glad to reach the hotel and we cooled off and admired the late evening sun from our balconies. Hmmm...lovely evening! Too nice to sit inside! So Martin took care of James and Mum and I headed out AGAIN! We wanted to see the Eiffel Tower by night and as the days are so long here it was 10pm when we got to it. The sun hadn't completely set and as we wandered along the Seine we let out a shriek of delight as the Tower lit up with 10,000 (fact!) strobe lights which flashed and glittered and sparkled like a diamond necklace! I have never seen anything like it and thought "this is one of those special moments you never forget". Pinch, pinch. Walking backwards so as not to miss a moment of the spectacle, we crossed the river and walked to the top of the Palais de Chaillot, it's two arms embracing the Trocadero gardens. The precinct had an electric atmosphere as people danced, canoodled (!) and gathered in groups on the lawns and benches to enjoy the summer evening. We sat up on the top level overlooking the tower and fountains below until the Tower lit up again at 11pm.

Then we decided that if we didn't get going we'd sit there all night! So, rather than just jump the nearest train we walked slowly along the Avenue de New York heading eastwards to the Pont de l'Alma. It is here that the avenue becomes a tunnel and is where Diana died. I felt grief and anger and a sense of unfairness as cars whizzed by and an ambulance blared nearby. There is no proper memorial to her, just the Liberty Flame at the entrance which symbolizes the good relationship between the French and Americans. There were some flowers and ribbons on the small sculpture which glowed gold in the reflected city lights.

We finally arrived back at the hotel at 11.45pm. Phew!

See the our Paris photos here.