This is an abbreviated blog due to me not really being over Alan deleting 2 days worth. There wont be any photos due to technical difficulties - which are not Alan's fault this time.
We didn't escape the jetlag afterall! I was awake at 2am and couldn't get back to sleep. The room was extremely hot as apparently we can't have airconditioning as its not hot enough yet to turn it on. I tried opening the windows but as we are directly above an intersection the noise was horrendous. Even though we were a bit grumpy getting up the day promised to be a glorious spring day with not a cloud in the sky. Complete contrast to the previous day. Turned out to be a stinking hot day.
Today we had tickets on the Red Bus but had to walk a few ks to get to our stop. We ventured out with plenty of time feeling very confident in where we were going. We very quickly noticed a large police presence in the streets and as we got close to the Presidential Palace roads were being blocked off. (They were expecting demonstrtions and riots as the gay marriage bill was being voted on today) We managed to follow directions around the detours and still arrived 11/2 hrs before our bus.
We wandered up and down the Seine enjoying the 'quiet' before peak hour. Eventually got back to the Red Bus and our first stop was Trocadero. The ride was informative and we didn't get off at Trocadero or visit any museums as we didn't think we would have the time (turned out to be a good decision). We went directly to the Eiffel Tower where we did photos and then boarded the river cruiser for an hour trip up the Seine. This again was informative and a very pleasant way to see Paris. I especially enjoyed resting my feet.
From the Cruise we wandered around the Eiffel Tower and down to the Military complex looking for Napoleons Tomb. Unfortunately the jetlag had interferred with Alan's inbuilt GPS and map reading ability and after a hot and long tromp around we eventually gave up and wanderd off to find lunch. We did find the Tomb later on - miles from where we were!
We found a great bakery up a side street and had a yummy lunch, we are both addicted to the bread, not to mention the pastries. After our little lunch break we got the metro to the Opera where we had a guided tour. Unfortunately once there they informed us we had to wait another 2 hours. We quickly decided to visit the Musee D'Orsay and hopped on the metro. Um GPS gone haywire again, went to wrong station which meant we had to get off and change stations. Alan thought it would be quicker to walk then change stations but after getting lost again we realised we couldn't get there and back to the Opera in the time. So we turned around and got the metro back to the Opera, again wrong station requiring a long and hot walk at the end. Tempers a little frayed at this stage.
Eventually we got to the Opera with a million other people and couldn't hear anything the guide was saying so we wandered off and did our own thing. Having cooled down, in temper and temperature we enjoyed the spectacle of the Opera and we decided to get back on the Red Bus and do the tourist loop.
We stopped at Arch de Triomphe. I took one look at the stairs and opted to sit in the shade and wait. (Yes I know Nic you did it with a 15mth old on your back, but I'm too old and unfit to care) Alan tackled the stairs and enjoyed the view from the top.
From here we hopped back on the bus and continued the tourist loop back to our stop then walked home for a quick change and off to find a little Italian place we had spotted the night before.
GPS still not working and we couldn't find the restaurant so ended up going to the nearest one where we had another unremarkable meal.
Back to the hotel, very tired as we had walked 20ks today.
We didn't escape the jetlag afterall! I was awake at 2am and couldn't get back to sleep. The room was extremely hot as apparently we can't have airconditioning as its not hot enough yet to turn it on. I tried opening the windows but as we are directly above an intersection the noise was horrendous. Even though we were a bit grumpy getting up the day promised to be a glorious spring day with not a cloud in the sky. Complete contrast to the previous day. Turned out to be a stinking hot day.
Today we had tickets on the Red Bus but had to walk a few ks to get to our stop. We ventured out with plenty of time feeling very confident in where we were going. We very quickly noticed a large police presence in the streets and as we got close to the Presidential Palace roads were being blocked off. (They were expecting demonstrtions and riots as the gay marriage bill was being voted on today) We managed to follow directions around the detours and still arrived 11/2 hrs before our bus.
We wandered up and down the Seine enjoying the 'quiet' before peak hour. Eventually got back to the Red Bus and our first stop was Trocadero. The ride was informative and we didn't get off at Trocadero or visit any museums as we didn't think we would have the time (turned out to be a good decision). We went directly to the Eiffel Tower where we did photos and then boarded the river cruiser for an hour trip up the Seine. This again was informative and a very pleasant way to see Paris. I especially enjoyed resting my feet.
From the Cruise we wandered around the Eiffel Tower and down to the Military complex looking for Napoleons Tomb. Unfortunately the jetlag had interferred with Alan's inbuilt GPS and map reading ability and after a hot and long tromp around we eventually gave up and wanderd off to find lunch. We did find the Tomb later on - miles from where we were!
We found a great bakery up a side street and had a yummy lunch, we are both addicted to the bread, not to mention the pastries. After our little lunch break we got the metro to the Opera where we had a guided tour. Unfortunately once there they informed us we had to wait another 2 hours. We quickly decided to visit the Musee D'Orsay and hopped on the metro. Um GPS gone haywire again, went to wrong station which meant we had to get off and change stations. Alan thought it would be quicker to walk then change stations but after getting lost again we realised we couldn't get there and back to the Opera in the time. So we turned around and got the metro back to the Opera, again wrong station requiring a long and hot walk at the end. Tempers a little frayed at this stage.
Eventually we got to the Opera with a million other people and couldn't hear anything the guide was saying so we wandered off and did our own thing. Having cooled down, in temper and temperature we enjoyed the spectacle of the Opera and we decided to get back on the Red Bus and do the tourist loop.
We stopped at Arch de Triomphe. I took one look at the stairs and opted to sit in the shade and wait. (Yes I know Nic you did it with a 15mth old on your back, but I'm too old and unfit to care) Alan tackled the stairs and enjoyed the view from the top.
From here we hopped back on the bus and continued the tourist loop back to our stop then walked home for a quick change and off to find a little Italian place we had spotted the night before.
GPS still not working and we couldn't find the restaurant so ended up going to the nearest one where we had another unremarkable meal.
Back to the hotel, very tired as we had walked 20ks today.
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