Paris

22/7        

After spending the night in Toulouse we caught the 6:40am Air France flight to Paris, a short one and a half hours.  Four changes on the metro to Hotel Mary’s, a comfy little Hotel opposite the Palleport Metro stop in Menilmontant, Paris’s 20^th arrondissement. 

We took the Metro to the City Centre getting out at the ‘Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre’ stop to scout out the best ‘spot’ for a ‘bird’s eye’ view of the final of the Tour de France.  We headed to the Place de la Concorde passed the Louvre with it’s glass pyramid smack bang in the Cour Napoleon through the symmetrical Jardin des Tuileries.  There is a large ferris wheel with fun fair next to the Gardens and The Eiffel Tower looms in the distance.  

Paris is as beautiful as ever!!! It’s wonderful to be back in our favourite city!!

 The prime ‘viewing spots’ are disappearing rapidly as enthusiastic supporters line the Place de la Concorde and Champs Elysees.  We found a great ‘spot’ along the Place de la Concorde where we could stand on the wall above the crowd for a ‘birds eye view’ of the peloton. We met Frank and Bron, a great Aussie couple who had chosen the ‘spot’next to us.

After an array of colourful floats with dancing, blearing music and blasting horns passed us, at around 4:30pm, the crowd roared as the peloton ‘whooshed’ passed.  High energy and very exciting!!  They raced the circuit up the Champs Elysees another 7 times with Cavendish winning the sprints.  There is an awesome vibe!!  

We celebrated with Frank and Bron.  An excellent night!!!

23/7
Up early and caught the Metro to the Bourse where we met Rowy and picked up Col’s Olympic Games accreditation.  We then walked to the Arc de Triomphe and the massive Place Charles-de-Gaulle (better known as place de l’Etoile), the worlds first organised roundabout.  Twelve Avenues make up the star (etoile) of which the busiest is the Champs Elysees.  We explored the Avenues including Avenue de la Grande Armee where Col worked on the Rugby World Cup in 2007;  we had lunch at ‘Jour’, a favourite salad bar. 

We walked down the wide tree lined Avenue des Champs-Elysees with it’s cafes, glamorous shops and magnificent apartments to the River Seine and the Pont Alexandre III with a view of Les Invalides.  Practically every building of note in Paris is either along the River Seine or within a stone’s throw.  We continued on to the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais to the Place de la Concorde and through the Jardin des Tuileries.  We followed the Seine stopping to watch the massive bateaux mouches pleasure boats cruising sightseers up and down the river.  We’ve seen some great cycle paths around the city and have decided to  bring our bikes next time!   

We crossed the ‘Pont des Arts’ over to The Left Bank of the Seine.  The ‘Pont’ glittered in the sun with the many padlocks, decorated with endearments, locked onto the side of the bridge by tourists.  Frank and Bron met us for a beer and a laugh at a small corner cafe in St-Germain des Pres!!  We then headed to the River Seine and on to see the Notre Dame on the Ile de la Cite.

 

 
Dinner at a little cafe near our Hotel after an incredible day!!

24/07

Up early and took the metro to Orly Airport to catch our 12:20 Air France flight to Heathrow, London.  We received ‘VIP treatment’ as we were welcomed and whisked through the special Airport ‘Olympic Games Accreditation’ lanes.

Pam made her way to Banbury in Oxfordshire to stay with Keith, Kirsten, Sandy and Edi.  Col made his way to the Docklands in London where he will be roughing it in a five star Hotel!!

Col is covering the Diving in the Olympic Games.