Paris: The First Day

Saturday dawned in our Paris apartment. So much to do! But first we must eat. I had stuffed some cereal and fruit in a bag from England, but we needed bread - and indeed groceries for the day. Wayne had not found the supermarket last night, but after studying a map was confident of where it now lay.

The girls were still asleep. We considered briefly, but thought that the children would be safe enough if both parents went out for a while in search of sustenance. We gave Jack my mobile, and left him consuming wheaty bix while we strode out. A bright, crisp morning. Past the magnificent old palace of the Louvre we walked, and over the bridge. We passed the Musee d'Orsee, and stopped to photograph a tourist with her own camera. "It should be around here," mused Wayne. "Where's the map?" I asked. "All in my head," said he. Oh, dear...

Still, I was enjoying the architecture, and the occasional peek into little shop windows. We stopped to ask directions, and changed our course. And again. I started to get hungry. After one hour we admitted defeat and headed back to the flat. I demolished several wheat biscuits while Wayne pulled out the map again. Revelation! He had been reading north for south! I could only watch in wonder as he swept out again, taking Jack with him this time. The shop was about a block and a half away...

SO, at about 11 a.m. or so, we set out, looking for a guided tour. We have by now decided that the overview of the city on the first day is the way to go. We followed the now properly oriented map to the bus station and got tickets. Wayne discovered we could get discounted tickets for Disneyland here as well - a bonus. Soon we were on top of a double-decker, ears plugged with ear buds and the audio tour. (Here is Wayne with the academy of music behind him, at the back of the bus.)

It was a funny sort of tour... dry facts interrupted with strange French music when the bloke wasn't talking - sometimes interrupted mid-sentence. Not like the cheery in-the-flesh commentary of the London bus, or the anecdotal options of Bath. Still, it was certainly informative (although Eleanor went to sleep), and the sheer beauty of the place was enough. I don't know how the French had the foresight to make such wide avenues, unheard of in England. Stately buildings, lacy ironword, carved stone, gilded statues... I was impressed. Here we are, driving through a very narrow archway at the Louvre. And Jack and I in front of it.
The Arc de Triomphe, the military invalid hospital, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral passed us by. And that Egyptian obelisk thingy at the place where all the executions happened during the Revolution..




All very good. Home to another late lunch - french bread, of course. We had a little walk in the evening, and this last picture shows us in front of the Louvre, where many people were lounging around, enjoying the sunshine and company. It all felt very Parisien, somehow, strangely enough! 'Home' to a chicken dinner, and some French white wine for the big people.