PRE TOUR
I flew from Cleveland to CDG with a layover in Atlanta, on Delta Airlines. I landed two days prior to the start of the tour. My Osprey Porter 46L backpack weighed 19 pounds. I also had my Tom Bihn medium cafe bag. It is my tradition to buy a book or two at the airport. After landing, I took a taxi to my hotel. I had practiced how to give the driver my hotel name and address in French. I had emailed the tour hotel to arrange for the two additional nights and I was lucky that they checked me in to the room early, about 8 am. The hotel was Hotel Londres Eiffel. The staff was amazing and the hotel was beautiful.
After walking around the neighborhood, I took the metro to the 16th arrondissement where I visited Musee Marmottan Monet. Standing in front of Impression Sunrise melted away my jet lag.
After the museum, I enjoyed a long walk through the Passy neighborhood.
Next came an afternoon nap followed by an evening snack sitting on the lawn of the Champ du Mars watching the Eiffel Tower twinkle in the darkness.
The next morning I took the metro to the 3rd arrondissement where I joined a food tour. We made nine food stops and ended the tour near the Seine. I sat on a bench on the quay watching boats float by and reading my book for about an hour. Once I was rested, I was off to the Cluny Museum. Wow! A medieval feast! I sat for a long time in the tapestry room. Then I walked to the Luxembourg Garden. I loved the Medici Fountain and watching children race sailing boats on the pond. Then it was time for dinner with Hemingway. I was so filled with the energy of Paris that I walked all the way back to the hotel. It was a busy day and I slept like a baby.
The next morning I had a ticket for the summit of the Eiffel Tower. There were spectacular views of Paris. After that, I walked along the Seine, past the scammers playing the shell game to a small, elevated park. I visited the memorial for the Jewish families that were rounded up by Vichy officers. The were kept in a velodrome for days prior to being taken to a camp. It was a sobering experience.
WHAT DID I EAT? I TOOK A PICTURE OF EVERYTHING!
SCAVENGER HUNT: I picked a few things to watch for and they included Wallace Fountains, Invader art pieces and works by Paul Landowski. I also wanted to see how many metro stations I would see. Here is my collection so far.
Who kept me company so far?
Wallace, Landowski, Invader and Hemingway!
They were more than enough to keep me from being lonely.
My regular life is full of people and responsibilities. This means that I relish the chance to get some "me time". I was able to make my own plans without the need to consider another person's preferences. I went where I chose, I ate what, where, and when I chose and it was great! To alleviate any anxiety about not having a buddy, I researched pretty thoroughly how to get around and what I wanted to see. I have no qualms about eating in a nice restaurant on my own, but if this is too daunting for you, there many other options. Some days, I had a nice lunch in a café where there are many solo diners and then had a take away sandwich for the evening meal. I also called my husband at least once a day. Hearing a comforting voice can do wonders. My first 2 1/2 days in Paris were solitary, but not lonely.
“I feel the pull of being alone,
of answering to no one,
the safety of being unknown and far away.”
― Evie Wyld, All the Birds, Singing
