Last train out of Paris

Ok, so it wasn't quite the last one, but we caught the 9.40pm train last night headed for Spain.  Things have not gone well and we're now on a bus to Toulouse.  It does, however, mean I can catch up on my blog for yesterday.

We had a very relaxing morning at the apartment with a little adventure out for coffee at our local.   The handsome young waiter convinced us to order orange juice as well.   It was a very expensive little adventure, but well worth it for the ambience and people watching.  We dropped our luggage at the train station, and headed for the Eiffel Tower....

...which was closed at the top.  As I'd done it before,  mum had been to the second level, and Janice was a wuss, we went to la trocadero for lunch instead.  Croissant bread and camembert bought from our local market earlier was a very nice meal.  Next, for our entertainment was a bunch of protestors against fossil fuels.   They all had black masks on, a sign addressed to President Hollande, and a super large black and brown beach ball which they tried unsuccessfully to throw in the air.  At one point I had to push the ball away as it was about to land on top of me.

* we interrupt this blog for a short update on our journey to San Sebastian*

We were advised to catch a train from Toulouse to Hendaye via Bayonne.  I rushed us onto the train only to discover as it pulled out if the station that it was the wrong one.  Fortunately the train to Bayonne was delayed and we made it back in time.  I redeemed myself by getting us seats in first class which saved us from standing.  The draw back of the delayed train is that we may miss the connection to Hendaye. 

*back to your regularly scheduled viewing*

I suggested a very expensive coffee might be in order.  This was unsatisfactory and mum suggested a wine instead.  We drank a bottle of Savignon while watching the crowds go by.  (The waitress was unimpressed that we didn't order food.)  A man in a suit with a walkie talkie kept us intrigued for some time.  James Bond?  Drug dealer?  No, he was just parking cars for the customers.

Notre Dame was crowded and hot.  I left mum and Janice to climb to the top and found myself a park bench to lie down on.  Music playing in the background, sunlight through the tree leaves, and a nice frenchman to talk to made for a pleasant hour.  Medhi works at Musee D'Orsay and gave me his email address for next time I'm in Paris.  He'll give me the VIP tour.  (I decided to ignore the 'Taken' scenes flashing through my head and just enjoyed talking to him.)

We'd decided to push the boat out and have a dinner cruise along the Seine (pun courtesy of Janice).  The food was average, the bubbles and red wine very nice, and the scenery spectacular.  I gave up trying to remember what we were seeing and just made shit up when mum and Janice asked.

A wander along the Seine to the train station was our final adventure of the day.  It's a very popular spot with little groups drinking wine and eating, damn tourists on their rental bikes, and a large number of runners.  When I live in Paris, I'm going to spend every evening as part of the eating and drinking crowd.

And now, here we are, the last train out of Paris taking us on an unexpected adventure through the countryside.