Have a late breakfast and head off at 10 am. It is overcast but not cold. We walk to the Museum D'Orsay. The museum is housed in an old railway headquarters, it is a magnificent building. We take our time wandering around the galleries taking in the sculptures and paintings. They are magnificent. There are Monet, Renoir, Sisly, Manet, Cezanne, Van Gough and so on. We are able to take photos (no flash) and hopefully may be able to reproduce as prints. Spent nearly three hours there. Some rather risque paintings which Ann later made me delete! 😈 We then catch the HOHO bus to the Arc de Triumph. Prior to climbing the Arc we have lunch at "Quicks" which appears to be a French copy of McDonalds. We all make it to the top of the Arch - well done Kaye. While walking around the top, Ann is approached by a woman who says "Your'e from Melbourne aren't you?" Turns out she is from Mt Martha and Ann has played tennis against a woman known to both of them.😲 Also turns out she knows Daniel (at the Herald Sun)through their promotional firm and work Daniel did for Michelle Daniel's Physio. (Michelle had a serious bike accident, being knocked off her bike by a hit and run driver a few years back and after recovering died three or four years ago from cancer.)
After the wonderful sights from the top of the Arc we head off and catch the bus to the Palace de Concorde. There are police everywhere, must be some VIP travelling somewhere. Explore the shops where the girls buy perfume and then head off to the Louvre to catch the bus back to our hotel. On the way back we pick up rail tickets for our trip to Moulin Rouge tonight. Luggy picks up a six pack for a quick happy hour before we head off at 6.30 pm.
We find the subway, then locate the line we need to use and the direction we need to go and get on the next train. We are relieved when the next station confirms we are heading in the right direction. 😅 We have to change trains at Barbes Rochechouart and then get off at Blanche. We walk up the stairs from the station and there is the Moulin Rouge about 50 yards away, We are becoming seasoned travellers. Have a coffee at Starbucks across the road and then line up. It is just before 8 pm and we are the second group in line. We are in quickly and our seats while up the back have a clear view of the stage. The floor area is full with people dining. Our champers arrives 😊 and we have a toast to a great trip. The show starts right on time at 9 pm and we are packed in, no room to move your chair back. The girls are fantastic in their outrageous costumes. The show is interspersed with other acts such as a juggler, an acrobatic duo and a very funny ventriloquist. The show finishes at 10.45 pm and we are hurried out as there is another show to commence. Head home on the trains, which are frequent even at 11.30 and lots of people around. If you know your direction and what line to take it is easy to follow and very economical. It is our last night in Paris and when we get back to the hotel there is a message confirming our pick up tomorrow.
Day 22 Friday
Today we head home. It is a clear sunny day, our pick up is not until 1 pm. We have a leisurely breakfast and then it is free time until we check out at 11 am. It has been a long time together and we are all looking forward to going home, After some last minute shopping we check out and wait for our rife to the airport. We leave on time, but the traffic is heavy and we appear to be the last few to check in. Kaye has to sit on her own for the leg to Dubai, but we are all together for the last leg to Melbourne. Little time to do any shopping at the airport or find something to eat. Take off on time after another bus ride out to the plane. Flight OK and we land in Dubai to 32 degrees. We have about 90 minutes before we have to re-board. Dubai airport is huge and the girls have a short time to shop again. We eventually board and then sit on the tarmac for an hour before we take off. It is a long flight and we eventually land about 40 mins late. Quickly through customs at 11 pm. It is cold and wet. Say goodbye to John and Kaye and then we pick up car and drive Ross and Karen home before arriving home at 12.30 am.
So ends our very first overseas trip together. Little did we know it would be the start of many more adventures together and hopefully many more to come. For a first trip it could not have gone better and it augured well for the future. Great company, true friends, and rewarding experiences!
And so it was that "Costalotta Tours" was created!
1 comment:
Musee d’Orsay is a beautiful building, so glad they kept the essence of the railway station.
The Impressionists section was a highlight, with Degas “Little Dancer” a beautifully haunting sculpture.
After viewing furniture exhibits and a very ‘risqué’ section of the museum, we headed back on the bus.
Passing through the place de la Concorde we hit the champs de’lysee.
French are very organised, with a pedestrian subway to take you to the structure. Well worn stone steps up and we are on top.
Another panoramic view of hausmann’s paris.
Watching the chaos of the traffic below, but seems to be ordered chaos.
Thanks to Johns research, we navigate the Paris metro with ease. Funny rubber wheels on the trains.
Moulin Rouge was an event and the talented dancers, along with the other acts, made another good night. Even though we awere packed in like sardines, it was an experience to remember.
Sad that is our last evening in Paris, it I think we are all looking forward to sleeping in our own beds.
Paris airport looked deserted when we checked in, I think we must have been the last plane departing that day.
Had some time to shop at Dubai airport before finding our gate.
Touch down on home soil and after tired and sad goodbyes, we depart for home.
We really enjoyed our first costalotta adventure, and while having our debrief dinner a few months later, we were talking about another adventure.
Who would have thought........... (to be cont)
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