Category Archives: Paris

Moving Day, December 13

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We began our day by showering and packing. Our cab met us at 9:15 and we were going to Gare de Lyon. We were driven past the Opera Bastille which reminded me that we were supposed to be there in 2020 until Covid Times hit. I do hope we can get back to Paris sometime to see an opera there.

Goodbye, Paris … this is from our taxi, as we passed by the Louvre:

Of course we arrived at the train station plenty early: we never take chances and we always have had time to spare. We had our last Paris breakfast at the station, and were on our train and in our seats well before it departed, at precisely 10:56 as scheduled. Our car was nice and quiet, and not completely full. Then I stared at this guy for 3 or so hours:

The start of our trip:

I’ve been surprised to see people leave bags unattended, both on trains and in coffee shops.

After leaving the station and getting out of the city we, for the very first time on this trip, I think, saw a truly blue sky. Despite being on a very fast moving train I had to make a few photos!

I did a few things on my iPad (yes, I’m still managing to play all of my word games most days) and then shut my eyes for a brief time. I find it very difficult to stay awake on a train. Heck, I find it difficult to stay awake any time I’m in a moving vehicle that I’m not driving! I also find it difficult to let myself sleep, though, only because I don’t want to miss anything! But the train lulled me to nap and I was out for a short time. When I woke, I woke to no more blue sky, but lots of fog.

Later it was fog and frost on the ground. It was so beautiful from my nice warm train seat!

The first stop was Valence, for a whopping three minute stop … except not really: it looked like some people wanted to get on the train and I don’t know if they didn’t have tickets or if it was the wrong train, but the person from the train who was talking to them clearly wasn’t going to let them on for some reason. So the stop turned out to be ten minutes.

Second stop: Nîmes, where a lot of people exited and we stopped for all of four minutes.

Finally our destination. Hello Montpellier!

Before getting off the train my blood sugar issue hit: it’s the first time for this trip, so I was rather surprised. If I eat breakfast (which I’ve been doing on this trip) I sometimes, a few hours later, get the shakes, my heart races, and I get very warm. Well, I guess I was due for this. So before getting a taxi to the hotel we went into a place at the station and bought water and I got crackers while Dan bought chips. We sat for a while as I recovered. Dan had nearly finished his water and I still had much of mine so I suggested he pour his into my bottle. He was not seeing clearly so I took his bottle and then proceeded to pour half of it on the table! Too funny that I thought I’d do better!

We caught our cab and got to our hotel in fairly decent time. The place is an older one, and pretty spacious.

Now I confess I didn’t know much about Montpellier. I had chosen it because it fit between Paris and the next destination. We could have opted for one other city that would have fit, but this one seemed to be more about food and the other about the beach life, I think. When I read that it had great food I figured we’d enjoy it. Of course I then neglected to research any eating spots.

We got settled in our room, spent a short time relaxing, and when rain had subsided decided to go out and see what we’d find. We first headed to Place de la Comédia, and then continue wherever our feet took us.

Neither of us realized just how many small streets and alleys we’d find, and this, um (sorry) right up our alley. Dan was enjoying the rainy streets for photography, as was I. (But I’m still using only the iPhone. I think I’ve decided vacations are for the iPhone only.)

So we walked. And walked. And walked some more. We were surprised to see a large number of tapas places. I guess that’s a thing here. Montpellier is closer to Spain than France (Dan informed me — no, I don’t know those sorts of facts!), so maybe that’s why?

It was getting to the point where dinner sounded like a good idea, so we went to look at a place that was recommended at the hotel. Alas, they didn’t open until 8:00 and we weren’t wanting to wait that long, so we headed back to another spot where we had looked earlier. I had mussels and Dan had fish and chips.

When we left the restaurant it was raining, but not terrifically hard, so with umbrellas we were just fine. Had I followed my instincts I would have gotten us far away from the hotel. It sure is handy to have phones that can tell us where to go!

Getting back to the hotel I did something I also did for the past two nights that I probably haven’t done in eons: I took a bath! What can I say? They have these lovely tubs, and it just seems like the right thing to do. But am I becoming my mother? She took baths all the time. (I don’t know if she ever took a shower in her life!) Hm. We’ll see if this trend continues.

So now it’s after 9:00 and I should post this before I fall asleep!

Until tomorrow —

A Museum Day … About Time, Right?

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Today we again had our small breakfast downstairs. Then back upstairs we went to dress for our excursion.

About 25 minutes later we were at the Louvre, where we had made reservations to enter at 11:00.

Now museums and I don’t always get along: my back can hurt, and my eyes finally have had enough. But today was not that way. We were there for nearly five hours, I think. I didn’t take a lot of photos, as a photo never does them justice and I’d rather look at them than look through a phone at them. But here are a few I shot just to show we really were there. And yes, we saw good old Mona, and no, no photo of her. But a photo of the crowd peering at her.

The walk home took us past a lot of stores again.

At one store I pondered … just which thing will Dan be buying me? Hmmm.

We saw a carousel and went to watch and take photos. The majority of people on it were adults. Some were perhaps a bit too large for the seat, but whatever. I saw no place to purchase tickets, so I think it was actually free but no, I didn’t ride it. Maybe next time. Or not.

I love that some street decorations spell “MOM”. How kind of them to honor all of us, don’t you think? ( You might have to look carefully.)

Back in our room we researched dinner spots. We settled on Les Clos Bourguignon, a mere minute from our hotel. The one and only server spoke no English. We speak no French. But it’s amazing how all of us can manage somehow.

Tomorrow morning we say our goodbyes to Paris. We’ve enjoyed our experiences here very much, but time marches on.

December 11 in Paris

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We arrived downstairs late enough that the breakfast room was closed. That wasn’t a big deal since there is no way we want to pay 21€ each for a buffet breakfast, but we’d actually thought we’d get the “petite déjeuner”. Ah, but the man there said we could still order that, so we could eat at the hotel. But “petite”?! Heh — that was a lot of pastry for petite if you ask me.

Our hotel is decorated nicely. While we were having our breakfast the staff was having a photo session in front of this tree.

After breakfast it was time to get out and walk. Down the elevator we went. I know you’ll appreciate my red headband. HAH!

We just rambled, and took photos on the way (as usual!).

If I see a window that grabs my eye for some reason, I have to take a shot.

This glass building caught our attention:

We wound up in Le Marais, and found the area where we stayed on a former visit.

More Le Marais, and we even happened upon the street where Dan made one of my favorite photos. We also located a restaurant we loved when we visited earlier (but I forgot to take a photo. Oops!), but I doubt we’ll get there this time.

We ate lunch in Le Marais, and then it was time to journey to Notre Dame. We made our way slowly, taking time, of course, to shoot other things and go inside a church we had taken exterior photos of last time.

We had to stop for this old Medieval house which has been restored.

A few more photos:

Notre Dame was, well, not as thrilling as one might think. There were barriers around it. There were police with huge guns, and there is scaffolding and more around it. There was also a line for what I can only assume were people with reservations to go in (visits are timed), but one confusing sign kind of implied maybe you could get in without a reservation if you had a code. I suspect, though, that it was just a language issue that made it confusing. In any case, we knew we weren’t going in.

Walking over to the other side of the Seine we walked a bit, heading in the direction of our hotel.

I’ve now figured out that the Palais Garnier isn’t the only building with advertising to cover building work. I guess this is the thing places do. I realize it’s ugly to see scaffolding up and all, but I really don’t like these giant commercials.

Continuing our walk and continuing to take photos (btw, I am only using my iPhone so far), I included a few windows that caught my eye … thinking maybe Dan wanted to buy me something new (and perhaps also pay for a complete makeover!).

This poor woman was struggling to walk. Why anyone would want to wear shoes like that in Europe is beyond me. But then wearing them anywhere on planet earth is also beyond me! (But hey, I’m old. And I like comfort. And don’t like sprained ankles.)

Getting back to our hotel was easy since I had put our hotel into the map app and it guided us. (Who knows where we’d wind up otherwise?) Soon we had our feet up and were checking things on our iPads. By then we’d walked over six miles and the break was enjoyed.

Since our dinner reservation (just a minute away!) reservation was for 7:00 and we had two hours to kill we went downstairs for a drink. I mean the elevator poster suggested it (and shows potato chips and olives by the drinks) so why not?! I ordered “Peter’s” since we are at Hotel Saint Petersbourg but was quickly informed that that was no longer an option. Dan ordered a Manhattan, and I then ordered an Old Fashioned. Well … um … maybe hotel drinks aren’t really a good idea! The bartender (if that’s what he really was) had to look up the ingredients. I think it took him at least 10 minutes to make them (and we were the only ones there), and they were the Most Boring Drinks Ever. Live and learn. Sadly we can’t say, “We won’t pay for the Most Boring Drinks Ever” as I don’t believe they’d care. When we were going down for those Most Boring Drinks Ever the reception area was crazy full: it looks like a business group. The people who then went to the bar ordered beers. MUCH better option, I think.

But I ramble about such an insignificant thing. So I will stop now or this blog will become the Most Boring Blog Ever. (Or maybe it already is?!)

Once surviving the Most Boring Drinks Ever (oh dear … I did it again, didn’t I?), we killed more time in our room (yours truly spent time typing some of this) and then walked to our restaurant. It was a very small place, and there weren’t many there when we arrived for our 7:00 reservation, but by the time we left it was full and someone was coming in the door. Dinner was quite nice.

It was not a fancy meal, but felt more like what someone might have at home, really. Until dessert — we couldn’t choose between two so we had to have both. Such a rough life.

We got back to the hotel, and I took a bath. I’m normally not a bath person, but this tub … well … it’s so big and clean and called my name. So I answered. Okay, no name calling. But last night my legs were bugging me in the middle of the night and I am hoping a bath might help me sleep. We shall see.

Tomorrow is our final full day here, and our train leaves in the morning of the 13th so, really, tomorrow IS our final day here. We have plans, but if I told you what they were I’d spoil the story, right? (Hmm. Maybe “you” is only me and of course I already know our plans! Hah!)

So goodnight to all. Or good afternoon. Depends upon where you are!

A Whole Lot of Walking & An Opera

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We started quite slowly today, which is probably a theme on this trip.

Our first goal was to make sure we knew how to reach Palais Garnier (easy!), and if the restaurant I’d made reservations for was what we wanted (no! — and why is a fast food place asking us to make reservations anyway?).

I’d been warned that the Palais Garnier had a horrible huge ad and false facade on the front … sure enough, it’s still there. Too bad.

Since that fast food restaurant spot wasn’t going to do it for us we walked back to the hotel street and checked out places there. The opera begins at 7:30, so those that opened at 6 or later just seemed too iffy, so we found something that will be open earlier and we’ll just hop on over there. I am guessing we’ll be early enough that it will be easy to get a table. I saw this tile work on the corner nearby … felt like we were back in Portugal!

After heading back to our hotel to put another layer on (the wind was making it colder than I expected), and checking the weather (no rain), we went back out. Our sort of flexible goal was to get to Notre Dame, so we walked in that direction.

We don’t walk fast. It’s more of a casual amble. And we look around constantly. It was a random walk, so if we saw something that caught our eye we’d go there.

Near the Louvre we looked for lunch. Up til then we’d only had coffee, so it was time. We ate tremendously healthy stuff. I can’t say it was fabulous, but it sufficed.

Eventually we wound up at the Christmas market by the Louvre. To me it was more of a carnival than a market: they did have food and drink, but we didn’t get anything. We did love the singing reindeer. That sort of made the visit to the market! Crazy thing is that I used to listen to a guy who did YouTube videos where he sang three or four parts and put it all together and this sounded just like him. I know he’s from France, and I know he’s fluent in English so maybe it actually is …?

And then out we went … and it was sprinkling. WHY do we trust the weather apps? (And why don’t we carry our umbrellas in any case?) Because of that we put a hold on Notre Dame: if the rain got worse we’d be seriously uncomfortable. So we wandered. A lot.

And of course we “discovered” things we’d never seen before! This place: Domaine national du Palais-Royal. We just sort of ended up there.

And roses … in December?!

Getting back to the hotel my watch said I’d walked over 7 miles. My feet said so too. With an early dinner plan I decided a little bit of rest would be good.

We went out to dinner at the place right across the street and had a very simple meal: I had onion soup and Dan had a salad.

Finishing that we went back to the hotel and dressed for the opera.

As is typical we were a bit confused on our directions: I have decided I will never understand this part of Paris! But we got to the opera … and what a place it is!



We had box seats. Not too shabby!

I really enjoyed The Rake’s Progress. The orchestra and singers were super. The great conductor was Susanna Mälkki, someone I really thought was fabulous at SFSymphony. This is our final outing for a performance on this trip. I’m so glad we got to attend so many.

So far no plans for tomorrow, but I suspect we will make our way over to Notre Dame. I’m sorry we can’t go inside, but I gave it my best shot: I checked any time I woke up in the night, and at other times of the day as well. They just never had any I could grab. Rats!

Tschüss München, Tschüss Deutschland

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… and, so very sadly, goodbye Jan & Greg. Oh how I will miss you.

This morning, after getting nearly everything packed, we went one last time to Greg & Jan’s room and had coffees and pastries. (EEK, I forgot to thank them for the coffee they brought for me … so sorry, you two … and thank you!!)

When it was time for them to head to their train we said our goodbyes and Dan and I went back to our room to kill a bit of time and finish packing completely. After checking out we found our way to the S-bahn and the train arrived in only a minute or two. Have some boring photos from the train:

The train took us right to the airport. But what a place it is. We hadn’t been to this airport before, so we had a bit of navigating to do, but the signs are fairly clear once we look up and find them! We entered one building but our terminal was out the back of that building and into another. First though … a Christmas market between the two buildings!

Part of me wanted to stop and look around, but, more importantly, I wanted to get in and check our roller bags since we knew they were too large and too heavy for the Lufthansa flight.

Security was easy (so very organized), although I trigged the thing again. I saw the image they had and it showed that something was in a pocket. But no, nothing there! So who knows why that happened. Dan triggered it because of his TSA approved plastic belt. So much for thinking that belt could stay on.

We proceeded to the Senator Lounge (a perk of Dan’s, being as he is Star Alliance Gold), and we then knew whe had quite a bit of time to eat, do whatever on our iPads, and relax. (And, for me, walk a bit since I got antsy legs!)

… and yet the time passed rather quickly for me. So much for “quite a bit of time”.

We headed to our gate (a 7 minute walk according to the info provided in the lounge) and, yes, it took a while, especially since all those “moving sidewalk” thingies (what are they called?) were not working. We were boarding group 2 … but they boarded 1 and 2 at the same time. AND we were in the first row after the first class rows (of which there were only 3). Another bonus? No one in the other seat in our row, so I moved over to the window.

It was a fairly quick flight, and most of it was in the clouds, but I did take a few photos.

We had a bit of a walk and two fun bits on the way to gather up our luggage:


And the … hello Paris! We were planning on doing the train in and then catching a cab at the end of the run, but then we decided the cab wasn’t much more expensive and would be easier than navigating ourselves. But oh the traffic was horrendous. Maybe this is a normal thing: I wouldn’t know. Getting in to the city, though, was such fun. I’m excited to wander tomorrow.


We are staying at the Hotel Saint Petersbourg Opera. It’s not cheap, but it’s Paris and you take what you can get. We have a sweet room, and it’s near a lot of places include it Palais Garnier, where we will see Rake’s Progress tomorrow night.


Dinner was just a short distance from our hotel and suited us just fine. By that time it was getting rather late so we knew we wouldn’t go far. It’s now after 10 PM and it’s been a long day, so off to bed we go.

Changing Plans

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Let’s see — we altered our flight going to our destination by one day (earlier) a few weeks ago. That wasn’t TOO stressful for me, since I knew it meant an extra day.

But these past few days? Kinda stressful: I reserved a hotel and after looking at the area (thank you Google maps!) I canceled it because it looked like the business district and the hotel itself seemed very cold. I was about to reserve another hotel (in another city) and rethought that, thankfully, before I actually made the reservation.

Today we talked about changing more plans, and I’m pretty sure we will alter things in a somewhat major way. This means I have to cancel a flight (because we are flying elsewhere) and cancel yet another hotel, and I need to move our “hey, we have a washer/dryer combo” VRBO place up by three or four days if the owners will allow for that.

This is why I always make sure I only make reservations that I can cancel. We have been known to make plans and then change our minds.

I think, though, that I will stop making any reservations at all until we are absolutely certain we know what we are doing. Okay, we are never absolutely certain, I suppose. Still, I’m not good with these changes and my stomach is now in knots!

BUT I will now share a wee bit of information regarding our first destinations: our first flights are to Frankfurt and then Paris (It was cheaper to do that than fly directly to Paris), where we spend only a couple of days. Kind of funny that when I changed my flight I received a credit for something like $4. Yeah. Really.

The trip still feels a bit like a dream. I won’t believe it’s happening until we are on the first flight, I’m sure.