Paris - Day 2 - July 13, 2012

Kez and David had booked a bike tour of Versailles for today.

King Louis XIV turned his father’s old hunting lodge into the largest palace in Europe and moved his court there in 1678.  It was the royal residence for more than a century until King Louis XVI and his Queen Marie-Antoinette fled during the Revolution (1789-1793).

It is a short train or bus ride south of Paris.  Maybe we will get to see it another time.

David and I decided to take the ‘Hop on hop off’ bus around the city of Paris, today.  We bought our tickets on-line and took a short train ride to the Musee d’Orsay to find the bus stop.  Whilst we were waiting and looking at the river, three river cruise boats passed by loaded to the max with military service personnel.  They were all cheering and people were waving at them, it was quite a surprise to see.  We guessed they were heading off to a practice event for Bastille Day tomorrow.

We enjoyed our tour around Paris – stayed on the bus for 2.25 hours, doing the whole route.  The weather was overcast and then raining so we moved upstairs and downstairs depending on the weather.  We went past:  Musee du Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Hotel de Invalides and drove up the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. 

The Champs-Elysees is undoubtedly the most famous street in Paris and the quarter which lies around it is brimming with wealth and power.  It is home to the President of France, great haute couture fashion houses, embassies and consulates, and the five-star hotels and fine restaurants frequented by the French and foreign elite.  A walk along the avenue is still an essential Paris experience.

The avenue was extremely busy with activity all related to Bastille Day tomorrow and the Tour de France which is coming to Paris.  There were stands, television transmission pods and lots of security people everywhere.

David and I returned in the afternoon and walked along the Boulevard de Clichy.  Kez and Dave returned just before 7pm and we popped across the street to an Italian restaurant for dinner.