Rendezvous In Paris

It's not really as exciting as it sounds, but we were here to meet up with Choco and Vikki to catch the train to Brittany for our next canal boating adventure. Each time we've come to Europe we've met up with the Tonissens for a canal boat excursion. In 2008 it was Dompierre sur Bresbe  to Nevers,when a flooded Loire River prevented us getting to Corbigny in our Pennichette 1120R. In 2012 it was further south on the Baise river and we travelled north from Valence Sur-Baise to Agen, in 2014 we decided to explore Alsace and tripped from Metz  to Nancy, 2016 was from St Leger sur Dheune to Macon. 2018 gave us a very memorable trip from Joigny out to Tonnerre in the north of Burgundy and included our memorable wine tasting with Fabrice Legiere. This time we are heading to Brittany and will travel from Melesse to St Martin sur-Oust.

Our journey to Paris started at Evora in eastern Portugal near the Spanish border and we had a great run in very light traffic along the A6 tollway. Again storks were prominent and I think we got to 13 stork nests occupying one power pylon.

Once we got to Lisbon it got a bit more congested and a bit more exciting for both driver and co-pilot. You don't appreciate the size and complexity of some of these European airports until you have to find the right terminal and the right place to drop off the rental car. Especially when it is down a tunnel. We arrived in plenty of time and then had the frustration of a delayed flight and all the hassle assosciated with low cost airline flying like queueing to board and then queueing again to load onto buses and be shunted off to some obscure part of the airport to finally quueue again to get onto the plane.

We arrived in Paris around 5 00pm after departing Evora at about 7 00 am having lost a timezone hour on the way as well.Vikki and Choco had arrived in Paris that morning after about 28 hours journey from Melbourne, so our tardy arrival gave them a bit of recovery time. 

We'd booked for dinner at a restaurant called La Boissonnerie. We first visited it in 2008 with Ross and Michelle on our first trip to Europe. Choco and Vikki have made it a regular call, and this was our third visit there. Lovely food, and very reliable. Swordfish tartare and roast pork were highlights.

It was just a short walk from our hotel near the Odean in the Saint Germain area.

The next day was sightseeing through the Marais and across to the Champs Elysses. My phone tells me I walked nearly 30 km for the day. We had a few minor shopping things to do, and the Marais is a very nice part of the city to wander around in. 

We did visit the Notre Dame reconstruction zone, and it was quite disturbing to see the devastation the 2019 fire had caused to this 800 year old structure. Their goal is to complete the work by 2024 but that will be quite a challenge. The photographic display done by National Geographic just after the fire was really moving. there's actually a grandstand erected so people can watch the work in progress. There is also temporary accommodation for those working on the project which does demonstrate real commitment to the 2024 goal. 

In the Marais we visited the Jewish Museum area, Paris' oldest market, Les Enfants Rouge, and for a bit of clothes shopping, the local Uniqlo store.

The shops here and around where we are staying have amazing window displays. Very tempting!

Then it was across town to the PSG shop on the Champs Elysses. Lots of memories and sights on the way. 

And police. Neenah everywhere, all the time! Soldiers marching with guns, (no pics of them!), police on horseback, on patrol and of course the cars with blue lights flashing! Or parked and poised.

Dinner that evening was just down the road, I'd decided 30 km was enough walking frot the day so we should eat close to home. A very nice meal in a tiny restaurant Le Petit Vatel. It only seated about 10 people. Delicious food.

Next morning was a fairly casual start with the croissant, fresh orange juice and cafe au lait breakfast before heading off to Montparnasse Station to catch a train to Rennes. New line, new station and  therefore a bit of a challenge for us.

Our train was pretty full, and there were lots on board heading for Le Mans where the 100th 24 hr race is happening over the weekend. Amazing the things you come close to. We passed through lots of fields with corn, and other crops. Not sure what the planes were up to.

Rennes is busy with plenty of signs of new investment in infrastructure. Our hotel is just opposite the rather surreal railway staion. Very convenient.