Samedi -
Sometime after 17h00, we walked down to the bus stop to get the 69 to rue de Rivoli, the Pont Neuf stop. The weather was not my idea of picnic weather. We started to go to the marché to get a bottle of wine to take with us, but then decided that wouldn't be too wise if we got there and the others had decided to go to a bar, as was the contingency plan. First, we would be going to a bar with a bottle of wine and secondly, we would have to carry the damned thing around with us for the rest of the evening.
There was an English couple already waiting and debating the probability of the bus arriving. According to the bus time indicator, it was service perturbe, but we had just seen a bus going in the opposite direction so we thought it might have to come back past. Hopefully, it would be in service and pick us up. The English lady said that one time she had been on the bus when it stopped and the driver announced that everyone had to get off, so getting on was no guarantee that you would get to your destination. The bus finally arrived and we boarded. Luckily, we arrived at our destination with no problem.
We walked to the middle of the Pont Neuf, where there is a little square-like area with steps that go down. When we got there, I called Katia to see if they were indeed there because I didn't want to have to walk down those steps only to have to climb back up. Once you get to the bottom of the steps, there is a green area with a walkway on either side that extends to the very point of the Ile de la Cité. A few feet before that point is where we found the K&K gang, with cloths or various types spread out, upon which were many bottles of wine and cheeses, crackers, bread and other goodies. I recognized Katia (that's Katia and Daragh ), KylieMac (in the foreground), Frog With A Blog (on the left), Samantha (sunglasses), and Sebastien and Kathryn (guy with camera, girl with black jacket), Lisa and Georges (guy in black shirt, girl in red sweater). Rhino was not there as he is currently in the US (the last I heard he was in Memphis). There was a couple I had met before, but I can't remember their names. Of course, there were several people I had never met and still don't know. There were more pictures, but for whatever private reasons, some people don't want their pics on the internet, so I took them down.
One of the new people I did meet was an Irishman named Daragh, who had just spent several years in Australia, and has lived in many countries, including the US. His girlfriend (in the middle with the light jacket) is a dancer at the Moulin Rouge. As you can see, she is quite pretty. They were with another couple who left shortly after we got there. Daragh's girlfriend had to go to work, so she left with them. He spent the next half-hour or so, chatting with us. He is one of the funniest people I've ever met, a natural comedian.
Even though he was wearing a leather jacket Robb was cold and shivering most of the time we were there. Surprisingly, it didn't bother me that much and I'm not sure why.
We stayed for a couple of hours, then left to find a place to eat. I figured as long as we were that close, we might as well pop over to the Latin Quarter. I've mentioned in other trip blogs about the fabulous restaurants in the Quartier Latin, and nothing has changed. I had hoped we could return to the Italian place where we had eaten with Cynthia and Ana a few years ago, but when we got to the place it used to be, it was no longer there. Every place we looked was filled with people. The tourist season is in full bloom, after all, and they are here in hoards. We opted for a semi-inside table at Le Petit Pont, where we had our first experience with the outdoor heaters. Wow, do they ever put out some heat. After a few minutes, I had to take off my jacket and I was still warm. Believe me, I am not complaining. I was so comfortable, I didn't want to leave, but it was getting late (after midnight) and in spite of the fact that the métro runs until 01h00 or 02h00 on the weekend, what with all the manifs and perturbances, I didn't want to push our luck. We did walk down the street to have a Look at Saint Severin and checked out Saint Julien-le-Pauvre, where several concerts were scheduled. A quick look at Notre Dame and we made our way to the métro.
I decided on the métro because it would have been too much to cope with trying to find a bus stop. Luckily, the heaters, the wine and the walking had me sufficiently warm and the métro station was only a couple of blocks away. We had to take two trains and it was the usual crueling challenge for me, but in the end it was worth it because we got off at Philippe Auguste and walked downhill to the apartment.
15 Juin (Dimance) - This afternoon, we walked down to La Poste so I could replenish my very diminished supply of euros.
Ce soir, we walked down to Le Royal for diner, where we got to see the Czech Republic snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a soccer match (they were winning 2-0 and lost 3-2). Had dinner, ate too much, drank some wine, crawled home in the cold, cold night air.
Tomorrow, we are off to Gare d'Austerlitz and the train to Toulouse.
Plus à venir, mes amis.
1 comment:
Have a great trip to toulouse! You like Toulouse, don't you?
We have been to the Latin quarter too- we ate at an Alsacian restaurant there.
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