Paris, Deuxième Partie (Cont'd)
On a fairly dreary day during the middle of our trip, we were booked on an excursion out to Mont Saint-Michel on the English Chanel. We were up early that Wednesday morning and had to meet up over near the Louvre. We got checked in and boarded the bus before it was even light out.
We settled into our seats and then realized we had no head phones, and it was going to be a four hour bus ride. Ugh. The trip out was not very scenic as it was dark to begin with, then it was all highway once outside the city. Did I mention it was a dreary day? Yeah, so the fog kept visibility low out in the countryside.
The excursion we booked stated that we'd be going through Normandy. Now, I was thinking this would be a great stop, even if brief. I had no idea that what they meant was that we'd take a bio break at a rest stop on the highway. No, historical landmark or otherwise in sight. This was quite a disappointment, but we got back on the bus and made our way out. It wasn't too long after that stop that we made our way through the parking lot to the bus slots.
There's a shuttle that takes you the mile and such out to the actual abbey itself. Being cold and damp, I welcomed not having to walk. As we made our way out onto the bridge and could start to see the abbey, it was certainly a sight to behold.
The scale of Mont Saint-Michel is awesome. Wandering through the passages and winding through the abbey at the top was certainly an incredible experience. One bit of advice though, if you're heading out here, make sure to eat lunch around lunch time. Some of the places here do close between lunch and dinner. Also, many of these establishments are seasonal, so if going in winter, your choices may be pretty limited.
Paris has quickly become one of my favorite cities. I enjoyed this trip much more than when we were here last summer for Bastille Day. As with any popular destination, your experience will depend on many factors, and for me, I prefer when the locals feel like they can be themselves.
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| Musee du Louvre at night |
We settled into our seats and then realized we had no head phones, and it was going to be a four hour bus ride. Ugh. The trip out was not very scenic as it was dark to begin with, then it was all highway once outside the city. Did I mention it was a dreary day? Yeah, so the fog kept visibility low out in the countryside.
The excursion we booked stated that we'd be going through Normandy. Now, I was thinking this would be a great stop, even if brief. I had no idea that what they meant was that we'd take a bio break at a rest stop on the highway. No, historical landmark or otherwise in sight. This was quite a disappointment, but we got back on the bus and made our way out. It wasn't too long after that stop that we made our way through the parking lot to the bus slots.
There's a shuttle that takes you the mile and such out to the actual abbey itself. Being cold and damp, I welcomed not having to walk. As we made our way out onto the bridge and could start to see the abbey, it was certainly a sight to behold.
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| Mont Saint-Michel |
Moving onward and upward gave you a great sense of what it was like centuries ago. The stonework, the various chambers, it was all pretty surreal.
Overall, glad we got to see Mont Saint-Michel. As we were on a time schedule due to it being an excursion, we had about four hours in all here. We departed around 4PM and made our way back to Paris. We stopped again at the same bus stop. This time, we picked up some headphones so that we had something to listen to on the way back.
Overall, this was a very, very, long day. If I have one thing to say, don't do the excursion. Rent a car and make your own way on your own schedule out there to see it. It would be time and money better spent.
Back in Paris, we made our way back towards the flat and stopped at Cafe Cambronne. The food here and atmosphere is excellent. Being two blocks from our flat made it a convenient stop as well. The escargot was great, however it was the burger that I saw the first night that we went that made us have to make a second appearance the next night.
What trip to Paris would be complete without hitting one of the many museums? Well, we hit many. I know for my wife, it was the visit to the Monet museum. I had a difficult time getting her out of there. We also hit the Musee D'Orsay. I enjoyed that one the most, however I did lose my favorite winter cap there that I got from Scotland back in 2011. You will be missed, oh warm one.
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| Clock inside the Musee D'Orsay |
The last night we were in Paris, I had to get that burger, and so I did. It was worth every bit. The biere is good, the wine is excellent, and the food capped it all off. I would frequent this place often if I lived here.
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| Arc de Triomphe |
I don't think I would go again during season. I would go off season again in order to really enjoy the city. Though I will say, watching fireworks shoot off of the Eiffel Tour for Bastille Day is an experience unto itself, and everyone should see it at least once in their lifetime.
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