Pensively Preparing for Painful Paris Partings
There was another reason I was dreading Paris. It meant my tour was nearly over. There would be no "next place". These wonderful people that I felt so bonded to, would be leaving me. Why couldn't the tour just go on and on?
In spite of my misgivings, it was still something special to be sitting in the front seat, the "flying" seat, as we drove into Paris, and to see the city spread out before me in all of its glory.
In spite of my misgivings, it was still something special to be sitting in the front seat, the "flying" seat, as we drove into Paris, and to see the city spread out before me in all of its glory.
Memorable Moment
Kudos once again to Little Ricky for his expert maneuvering through Paris traffic. He tackled the big roundabout that had no seeming pattern or sense of order with a sense of mastery. He plunged right in and got us where we needed to go.
We made a special stop to say goodbye to Little Ricky. Dimitri explained that once Richard got us near our hotel, we needed to make a hasty exit due to traffic. There could be no dilly dallying then.
Everybody said their goodbyes. Several of us gave him a little gift of thanks. I had to laugh because he still had a funny picture I'd drawn for him tacked up in the cab of his bus.
I love this picture because it not only shows what buddies Richard and Dimitri are, but it also shows Herb, doing the BEST PHOTOBOMB EVER.
Everybody said their goodbyes. Several of us gave him a little gift of thanks. I had to laugh because he still had a funny picture I'd drawn for him tacked up in the cab of his bus.
I love this picture because it not only shows what buddies Richard and Dimitri are, but it also shows Herb, doing the BEST PHOTOBOMB EVER.
Ladies, don't be haters. I know you're jealous!
After our goodbyes, Little Ricky gave a lovely, funny speech, thanking everybody and telling us how special he thought we were. He became a little verklempt!
Sure enough, when he stopped near the hotel, he made quick time in opening the doors where the luggage was kept. He and Dimitri speedily unloaded the bags. Then with a look at our group, he rushed at Lynn, sweet and petite Lynn, and he gave her a big hug, lifting her way off of her feet. I think we all became a little weepy then. It was the first big goodbye.
Sure enough, when he stopped near the hotel, he made quick time in opening the doors where the luggage was kept. He and Dimitri speedily unloaded the bags. Then with a look at our group, he rushed at Lynn, sweet and petite Lynn, and he gave her a big hug, lifting her way off of her feet. I think we all became a little weepy then. It was the first big goodbye.
Home Happy Home~ The Hotel Beaugency
We checked into our hotel around 1:00. We were given time to settle in and get lunch on our own before meeting up with Dimitri at 3:30. My room was very nice, though not much bigger than the bed. Because of all the furniture you couldn't walk around the bed. Instead, I "stuntman" rolled back and forth over the bed to get to the closet or wherever I wanted to go, ha ha!
Pat, Lannie and I decided to get lunch together. As we walked around we spotted Joe and Julie at a little outdoor café called Bougherie Ghevaline. We grabbed one of the empty tables.
Pat started talking about crepes and as he spoke and I looked at the menu, I decided he was onto a great idea. I ordered a ham and cheese crepe and a hot chocolate. Talk about scrumptious!
Pat started talking about crepes and as he spoke and I looked at the menu, I decided he was onto a great idea. I ordered a ham and cheese crepe and a hot chocolate. Talk about scrumptious!
After lunch we walked around a bit, looking at the outdoor markets and enjoying the sights and sounds. This was a side of Paris that I'd missed on my previous trip. It was a side I really liked.
We stumbled upon a window that had real estate postings in frames. We spent several minutes looking over the postings and picking out each of our perfect, Paris digs!
We stumbled upon a window that had real estate postings in frames. We spent several minutes looking over the postings and picking out each of our perfect, Paris digs!
We met up with Dimitri and the rest of the group. He led us to the Paris Metro, stopping at a map near the entrance and explaining where we would be going. He was quite detailed, just in case we would be separated. He explained that cars are sometimes full and the doors can open and close quickly, so to spread out on the platform and not try to all go in the same door.
I felt my tension levels rise and rise... I thought back to my previous visit, when a group of well dressed, teenaged girls, pickpockets, had shoved their way onto the metro between me and my daughter. They shoved me and the others forward and had pushed Kaylie out of the train car just as the alarm began sounding, warning that the doors were about to close. I had panicked, as we had no plan if we were separated. Neither of us spoke the language. We didn't even have cell phones to call each other or a hotel to reconnect at because we were on a day trip from London... Somehow I managed to reach out and grab her wrist, hanging on for dear life as I screamed at the shoving girls and shoved them back. Then just as suddenly as they'd appeared, they were gone. Kaylie had just barely managed to squeeze in the doors before they closed. It had all been quite traumatic, and seemed very weird, until somebody pointed to a wallet on the floor of the car and asked whos it was. It belonged to the man right in front of me. Of course they'd taken all the money out of it.
So here I was, back on the Paris metro, and it was crowded. I planted myself beside Dimitri and told him I was gluing myself to him! He laughed and told me I'd be fine, to remember what he'd just said, up on the street. Remember? At that moment I barely remembered my name!
When Dimitri told us to get ready, everybody picked a spot to enter the car as he called out a reminder of what stop we were taking and that he'd wait there until everybody arrived. The doors opened and I grabbed a piece of Dimitri's jacket until I was safely on the train with him. People piled in behind us and it was more and more difficult for me to breathe. "Are you alright?" he asked me. I nodded.
It was a long ride to our destination and I was fighting panic the whole while. I must have been getting very pale as well, because people kept asking me if I was ok. I was embarrassed. I didn't want to be a "high maintenance" tour member. I like being in control. But I felt very out of control at that moment.
Dimitri tried asking me where to go next. He asked if I understood where we were and where we were going. I shook my head. I was fighting tears. I just wanted out. He softly tried to explain things, but I think he knew I wasn't hearing much just then.
I felt my tension levels rise and rise... I thought back to my previous visit, when a group of well dressed, teenaged girls, pickpockets, had shoved their way onto the metro between me and my daughter. They shoved me and the others forward and had pushed Kaylie out of the train car just as the alarm began sounding, warning that the doors were about to close. I had panicked, as we had no plan if we were separated. Neither of us spoke the language. We didn't even have cell phones to call each other or a hotel to reconnect at because we were on a day trip from London... Somehow I managed to reach out and grab her wrist, hanging on for dear life as I screamed at the shoving girls and shoved them back. Then just as suddenly as they'd appeared, they were gone. Kaylie had just barely managed to squeeze in the doors before they closed. It had all been quite traumatic, and seemed very weird, until somebody pointed to a wallet on the floor of the car and asked whos it was. It belonged to the man right in front of me. Of course they'd taken all the money out of it.
So here I was, back on the Paris metro, and it was crowded. I planted myself beside Dimitri and told him I was gluing myself to him! He laughed and told me I'd be fine, to remember what he'd just said, up on the street. Remember? At that moment I barely remembered my name!
When Dimitri told us to get ready, everybody picked a spot to enter the car as he called out a reminder of what stop we were taking and that he'd wait there until everybody arrived. The doors opened and I grabbed a piece of Dimitri's jacket until I was safely on the train with him. People piled in behind us and it was more and more difficult for me to breathe. "Are you alright?" he asked me. I nodded.
It was a long ride to our destination and I was fighting panic the whole while. I must have been getting very pale as well, because people kept asking me if I was ok. I was embarrassed. I didn't want to be a "high maintenance" tour member. I like being in control. But I felt very out of control at that moment.
Dimitri tried asking me where to go next. He asked if I understood where we were and where we were going. I shook my head. I was fighting tears. I just wanted out. He softly tried to explain things, but I think he knew I wasn't hearing much just then.
My terror on the Paris metro. Picture courtesy of tour-mate, Julie.
Our first stop was Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel). Sainte-Chapelle is a medieval, gothic-style, Roman Catholic church that was completed in 1248. It has the one of the most extensive stained glass collections in the world.
Ummm. WOW!
Ummm. WOW!
The colors were so bright and vivid... I just stood there in awe and let myself shed my earlier anxieties.
After our time at Sainte-Chapelle, Dimitri took us all over the city. Although the big crowds still made me a bit tense, I was able to take in magnificent sights and enjoy our walk.
Memorable Moment
This picture is significant for one big reason. I have a picture of myself in front of Notre Dame from when I was there with my daughter just three years earlier. In that picture, I wasn't smiling. I was miserable. So many things had gone wrong that day that we just wanted to hurry up time so we could get on our train and head back to London.
In this picture, I smile. Even with my metro freak-out, there was no getting around the fact that the day had been otherwise very, very pleasant so far. Paris was trying her best to redeem herself to me, and she was succeeding.
In this picture, I smile. Even with my metro freak-out, there was no getting around the fact that the day had been otherwise very, very pleasant so far. Paris was trying her best to redeem herself to me, and she was succeeding.
We were given a nice chunk of time to explore Notre Dame Cathedral. Unlike my previous experience, this time I got to go inside. There was a service going on, but it was still possible to quietly and respectfully look around.
The very heart of Paris.
This statue of Charlemagne stands near the front of Notre Dame. He united most of Western Europe (Germany and France) during the Middle Ages and was the first Holy Roman Emperor. He lived from approximately 742 to 814. I can trace my ancestry on my mother's side to him.
Dimitri gave us time to get supper after we explored. So Joe and Julie, Lannie, Pat and I decided to go together. We found a nice little restaurant advertising a few different meals for a reasonable price. I had salad, chicken breast and genuine FRENCH fries! (With a little white wine, thank you)
I tried to put myself in the right frame of mind before getting on the metro back to our hotel. Once again it was crowded, so we stood near the doors between cars. I climbed up a little staircase to ease my claustrophobia. Dimitri warned me that he was going to make sure I learned the metro system before the end of the next day. He didn't want me to be panicky or fearful. He told me that "tomorrow", I would be in charge of leading our group.
Say what?!
Say what?!
Curious Capture
Emily and her mother, Suzanne in a metro car.
Not wanting to end our reverie, we picked up a bottle of (GASP!) limoncello! In the hotel lobby breakfast area, we told whoever wanted to join us to go to their room and grab a glass!
The front desk clerk was not happy with us. She informed us that the room was set up for breakfast and needed to stay clean. She wouldn't provide us with cups or napkins. We promised to clean up any mess we made. We made do.
The front desk clerk was not happy with us. She informed us that the room was set up for breakfast and needed to stay clean. She wouldn't provide us with cups or napkins. We promised to clean up any mess we made. We made do.
For some strange reason, Julie's and my glasses kept refilling themselves with great speed. Before we knew it, the bottle was empty.
But our hearts were full! There was A LOT of laughter!
Especially between me and Julie!
But our hearts were full! There was A LOT of laughter!
Especially between me and Julie!
While we enjoyed our little party, a new front desk clerk came on duty. He watched us carefully, but was much more jolly then the gal.
True to her word, Julie started picking up trash. The problem was, there was no place to put it. So she and I had a little explore. We went back in the employee area, which was pitch black. For some reason, this little adventure was EXTREMELY FUNNY.
The desk clerk came back and caught us red-handed. We explained that we just wanted to tidy up and not make any extra work for him. He laughed and pointed to the garbage can. Julie dumped the trash. He also gave us a washcloth to wipe the tables down.
It was a terrific, impromptu party, even if the party was mainly just me, Julie and Lannie!
True to her word, Julie started picking up trash. The problem was, there was no place to put it. So she and I had a little explore. We went back in the employee area, which was pitch black. For some reason, this little adventure was EXTREMELY FUNNY.
The desk clerk came back and caught us red-handed. We explained that we just wanted to tidy up and not make any extra work for him. He laughed and pointed to the garbage can. Julie dumped the trash. He also gave us a washcloth to wipe the tables down.
It was a terrific, impromptu party, even if the party was mainly just me, Julie and Lannie!