Well, it has been a bit of a whirlwind since we arrived. Alan, Conor and Ben stayed with me until this morning - when they took the Chunnel to London for a few days and then off to Dublin, returning to Vancouver on September 21.
Since that time, we have gotten settled into the apartment - exploring the Marais and doing some shopping. Alan and I did the Rodin Museum and also toured the Place de Vosges. Unsuccessfully tried to visit the Musee D'Orsay but the lines were huge since the Louvre was closed. The boys did some sightseeing - the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triumphe, Notre Dame, etc. and I think enjoyed that. A lot of their sightseeing was of the late night/bar variety, however, which they also seemed to enjoy.
On Tuesday, I got my bike - I rented it for the month. It is great having my own wheels. It only took me about 10 minutes to get from the left bank (where I rented it) to my apartment.
Yeah! It is so much better than the subway - since I get to see everything as I go along - although you have to have your wits about you in the traffic.
And so, my first big expedition on the bike today - I rode all over town. From my apartment in the Marais all the way along rue Rivoli to the Arc de Triumphe (Departure of the Volunteers in 1792 below) and then over to the Bois de Boulogne, which is a huge park just to the west of the Eiffel Tower. Then on to the Tower (pictured below from the west) and along the Champ de Mars and then along the left bank all the way to Ile St. Louise, then back through Notre Dame and back to the Marais. Actually, the traffic wasn't bad - since Paris has installed dedicated bike or bike/bus lanes that work pretty well. They are not as formal as what Gregor Robertson has installed in Vancouver but they work pretty well. There are however some harrowing moments, like when you enter a roundabout and try to get where you are going without being run over by someone trying to exit!!! All in all, the Paris drivers are fast, aggressive and impatient - but they seem to have a good sense of what the obstacles are (ie. me). I do have a helmet - which is not mandatory, and not all that prevalent here - but better safe than sorry, I say.
Tomorrow, my sister in law, Kathy, arrives from Winnipeg. We should be up to some major sightseeing while she is here. Will report on that later.
