"Everyone knows the more you wear pearls, little by little they become real....And isn't it the same with memories?" - The Madwoman of Chaillot

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Day 4 Planning

Sept 19
Morning in Paris and lunch (see some ideas on day two blog), then metro and TGV train to St Pierre des Corps is about an hour, then relax, dinner and get ready for the bike trip in St Pierre.








Take train to Tours St Pierre des Corps station in Tours.


Staying in hotel Kyriad St Pierre des Corps Gare - right outside the station - this is where we will meet the next day for the Backroads Tour.



Several restaurants in the area including in the hotel.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Day 3 Planning

Sept 18
Early breakfast and meet BikeAbout Tours at the Charlemagne statue outside Notre Dame at 8:45 AM



Go with tour by train to Versailles and do easy bike ride of grounds, see buildings, ride to Marie Antoinette's village and have picnic lunch with supplies bought at the local farmer's market.
 Train back by 5 PM. 




Dinner

Evening depends on what everyone feels like doing. (maybe sleep)
Otherwise, walk along Seine, see Eiffel Tour at night, etc

Or a fancy meal? Probably need reservations, if we can get them. Le Reminet
                                           http://www.lereminet.com



or not quite as romantic and quaint - Le Bistro du Perigord
71 Rue St Jacques



Day 2 continued - Planning

Check in at hotel - I have contacted them and we can leave luggage with them if the room is not ready yet.

Then some sightseeing right by the hotel until rooms are ready.

Visit Notre Dame
 Notre Dame is a historic Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and it is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. The naturalism of its sculptures and stained glass are in contrast with earlier Romanesque architecture.


and the Church of St Severin. 
Saint-Séverin is a magnificent church, located on the lively tourist street Rue Saint-Séverin. It is one of the oldest churches that remains standing on the Left Bank, and it continues in use as a place of worship.
It is built in flamboyant gothic style mostly between the 13th and 15th century. Covered by Gothic arches, and what looks like a small courtyard is in fact a former mass grave, where only wealthy Parisians were buried in tombs. What’s more, in 1474 the first surgical operation was carried out here on a prisoner suffering from kidney stones. The operation was a success and the prisoner’s death sentence avoided!



Before or after churches, lunch nearby or in the left bank/Latin quarter.

Nearby Yelp recommended restaurants -

For a  casual meal - Creperie Genia - highly rated, right near our hotel
15 rue de la Harpe, Paris - and we can compare to our Creperies from last trip!

or a traditional smaller French restaurant - La Luge -19 rue St Severin

A little more upscale - Le Bistro du Perigord - 71 Rue St Jacques


If rooms ready, we can check in and rest a bit if wanted. Or walk around more.

Later take Metro 4 from St Michel-Notre Dame Metro stop to Barbes Rochechoart and Metro 2 to Blanche (by Moulin Rouge)


Walk up Montmartre hill - see Sacre Coeur, etc






Enough churches - time for a bar!

Walk to Baton Rouge - 62 rue Notre Dame de Lorette - where we have 6:00 reservations.




Dad's story about the bar at this location in 1944!
Dad told me there were four of them and they paid with three of their K-rations and shared the other one. The owner had told them he couldn't buy food with the money but needed food to feed his family... We tried to visit in Sept 2014 but the bar at that location then had been closed a few years.  So we will visit the new one!



Metro 2 from Blanche (by Moulin Rouge) to Barbes Rochechoar and Metro 4 to St Michel-Notre Dame and back to hotel and Sleep!!



Thursday, July 23, 2015

Day 1-2 Planning

The planning begins... Sept 16-17

First night is on the airplane - hopefully we all get some sleep.

We from Minnesota arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport about 8:30 AM and Marilyn gets there at 7:45 AM - we'll meet and go to the RER train station. Will look and see where Delta and United are in relation to each other and the station and set a place to meet.

 Map of the airport
Meet Marilyn at the Sheraton lobby - right by train station. 

 The trains to Paris - two lines, both tracks go to Paris - the sign assured us "All trains go to Paris"!

Our first hotel is right at an RER B stop so we'll get off there - St-Michel/Notre Dame stop and walk a block or so to the Hotel Europe St Severin. I admit in advance that this is more expensive than anywhere else we are staying (the ones I'm arranging) but it was hard to find a place in Paris that was convenient and not expensive for this many people. It didn't seem worth it to try to coordinate 3-5 B&B's... and the larger ones were just not as nice.

Here is their video - https://youtu.be/LLW1TAYB9Ic

and their website
http://www.hoteleuropesaintseverin.com