Today we are off to Paris. We took the TGV to Paris which is the high speed train. The station is in La Rochelle so after dropping the boys off with Rose-Marie we drove there to catch the train. Catching the train proved to be quite a challenge in itself as we had to change cars 3 times. And there are a lot of cars so we would no sooner get on one car than an announcement would be made which we couldn’t understand and we would drag our bags to another car. Thierry said this was nothing unusual but was getting pretty irritated. We found a lady that worked there and she apologized but also said there was nothing that could be done. After the third change we found our seats and sure enough another announcement came but Thierry said we were staying put. People were still getting up out of their seats as others came in saying they were their seats. There was a lot of grumbling none of which we could understand. Finally the train started and we were never told we had to move. Crazy stuff. The train took about 3 hours to get us to Paris and at one section where the tracks have no curves and is very flat we would go as fast as 186mph. But it really didn’t feel any different.
We went through many cities, one was where Thierry’s friend Christophe lived called Poitiers. It’s a city built amongst cliffs and is again beautifully old. Dang, how many times have I said that.
When we got into Paris we checked into our rooms at Hotel Delambre. Our room has two twin beds, a television, a window with a small balcony, air conditioning and our own bathroom. Most hotels in Europe do not have bathrooms in each room or air conditioning. So Thierry had found a relatively inexpensive place in Montparneese with some amenities that are not usual. It did not have an elevator so we had to walk up to the second floor which wasn’t too bad as we only brought one suitcase.
We took the Metro (subway) to the Arc detriomphe and found they have musicians and entertainers of all types on their subways. Thierry said they have to audition and obtain permits to work in the Metro. That explains why they are so darned good.
Thierry took us to a spot that gives a great angle to take photos. This is in the middle of the street in the crosswalk. You stop in the middle between the walk signals and you can get the vehicles coming towards you with the Arc behind them. It’s is a bit of a rush as the traffic goes buzzing right by you. There is a traffic light right there that is just at your eye level that helps to keep the vehicles from running you down. They aren’t driving at highway speeds as they are just coming from the roundabout at the Arc and then the one block to the light. But if the light is green they wiz right by you and all the other tourists standing there.
Thierry and Mia walked down the Champs Elysees to shop and we walked around the Arc. We had heard you can go into tunnel that goes under the street to get to the Arc. And you can go up to the top of the Arc for an awesome view which we did not do. 
We spent our time just wandering around it and marveling at the wild traffic buzzing around the Arc. There are 8 lanes of traffic and no lines on the street. So it’s just a free-for-all. Cars, buses, motorcycles, mopeds and even people on bicycles are in constant movement around the Arc. And all the time there are police watching and pulling vehicles out of the procession. Wes saw them pull out a red Lamborghini so he had to wander closer to ogle at the car. He’s pretty sure that was the same reason they pulled him out, to ogle and harass.
This is some artwork on the Arch.At one point as I had my camera on a tripod and was shooting towards the Arc three teenagers came up to me and one of them put his eye up to my lens. They were all laughing and talking to me in French. They probably suspected I was American and when I said I didn’t speak French they started speaking English. I kept a very firm grip on my tripod and we also had a metal fence between us but I was still ready for whatever might happen. They never did ask for anything but did continue their laughing loudly and cutting up. But when I said ’You guys have a good day’ and started walking away they went in the opposite direction. It sure is freaky being in a foreign land, you feel a bit vulnerable.
It was getting about time to meet up with the kids and when I found Wes he was talking to a lady close to our age, maybe a bit older. She was very interested in speaking English to us and telling us about Paris. But then she turned to politics and I could see things starting to go south. She has been following the primaries and really admired Hilary Clinton. And there is Wes, who somehow had become a staunch Republican. And loves to argue (discuss in his mind) what is wrong with the Democrats. So before it became too embroiled I said we’ve got to go because she was as empassioned as Wes but on opposite sides of the aisle.
Once back to the Champ Elysees I found, at least in my mind a typical Parisian scene. On the sidewalk were two lovers having quite a lover’s spate. She’s yelling at him and he’s yelling right back. She was looking like she was trying really hard to take his hand or hug him and he’s being totally standoffish and shrugging her away from him. It was quite a scene with him finally getting in a little sports car and her trying to get in and he keeps stopping her. But, alas as in a true Parisian romance he relented, she got in and away they drove down the Champ Elysees. Sigh, young love!!
It had been a bit warm today and we were pretty worn out and hungry. So where else should we have dinner at in Paris but at a McDonalds on the famous Champ Elysees. It was really packed too. But it sure felt good to just sit down and refresh before we were off to our next stop for the day.
Next stop was Le Sacre Couer in a northern arrondisment of Paris called Montmartre. After we got off the Metro we started up the narrow streets towards our destination. It’s quite a climb up these cobblestones streets and it was very crowded as it was a religious holiday today. All of the crowds were leaving so we had to battle our way through the throngs of people coming down. A lot of the people were still in robes and carrying banners. It was hard going but fascinating to see this event. Once we got to the gates that go up the wide stairway to the front of the Basillica we found they had closed the gates and they wouldn’t let us through. Wes was by now determined to go up but they insisted we go around to the small sidewalk tram that takes people up to the top.
The sidewalk at the front of the Basilica was already filling up with people there to watch the sunset.
There a great view of all of the city from this spot but not the Eiffel Tower. It can be seen from this hillside but around to the side of the hill. The city doesn’t have many tall buildings so it appears pretty flat. But the city just goes on beyond your eyesight. It’s surprising how big the city actually is.
Before the sun completely set I went through the Basillica. They don’t allow any photography and there are people throughout making sure nobody takes pictures. The late evening was very pretty but the sun sets on the other side of the hill so there was no spectacular sunset. Only that nice glow of the magic hour.
We walked to the West side of the hill where it is very touristy. As we came to a large street vendor area we saw two men fighting in the street One of the men was being pushed to the pavement by the other guy who had him firmly by the back of the neck and was holding a large sketching pad. And they are yelling at each other loudly. It was quite a spectacle. Thierry said it appeared one vendor was getting on the other vendor's turf and that just isn’t allowed. He said they were yelling ’Your left hand does not know what the other is doing’ or something along those lines. And then they stopped fighting and the encroaching vendor left. We found a place to sit down in an outside cafe and had some drinks. It is simply a wonderful evening to top off our first day in Paris.
When we were ready to head out we had our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower at night. It is beautiful. It also has a light similar to a lighthouse that revolves at the top of the tower. I hadn’t known that was there.
We had our last look at Le Sacre Couer before leaving Montmartre.
And then we walked down the long stairway. 
I stopped a few times to take a few photos as the street lights give off a nice glow. Wes had taken the street tram down as his feet were really hurting. So as I get to the bottom of the stairs I hear Wes arguing with African street vendor. All I could think of was that crazy scene we had just witnessed and they are really yelling at each other. I figured what’s he going to do to an old woman so I went up to the two of them and yelled at the vendor ’He said no’. This stopped their yelling and now the vendor is making nice. He’s telling us ’Have a nice evening’ and laughing like he just doesn’t understand these crazy Americans.
On the Metro ride to our hotel we had an accordion player on the Metro to play us French tunes on the way home. It really puts you in the Paris mood. He plays for a period and then before we reach the next stop he stops and then walks through the car for tips.
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