Saturday June 30, 2007
Bonjour, mon amis! Fancy a day in France?
A bunch of very sleepy adventurers got woken early this morning, ate a quick breakfast in the ship’s ‘Raffles’ restaurant, then walked the gangplank and climbed onto a big luxury coach for a two-and-a-half hour drive from the French port le Havre to Paris.
You can’t just ‘visit’ this romantic city – it demands to be seen, heard, touched, tasted and smelt. And, while we didn’t have time today to do it all, we sure gave it our best shot.
The Arc de Triomphe (symbol of French pride) … Champs Elysees (Paris’ grand boulevard, with elegant stores, restaurants and theatres) … the Eiffel Tower (dominating the city skyline) … the Louvre (for artists and their art) … and the Seine (with its historic attractions, stroll-able banks and countless bridges) – we saw them in all their glory!
And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, it did: we got treated to a very classy lunch of local French specialties while sailing on a mouche-style riverboat.
TOMORROW: Magical, old, scarred, soothing, picturesque Amsterdam (Holland). Don’t miss it …
Yours bloggedly – JOHN
Paris!
I hope the Champs Elysses was warmer and drier than it has been back here for the last week. Not that its been a bother – getting up at 1.00am to watch the boat races has meant a lot of sleeping in and afternoon naps. In fact the cost of the productivity lost by having to hold these races other than in the Hauraki Gulf would well and truly justify the gummint sponsoring the whole of NZ’s Americas Cup challenge.
Assuming you guys have all been too busy scoffing jellied eels and nails top watch any of the racing, Id have to say you,ve missed lots. Alinghi and Team NZ are incredibly closely matched and the races have been utterly gripping. We have a lay day tonight: Alinghi needs one more win, NZ needs three.
My advice for the next race? Head for the closest Swiss port port, run out a cable TV feed, pull the curtains and settle down with a packet of chips and a steinie.
And gidday Mum and Dad – Louis is off th camp in a few minutes, and Lauren arrives this arvo. One out, one in … life is great … now of we could just bring that Cup home ….
Hey Bronwyn and Maureen. Trip sounds awesome so far. Glad you got out of England ok and onto your ship. Our headlines are warning travellers who are going to the UK to be on alert incase of more bomb threats.
I have seen a few photos’s of the ship and it looks awesome. Good to know that if you happen to see an ice berg you will be fine. Your ship has an ice strengthened hull which apparently is perfect for Antarctic cruises. The restaurants and lounges look cool too, especially the Marco Polo Ambassador Lounge.
As you can see from other comments, the weather here is well, so wet that the Marco Polo could cruise around town. The clothes dryer should be delivered on Wednesday as it arrived in Auckland on Friday. Yay, can get fully dried clothes soon.
Doggy and i haven’t had many good walks with the weather the way it is, nevermind.
Aunt Betty phoned last night to say that uncle john was in hospital. Not sure how serious, but she seemed in good spirit.
Great getting updates from you John. Keep up the good work
Bronwyn…greetings from St Louis, MO. Looked over the cruise website a bit and it sounds like a dream! WOW…what a way to end Delta V…LOL.
Is that you in the picture on the main page???
I’ll check back to see what adventures you guys are onto next…have a great time !!!
Wes : )