Paris……

Gelato in Paris with good friends will surely put a smile on your face! 

It was an easy few hours on the train from Amsterdam to Paris, and then it happened again!  Not to be outdone by Beth’s pickpocketing experience in Lisbon, it happened to me at the Paris train station!  Dang!

We had gotten off the Eurostar train and were rushing to get on a crowded regional train when it happened.  The train doors were about to close and Beth was already on board.  Three very kind “young men” (aka expert pickpocketers) helped me on.  I said a quick thanks to them. As the doors were closing they hopped off and I knew I’d been had. 

We had put together a double secure plan to avoid this type of incident, but in the rush to buy the regional train tickets, find the right platform and get on the train we had failed to fully execute the plan!  Fortunately like in Beth’s case it was more of a pain in the butt than a loss of valuables.    There was no cash, one credit card that we locked immediately and our drivers licenses.  I had forgotten about a debit card until I got an “unusual activity” message about a hour later.  I got the card deactivated quickly, but they had attempted to purchase things from a couple of stores, as well as some sushi!  I’m not sure if they got the sushi or other merchandise.   Thankfully there was no liability on us for their shopping spree.   

The moral of the story is be more vigilant than you think necessary, stick to your prevention plan and don’t get distracted.  As for the thieves, I bear no ill will towards them.  Now, if they fall on the train tracks…….??

The incident did put a little damper on the start of our time in Paris, but that went away quickly thanks to our wonderful friends and hosts for three nights, Ed and Judy Laue. 

I worked with Ed for a number of years in Texas.  He was a physician, then Chief Medical Officer at the hospital. Judy was a professor at Southwestern Adventist University.  They’re both retired now and split time between their Paris home and their place in Texas.  They were gracious enough to invite us to use their place, and we were thankful that they were going to be there during our visit. It gave us an opportunity to renew our friendship and to have expert insider information on Paris at our disposal.  

We enjoyed exploring their quaint neighborhood filled with small shops, restaurants, and being Paris, wonderful pastry shops.  About ten steps out the entry of their home you’re staring at mouthwatering pastries and freshly baked baguettes. Take another few steps and you have to make a choice between a plethora of flavors of gelato! Early morning trips to the pastry shop became a morning ritual. To borrow a line from an old commercial, “it doesn’t get much better than this”!  When it came time for our first evening meal, Judy ventured out and returned in a matter of minutes with fresh pasta, vegetables for salad and baguettes.  She put together an amazing feast.

So many good things right out the front door!

The street from the balcony

We hadn’t spent too much time in Paris on previous travels, so the next morning we were anxious to get out and explore a bit.

Paris, with a population of over 2.1 million residents, is the fourth largest city in the EU.  Similar to London, the city has historically built out more than up, and covers more than 41 square miles.  It’s been known for centuries as a world leader in commerce, finance, culture and much more.  It earned its nickname as the “City of Lights” for its elaborate street light system that was ahead of its time.  There is a buzz around the city right now as it prepares to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.  

Countdown to the 2024 Summer Olympics

In spite of its size, many of the most popular attractions are concentrated within a few miles of each other, mostly along the River Seine.  Just a short 25-30 minute walk from Ed and Judy’s is Luxembourg Gardens and Palace.  The palace was completed in 1645 and served as the  residence of King Louie XII.  Since the 1800’s it has served as the senate chambers for the country.  Surrounding the building is the 24 acre gardens, which include a large fountain, play ground, tennis courts and plenty of benches and chairs for relaxing.

Out and about near Luxembourg Palace

Luxembourg Palace

From Luxembourg Gardens we meandered towards the Cathedral of Notre Dame.  In April, 2019 the massive cathedral was severely damaged in a fire.  Efforts to restore the church started shortly thereafter, and while there is still work to be done, it seems to be progressing nicely.  From what we heard, restoration is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

There’s a lot of scaffolding up there, but the progress is good.  Thankfully there was minimal damage to the huge rose window. 

After leaving Notre Dame we made a mistake (no, we didn’t get robbed again), we turned the wrong way.  This mistake turned out to be a good one!  We ended up at the Jardin of Plantes (Garden of Plants), France’s oldest and largest garden.   The garden was originally developed in 1635, and has been recognized for its large collection of medicinal as well as flowering plants.  The gardens are free to the general public, although there are fees for some of the museums and zoo around the garden perimeter.

The Garden of Plants

We spent so long enjoying the gardens that we had to make a change of plans.   Instead of walking we used a “hop on-hop off”  boat, which gave us the opportunity to spend some time walking up the Champs Elysees toward the Arc de Triomphe, as well as stopping at the Eiffel Tower before meeting Ed and Judy for dinner at one of their favorite falafel places in the Marias neighborhood. It was every bit as good as we remembered from a previous visit, also made from their recommendation.

The Arc de Triomphe

Business was good on the Champs-Elysees

Us and a somewhat famous tower

L’as Du Fallafel…..just as good as we remember it. 

For our last day full day, we ventured out to the Palace of Versailles, which quite possibly may be where the phrase “it’s good to be King” originated.

What started as a hunting lodge for King Louie XIII in 1623, evolved into a massive palace and grounds for Louie  XIV and future kings,  up until the French Revolution.   Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that hosts about 15 million visitors per year, which makes it one of the worlds’s most visited places.  The palace and the grounds were absolutely spectacular.  We were so happy to have two experienced tour guides with us, or we would have never gotten back to the Petit Trianon which was Marie Antoinette’s hideaway at the back of the grounds. Beth referred to it as “Marie’s she-shed”…….it was quite a she-shed and quite a day.  

Palace of Versailles….

The Hall of Mirrors.  Because every palace needs a banquet room that’s close to 100 yards long. 

The main garden and grove behind the palace 

Inside the Petit Trianon-Marie Antoninette’s hideaway…..eventually the masses turned on her and like Ann Boylen, it didn’t end well!

Having expert tour guides and an excellent driver allowed us to see much more of the grounds than we would have otherwise seen.  Golf carts, bikes and even a small tram are available to tour the large grounds. 

Our three days in Paris passed quickly.  We loved the exploring, the food, the laughter and the fellowship with two wonderful friends!