The last 4 days in Paris have been incredible. I have been so lucky to share this fantastic time with my beautiful wife – waking up with her on the first morning was very special as we both were very excited to explore this historic and beautiful city. We would not have been able to see Paris the way we did if it wasn’t for our amazing and generous friends Denis and Emma. Just a quick reminder that these are the friends we met in Goreme, Turkey. A phenomenal couple with a zest for life and a passion to travel every square inch of the earth.
We were welcomed into their home just outside of Paris city centre, in a quiet neighbourhood and completely blessed out our socks. Denis and Emma took us around Paris and showed us all the trademarks which have made Paris famous.
Starting with the Arc de Triomph and a stroll down the Champs Elysees. There was some activity on the Champs as people prepared for the finish of the Tour de France. We walked through a park and went to a grocery store to buy some lunch and wine for a picnic on the banks of the Seine. Bagette, ham, cheese, wine, chocolate and macaroons – a 5 star picnic, with a 5 star view and 5 star friends.
Denis and Emma.
An electric car that goes only 180km/h - it looks like it goes 300.
Mon cheri!!
A quick stop at the Louvre.
Lunch on the banks of the Seine.
After lunch we lazily ambled down to the next sight where our senses would take another beating from the Notre Dame Cathedral. There was a MASSIVE line so we didn’t go inside but the outside was good enough.
We walked on to another park where the Parisians laze on the lawns, soak up the sun and lap up the wine…
Dinner was at 5e Cru – a brilliant little restaurant with a huge selection of wine. The area in which you sit is surrounded completely by bottles and bottles of wine. Racks from floor to ceiling of wines from local producers and some smaller farms which are less well known and you can’t buy in supermarkets or bottles stores. The owner tries to stock these different wines and so his restaurant becomes a place to explore new wines each time you visit.
It was just before 11pm and we decided to wrap up dinner and wine an head for the Eiffel tower which would start blinking its lights on the hour. A pretty awesome sight – the tower lived up to its name and put on a brilliant show.
We headed home after a very fun-filled and long day.
Sunday morning started with a hard run along the Seine and a chilled walk through a small village near to where Denis and Emma stay. Breakfast and coffee down and it was off to see more of what Paris had to offer. An amazing start only to be hijacked by having to wait in a queue at a train station for over an hour to reserve seats for Marseille on Tuesday.
We walked towards the Champs Elysees to watch the finish of the Tour de France. With Donna on my shoulders we managed to get some pics of the front runners. With almost 1 million people gathered around the circuit we decided to move on and leave the finish to the masses. We will remember the great vibe on the Champs!
We then walked through the business district in Paris and stopped in a mall to buy some Macaroons for pudding after supper.
Denis and Emma put together an amazing spread for us including a Bordeaux red wine from 2004 and duck slivers and duck liver pate – unbelievable tasty! Followed up with cheese and white wine – a real treat. And of course the macaroons for pudding. After all this Denis brought out a liquor that he makes himself from flowers he and his brother picked from the Alps near their home in Provence. This was a real privilege! A tasty drink and very strong – so we sipped it slowly. Then came out the Vodka from Finland – very pure and very lethal. After we made a serious dent in two bottles it was most definitely bedtime!
A slow rise the next morning, except for Denis as he had to go to work, and a run was not on the cards as we all waited for the fuzziness in our heads to clear. Coffee, coffee and more coffee did the trick and kick started our day. Emma had some things planned for us, which included a walk along the Tour de Eiffel. And a look at the opera house – which is very impressive!
Then it was homeward where we would later see Denis and Emma put on another amazing spread for supper. Cheese, melted on a small pan and cold meats and of course some wine. Then another bottle and then champagne and lots of talking then another bottle of champagne and then vodka and then fast asleep!
The next morning we woke up very early to say goodbye and a massive thank you to Denis as he left for work – I think my eyes were still glued closed by all the wine and vodka the night before. I don’t know how Denis made it through work that day.
Donna and I spent the morning chilling with Emma at the house and then headed to Paris Gare de Lyon to catch our fast train to Marseille – the journey took us 3 hours and we are staying across the road from the train station with gypsys as neighbours as they have camped under some trees across the road. Its really funny as during the day they are quiet as they are getting over their hangovers and then night time comes and out comes the booze followed by clapping , singing and hysterical laughter. We are looking forward to exploring the French Riviera and Donna will update you soon.
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