Expressions and experiences - London / UK / Paris COMPLETED About This Page:

[DisneyFanAnn]

All of the photos are amazing! I just showed them to DH and he said that all of the shots in London and Windsor castle, etc. reminded him of the sites we saw on our honeymoon! A lot has changed since we went but a lot hasn't! And then we both said "maybe someday, we'll have Paris"

[Lemap760]

You guys are like the Energizer bunny, you just keep going and going and going....

[NanaTink]

Lovely! I'm so enjoying bouncing between you and Sue's reports! Y'all are really moving! Can't wait for more.

[bonphil]

More, please!

[chezp]

Wednesday 7 May – part nine: “this way!”

We carried on walking in the hope of getting all the way up to the Arc de Triomphe, but we ran out of time, as we had to head back for our train. The Champs Elysees is a deceptively long road – there are something like six Metro stops along it, which gives you an idea of the length of the thing.



Just before we were about to turn back, I spotted a Disney Store and just had to pop in there. I couldn’t believe it though when I got told not to take photos in there, just as I snapped this second shot. That’s the first time that’s ever happened to me in a Disney Store anywhere in the world.



Then it was on to the Metro, crossing the Champs Elysees, so we could get a shot of the Arc de Triomphe as we crossed:



I did think as we boarded the train that we should’ve carried on, as it was so quick to get to Chatelet les Halles, where we were going to change to the RER train and then it was just one stop up to Gare du Nord. However, it turned out we did the right thing. We got to the platform and everyone was just standing there and there was a train with its doors closed. It didn’t look right, so I quickly checked the display and it told me that there was a problem between here and Gare du Nord, so I thought we’d try the Metro, as I hoped they’d use different tunnels

The plan worked fine until we got close to the entrance to that Metro line and then it was just all at a standstill. It was fairly obvious that wasn’t running either, so they obviously did use the same tunnel. I thought quickly and grabbed Steve, yelling “this way” and took us straight out of the Metro. Fortunately Mark and Sue realised what we were up to and managed to follow us, as we worked our way through the throng.

Once outside, we realised what a beautiful station this is. It’s a shame, but we usually pass through this underneath it and have never seen it from above.



I got my bearings with my trusty guidebook map and headed to a nearby Metro station, passing Pompidou Centre on the way. It’s a museum of modern art and it was designed to be a building turned inside out, with escalators, air and water ducts all on the outside of the building. It’s one of those buildings you either love or hate. I fall into the “love” camp – it’s just so unusual.



We eventually found the station, although it was further away than I thought, and we caught the Metro, which was running fine here. We changed lines and this was where I didn’t know if we would run into problems, but we were OK and finally we got to Gare du Nord. Again I think our hearts were racing and I know at one point, I did panic that we’d never make it here, but we did, thank goodness.

Once we got into the station and headed for the Eurostar departures area, there seemed to be a lot of people standing around, but I couldn’t see why. Then I noticed something that wasn’t good, all the internal French trains were on delay by around two hours.

They were calling for people on the 19.13 train and stupidly we went forward, as we figured it had to be ours, as we were due out in about 20 minutes, but no, the 19.13 train hadn’t even gone yet. It finally left at 21.05, almost two hours late, and at that time, I think we were all scared that we wouldn’t go until after 23.00, as our train wasn’t due to depart until 21.13.

However, things did move much better afterwards, as by then, everyone was in line for the last two trains of the day and we were quickly through and into the waiting area. We were almost straight on to platform and were out by 21.50. It was all very well done and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they got us out of there, considering how badly delayed the 19.13 train was.

As I mentioned earlier, we’d booked seats on the upgraded leisure standard tariff and it was really good food with lots of wine available. In total, I had three small bottles of rose wine and two Bucks Fizzes. I will admit that by the time we got back to Ebbsfleet two hours later, having put that little lot away, I was a little the worse for wear. You can see how much fun we had on the way home and how good the food was:


Sue and Steve demonstrate how exhausted the day had left them!

One Eye is off again!

Can you tell we were having problems opening one of the bottles of wine?

We were back at Ebbsfleet just after 23.00, which wasn’t bad, considering the earlier problems at Gare du Nord. We paid the parking and drove back home, when it was straight to bed. It had been a great, but exceptionally long day.

The weather today was hot and sunny with temperatures in the mid to high 70’s.
The best thing today was the river cruise and Eiffel Tower.
The worst thing today was the nightmare we had getting back to Gare du Nord and the problems we had when we got there.
The funniest thing today was “we’ll always have Paris”.
Today we tried showing Sue and Steve around Paris
And the result was it was wonderful to see it through their eyes.
The most magical moment today was seeing the view from the top of Eiffel Tower.

Next: “I need some Fishermen’s Friends”

[mcc0313]

What a great way to finish off the evening...

[lauren-roxy]

Wonderful update!!!!

[Colexis Mom]

Sorry about the train being late and the troubles getting to the station, but sounds like a great ride back More please

[JaimeandChad]

What a great way to end the evening More please.

[chezp]

Thursday 8 May – part one: “I need some Fishermen’s Friends”

It was a late start to the day, unsurprisingly, after the long day we’d had yesterday. I did wake up with a bit of sinus, probably from the wine, as that seems to be how it affects me these days, but it fortunately went very quickly after taking a few tablets. I headed downstairs early on to sort out the photos from yesterday, as I wanted to put them all on to CD for Sue and Steve, and to catch up on some TV we’d recorded.

I love this shot of Steve relaxing outside in the garden. You can see how warm it was, even this early in the morning.



We eventually left at about 10.30 and headed into Maidstone town centre to a café to get breakfast. It’s somewhere we go quite often, particularly if we’re heading into town early in the morning and it never fails to deliver a good British fry up, which is why we took them there. We all had fry ups, mine of course a veggie one and it was excellent as usual and certainly filled us up for the day ahead.

We walked through town and showed them the Ann Summers shop, which is full of lingerie and a few other items, shall we say. If you want to know more, then log on to their website – I’m sure you can find it easily enough through Google. It’s a good example of how open the British are these days, as these shops are on high streets throughout the country.

We had to make a few stops while we were in town – I don’t think anyone will be surprised to know that one of them was to get some more DVD discs for Steve and the other stop was to get him some decongestant for his cold, along with some Fishermen’s Friends. He kept talking about this and saying “I need some Fishermen’s Friends” and Sue and I decided to look and see if we could find any. He was so pleased when he saw what we’d found for him!

All that done, it was back to the car and over to Leeds Castle, which is a few miles outside of Maidstone. It’s called the loveliest castle in the world and, we think, with good reason. We parked fairly close to the entrance, which indicated that there weren’t many people there that day. We bought our tickets, using the two for the price of one vouchers that I’d found through a leaflet. Even better, the tickets are valid for a full year from the date of their first use, so Mark and I definitely plan on going back again during that time.

We slowly walked down towards the castle, taking our time in the beautiful weather. One of the first things we saw were the trademark peacocks that patrol the castle:



We took lots of photos as we walked, as the trees and shrubs looked beautiful with blossom everywhere.



Finally, after walking all the way down, you start to get glimpses of the castle:



Next: ”Just a few bottles for us!”

[mcc0313]

What a beautiful landscape...definitely fits the bill with the most beautiful castle in the world...

Glad you were feeling better after some medication and hope that Steve was feeling better soon after taking some cold medicine as well...

Your breakfast sounded delicious...I am guessing that a fry up would be some form of an English Omelet?

[Colexis Mom]

What beautiful grounds around the castle More please

[chezp]

Originally Posted by mcc0313

Your breakfast sounded delicious...I am guessing that a fry up would be some form of an English Omelet?

Not really : It's pretty much like the fry up you get in the States, although I'm told the bacon and sausages are better here.

[DrDolphin]

Wonderful update!!! I love all the pictures of the wildlife and plants!

[RobDVC]

What a fantastic day you had in Paris!
Love the Leeds Castle gardens!
You got some great shots of the fowl residing there!