Kelly & Bill Hartley: European Tour 2009

Well it has been a week since we got back from our trip to Paris and London and I have been slow to write about it. The trip was Fantastic! We were sad to have to come back to everyday life.

Part One Paris

We arrived in Paris about 1:30 pm and headed for the train station inside the airport. My bright idea to take the train and subway to our hotel. I had researched ahead and knew which train to take and which subway connection. We arrived in the middle of Paris at the subway station Gare du Nord. All of the signs were in french and I had a hard time telling which subway train we needed to get on. So Bill and I decided we would give up and go outside and catch a cab to the hotel. We walked around for 45 minutes trying to find an exit to the street. All we saw were platforms for the subway for all the different connections. We then gave up and took the subway line I thought would get us there and luckily I was right. We also learned that the exits are along the tracks next to the subway lines and not inside the station. Next lesson is thatt luggage and subway travel do not mix. Four flights of very narrow steps to get to the street. So that is the last time we will attempt that in any city.

Finally we are in Paris and everything they say is true! Paris is beautiful. All of the architecture is old, ornate and breathtaking. It is hard to explain the mood it provides. All I know is that Bill and I can't wait to go back. For the next four days we took the tourist double decker bus and tour boat to see the city. We ate lots of delicious french food and drank plenty of champagne.

The area where we stayed was central Paris close to the Louvre or the Right Bank. This is the fashion district. The parisians are very chic. Everyone I saw looked very stylish. They are a walking advertisement for the designer shops.

On our second day there we had lunch with business associates of Bill's, Antoine and Julien. They took us to an authentic french bistro and we had a delicious lunch. They also gave us some good inside information about Paris for our trip.

Bill and I at the Eiffel Tower

The last time I was in Paris was 25 years ago. I took a picture at this sign in front of Notre Dame. Well here I am again.

Champs Elysees by night. Paris at night is breathtaking. I recommend it for everyone.

Pont Alexandre Bridge. Almosty any movie of Paris has this bridge in it. My photo does not do it justice.

Arc de Triumphe

Our Hotel the New Roblin

Old Train Station. Blois Tours wow! Dad did you tour Paris?

Dinner at Le Grand Colbert. This restaurant was in the movie "Somethings Got To Give"

Notre Dame

Love those sidewalk cafes.

Part of the Petite Palace

The Louvre

Moulin Rouge

Au Revoir Paris! We can't wait to see you again.

Part 2
Bill and I took the Eurostar train from Paris to London. It goes through the Chunnel from Belgium to the United Kingdom. The total trip takes two hours and you gain an hour back when going from Paris to London due to the time difference. The actual time in the Chunnel was only 15 minutes. The train goes about 250 miles an hour. While we were boarding the train I had stopped to ask the conductor a question and Jacqueline Bisset walked up next to me to speak with the conductor. I recognized her right away but the conductor did not. When she walked off I said to him "do you know who that was"? I said "that was Jacqueline Bisset". He said "your right, I knew she looked familiar"!

When we arrived we caught a cab. Those classic British cabs. I wanted to tell the driver “hey you’re driving on the wrong side.” I never did get used to the driving on the left side of the road and the steering wheel on the right side of the car. I suppose that a lot of people have been hit by cars due to this. By habit you look to the left first. All of the cross walks have written on them look this way and points to the right. Thank you London.

Once we got to the hotel, wouldn’t you know it, they did not have an elevator and we had to climb three flights of stairs with our luggage. Lesson number 2. Always make sure the hotel has an elevator.

The neighborhood we stayed in is in Knottinghill. The same as the movie. We spent the first day browsing the market and shops and ended it with some great pub food. Bill and I have come to love pub food. Fish and chips, bangers and mash, meat pies etc…. They have pubs all over Dubai offering authentic British pub food. Well we got to eat the real thing and we loved it. The weather was cool and the hearty food hit the spot. It was a nice change from the extra hot Dubai weather.

Our second day we hoped on the double decker tourist bus and the tourist boat. That way we get an idea of the main spots we want to visit. Then we get off and tour the spots we really want to see. We went on the London Eye which is the big farris wheel that has a great view of London. We also went by the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. By the end of the day we were worn out. Off to the pub for grub and back to the hotel.

On our third day we took the tube (subway) to Buckingham palace and watched the changing of the guards. Boy that place gets crowded. We toured the horse stables and the Queens gallery. The Queens gallery holds art, jewelry and furniture that is an over flow from the palace. Very impressive and they will not let you take pictures. We then got back on the tube and went to Harrod’s. We window shopped and ate lunch. For the end of our day we went over to Madame Tussaud’s wax museum. It was lots of fun. The figures are very realistic. We ended the evening at a pub in the neighborhood for grub and lager.

The weather on our trip could not have been better. It was mild and mostly sunny in Paris and cool and sometimes cloudy in London but no rain in Paris or London.

We had a fabulous time and look forward to go back to both places.