From Lille to Paris, May 8 & 9

May 8

  We had a slow start on our drive to Paris, taking the time for one last coffee at a nearby café in Lille. It was about a 3 hour drive, but we stopped twice for gas - at both stations, our Visa card was refused, but, luckily, we had cash.

    Returning the rental car to the Gare de Lyon was quite a pain as the company gave us the wrong address to return the car. So, we parked by Hall 1 and walked to Hall 3 (quite a walk) to be told to go back and get the car and bring it to the right address - which we did. Then, we took 2 Metros to our stop, Oberkamph and walked to Rue de la Prieur where we will be for 5 nights

     We continue to have challenges getting into flats! We got into the building, but could not figure out where the keybox was to the flat and did not have the flat's number either. Evidently, we had neglected to watch the video! We had all the numbers, but didn't know where the flat was. At any rate, the caretaker met us after about a 15 minute wait and we got into this funky apartment which will be hard to describe. 

   

  The ground level has our bedroom, shower (in the bedroom), kitchen and sitting room. There are stairs to go down into the bedroom and then stairs to go back up to the shower in the same room. We will have to be very attentive.

      Then, the basement level (rather crypt-like) has the toilet! To access it you have to go down rather steep, metal spiral stairs! And, the washer. There is also a sitting room, but we cannot imagine either of us sitting down there. It is really an elderly person's nightmare with lots of places to fall. So - we will be really careful. And...are we really elderly? So soon?

       So, after arriving (around 4:15) and settling in, we walked to a nearby boulangerie and Franprix to get food. We made a salad and had some baguette and cheese.

May 9

 

  What a wonderful day! First, it was a gorgeous sunny day. Secondly, we had the whole day to spend with Claudia Butler.

     We took the subway and then walked to the Bibliotheque Nationale and sat in a garden and waited for Claudia. First, we went to eat with her at a tiny Japanese restaurant in the area and then we went into the gorgeous library.

      Then, we went to the Palais Royal garden and had coffee/tea and cookies. It was so relaxing. We chatted and caught up with each other's lives. Parisiens were out in force enjoying their public spaces and their children. Of course, there were tourists, too.

     

We walked to the Louvre area to find the bus was cancelled due to demonstrations nearby. So, we took a taxi to Claudia's beautiful neighborhood, not far from the Eiffel Tower. Rue Cler is a pedestrianized street where we shopped at individual stores gathering food for dinner - a florist, a butcher's shop, a boulangerie, a vegetable and fruit store. So much fun.

      Then we went to her flat on Rue de Grinelles which is astonishing. It is spacious with huge French doors onto a very large balcony. It is so Parisien and perfect for Claudia who loves her life here. 

         Friends of hers who spent half their year in Sydney, Australia and half in the Loire Valley joined us. Claudia served roasted chicken with new potatoes with parsley, asparagus with tarragon, bread and salad. Dessert, an apricot tarte, was brought by Ann and Barry.

   

   Terrific conversation, beautiful Spring evening. We got home around 10:15. It was a perfect day in Paris.