We’re Off!

Well, I had good intentions that, long ago, I would have had set out all the things we we’re planning to, accompanied by great photos stolen from the web. Instead, I just ran out of time in still having to finish a schedule, along with all the other things one needs to do when taking an extended and complicated trip.

Therefore, this is as good as it’s going to get, as I start composing this 45 minutes before we have to leave. I’ll set out our schedule, then try to accompany some with photos, provided time exists, but there will be no accompanying text – will have to wait for our return.

While in Paris the 1st week, I expect to have web access. Whether I have the time is another matter.

Here’s our schedule.

Leave Terminal 3, Pearson 2020 on Zoom for CDG, ETA 0940 Jul 26. Here’s a link to our apartment, which is very close to the Metro, Madeleine, next being Opéra or Concorde, so a very central and good location. Here’s a link to the apartment photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/dsmcneish/RueDuChevalierDeSaintGeorges75001ParisFrance

We’ll take a Roissybus from CGG to Opéra and walk the balance. That eve, we’re being hosted to supper in a restaurant in Place du Marché St-Honoré by Josiane and Isobel, they being off next day to Montreal to visit Josiane’s son, husband of our Lindsay.

July 27

Sister, Kim, and husband, Gerald, fly in, ETA 0940 or so, with Mom in tow, they coming off a week’s Ireland tour. The plan is to go directly by RER to where we lived at 9, rue Lamartine in St-Germain-en-Laye. It’ll take about 45 minutes door to station plus a further 15 minute walk. We’ll Probably also look at the château and vista that overlooks Paris.

That eve, we’re all hosted by Josiane’s friends, Bob and Maria, who live near Place de la Republique. Most things in Paris quick and inexpensive to get to by and combination of metro, bus and RER.

July 28

Invalides & Napoleon's Tomb>Champs de Mars>Eiffel Tower>Pallais de Chaillot>Trocadero

l'Arc de Triomple and area

Charles de Gaulle Etoile #1 Dir Champs-Élysées>Franklin D. Roosevelt>walk down FDR>Port des Champs-Élysées batobus

Pont Champs-Élysées>Quai de Montebello-Notre Dame

Lunch on l’Ile de la Cité

Sainte-Chapelle

Return by Quai du Louvre Tuileries>Place de la Concorde

July 29

Walk Cité and Île Saint-Louis

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Walk Beaubourg to Place des Vosges

Walk Place des Vosges to Bastille

Lunch in Le Marais

Sacré Coeur and Montmartre

July 30

Walk left bank near l’Ile de la Cité, rue Mouffetard, Pantheon, Luxembourg Gardens, Blvd St Germain and/or rue Honoré stroll

Lunch in Left Bank

Louvre evening

July 31

Versailles via RER

Return to seafood restaurant in Montparnasse

Aug 1

Champagne caves tour in Épernay, drive through its wine country, turning back and up to Reims

Aug 2

Reims cathedral

Champagne caves tour

Amiens cathedral

Vimy

Rouen

Aug 3

Rouen cathedral

Fécamp

Etretat

Honfleur

Trouville

Deauville

Caen

Aug 4

Normandy Beaches and Bayeux tapestry; view of Mont-St-Michel

Aug 5

Mont-St-Michel

Saint-Malo

Château d'Ussé

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau

Bléré hotel

Aug 6

Château de Villandry Gardens

Château d'Amboise

Château de Chenonceau

Aug 7

Château de Blois

Château de Chambord

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres

Hosted by our son-in-law’s cousin, Joel, in Villjust

Versailles hotel

Aug 8

Drive in from Versailles and return by air.