The very first photo I took in France... inside the airport.
Prior to this trip, I had traveled several times on my own, including a solo visit to Bruges. But having never been on a group tour nor been to Paris before, I felt a little out of my element and not sure what to expect. (Sharing a room with a stranger?!) But the tour itself was exactly what I had wanted it to be: a way to orient myself and ease into the bustle of a city I’d never been to before. And the people I was grouped with were great. I don't know if there is something special about the folks who travel with Rick Steves, but we all seemed to share a similar curiosity and openness to new experiences, and we all seemed equally at ease being part of a group
and also exploring on our own. And despite the size of the hotel room (tiny!), sharing with a stranger ended up being a great experience as well. Although my roommate, Beth, and I did our own things during the day, it was great to have someone to unwind and swap stories with at the end of each day.
and also exploring on our own. And despite the size of the hotel room (tiny!), sharing with a stranger ended up being a great experience as well. Although my roommate, Beth, and I did our own things during the day, it was great to have someone to unwind and swap stories with at the end of each day.
One of the best things about a group tour is that they sort out the logistics for you. The itinerary was set so that we were able to see as much as possible in the best way possible (such as touring the Louvre in the evening when it was less crowded). We were each provided with head set so our guide could talk to use without yelling on busy streets. We were each provided with a week-long Metro pass, as well as week-long museum pass, which made getting around and getting into places very easy. And our tour guide was always ready with sugges-tions for things to do during free time -- good cafes to try, the best places to get eclairs, etc., and he even bought us chocolates one day.
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We stayed all six nights at the Hotel de Londres Eiffel in the 7th arrondissement. I didn't know anything about arrondissements before this trip, but hotel's location turned out to be a good jumping off point for exploring the city. It was very close to tourist hotspots
(a short walk to the Seine and the Eiffel Tower as well as the lovely pedestrian-only Rue Cler), but it also felt like we were in a real neighborhood populated with real locals. The hotel is tall and narrow and is run by friendly staff, all of whom seemed bemused at my attempts to converse in French. (Beth's and) my room was on the 5th floor, accessed either by a narrow, winding staircase or a very interesting elevator.
(a short walk to the Seine and the Eiffel Tower as well as the lovely pedestrian-only Rue Cler), but it also felt like we were in a real neighborhood populated with real locals. The hotel is tall and narrow and is run by friendly staff, all of whom seemed bemused at my attempts to converse in French. (Beth's and) my room was on the 5th floor, accessed either by a narrow, winding staircase or a very interesting elevator.
Arnaud was our Rick Steves tour guide. He filled us with plenty of historical informa-tion about Paris (most of which went in one ear and out the other, I'm sorry to say), but also tied the facts and dates together with "human interest" stories about the ever=changing neighborhoods and the people who once lived there. He encouraged us to speak French whenever we ventured out on our own, and he gave us valuable insights into the Parisian people, culture, and street etiquette. Whether we were dodging bicyclists while crossing a busy street or muscling our way into a packed Metro car, Arnaud always had a funny quip or bit of advice on the best way to "be Parisian." |
Arnaud in front of the Notre Dame. Fun fact: The straight lines of lighter stones mark the boundary
of what used to be a street. In the Middle Ages, houses would have stood along those lines. |
The tour kicked off on Sunday evening with a group orientation and bus ride around the city. Visiting the Eiffel Tower wasn't included in the itinerary, but that evening the bus stopped nearby so we could all get out and take our picture in front of it while it was lit up. The bus ride was followed by a fantastic group dinner at La Terrasse. In total, we had three dinners as a group, all at restaurants within walking distance from our hotel. And all were delicious. |
On Tuesday evening, Arnaud hosted a wine and cheese tasting at the hotel. The wines were nice (my favorite was Chateau de Chiffre), but I loved the cheese, especially Mont d'Or au Lait Cru, Because it's unpasteurized, it's not available in the states, so
this was special.
The handy thing about being a part of group is that someone is there to take pictures of you. Here I am at Le Bosquet at our last
group diner. (I had the duck confit.) And here I am in front of the gilded gates of Versailles.
group diner. (I had the duck confit.) And here I am in front of the gilded gates of Versailles.
When the tour was over, I left Paris wanting to return (just hopefully in better weather next time), and craving more of the
delicious cheese! :-)