More boring vacation pictures

[Scrapr ★]

We stayed a week on the Left Bank (St Germain by the Sorbonne) & a week on the Right bank (Marais). We don't really have a lot planned but our days get filled by just walking around. Typically get up late & go out to grab a coffee & something something. The first week was in an AirBnB, the 2nd in a hotel. When we left the first 2 weeks were booked with the rest wide open. The lovely Sara with an H scheduled a sauce class toward the end of the week so we are kind of stuck here for a bit. Last night we booked an Air BnB in Chaville. Not far outside the Paris arrondonissments (sp). 

 

in no particular order...Opera house...this day will be 'membered for the taxi company that stranded us 2x's (no show) & charged us anyway. helluva way to make a buck We had a tour set at 10:30. we arrived about 10:20 & just made our tour. Our guide was a actor/PHD/guide. Pretty good guy that made it interesting. We tipped well

More to follow....

 

 

[Scrapr ★]

I may be repeating but the everyday Parisians are dressed well. Sarah saw an elderly woman go by on a scooter with a mini skirt, tall boots & a flashy top. We were right by the Louvre so Sarah picked up the pyramid. We walked through the park called Tuilaries which we butchered as 2 Laryy's. Once you have that in your mind you cannot pronounce it correctly. That night we ended up at Eiffel's tower. Walked around a bit. One side has a big grass park (Champ du Mars). Lots of stuff going on there for 2024  Olympics. So a bunch of the park is inaccesible. Vendors all over spread wares on cloth tarps....like flashing Eiffel towers. As soon as the police are sighted they wrap up & walk away. No vending allowed? It's a game of hide & seek. Ohhh, we were by the D'Orsay about a mile from the tower. So we got a pedalcab to take us over. I had see the rate as 25E for the ride. We get off & no! it's 25E per person!!! No credit card, cash only. MF'er. Pretty sure I got ripped off there. But it was fun. After walking around the Tower I wanted to go to one side to get a better picture. We took the bus over & it was crowded. People pushing to get in. I was sure I was going to get pick pocket there. Was not much I could do. I arrived with my wallet so all was good. 

 

Rodin Museum Burghers of Calais. Calais was under siege in the 100 year war & the town leaders gave themselves up to save the town. Very  interesting expressions on each figures face. i love Rodin work

 

The most beautiful bridge in the world. Pont Alexander bridge

[Scrapr ★]

Two brides taking pictures on the bridge with eiffel's tower as a backdrop. Napoleans tomb in the background

 

Walking back to AirBnB we found this little street...Rue du Buci  really fun people watching. A 4 piece band was busking. I threw them a 5er. The dinner was meh though

And gelato....OMG they are works of art...and delish

[smudge ★]

I'll have what she's having. Yum!!

[smudge ★]

Oh ya, the rest of the pics are pretty amazing. Holy ornate-ness, Batman!!

[bikeman564™]

very nice

[Kirby ★]

Sounds like you had a great trip.  Glad it was fun.

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

50 minutes ago, Scrapr said:

Burghers of Calais

So, what were they like?  Cheeseburghers, bacon burghers, two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun burghers?

[Razors Edge ★]

1 hour ago, Scrapr said:

Rodin Museum Burghers of Calais. Calais was under siege in the 100 year war & the town leaders gave themselves up to save the town. Very  interesting expressions on each figures face. i love Rodin work

DC and Philly have their own castings.  It's a classic masterpiece.  

1 hour ago, Scrapr said:

Walking back to AirBnB we found this little street...Rue du Buci  really fun people watching.

Pretty much the sort of thing that always seems to be happening across the city.  People watching is a blast!

[MoseySusan ★]

So nice! Thank you for posting photos and sharing some highlights. 

[MickinMD ★]

2 hours ago, Scrapr said:

We stayed a week on the Left Bank (St Germain by the Sorbonne) & a week on the Right bank (Marais). We don't really have a lot planned but our days get filled by just walking around. Typically get up late & go out to grab a coffee & something something. The first week was in an AirBnB, the 2nd in a hotel. When we left the first 2 weeks were booked with the rest wide open. The lovely Sara with an H scheduled a sauce class toward the end of the week so we are kind of stuck here for a bit. Last night we booked an Air BnB in Chaville. Not far outside the Paris arrondonissments (sp). 

 

in no particular order...Opera house...this day will be 'membered for the taxi company that stranded us 2x's (no show) & charged us anyway. helluva way to make a buck We had a tour set at 10:30. we arrived about 10:20 & just made our tour. Our guide was a actor/PHD/guide. Pretty good guy that made it interesting. We tipped well

More to follow....

 

 

Exellent.  During my one trip to Paris, we stayed in a hotel on the Left Bank, but not near the Sorbonne: we were farther from the Seine and a few blocks from a big train station in Montparnasse.  When we were there, there was a big line to enter the Louvre at that glass pyramid, but we found out that you could walk right by going underground, where there are lots of shops plus a Louvre entrance at the nearby subway steps.

[Scrapr ★]

2 hours ago, Kirby said:

Sounds like you had a great trip.  Glad it was fun.

whaaaa???  we are still here! We are in a town called Cheville. Don't know anything about it. Found an AirBnB last night & booked it. It's about an hour by transit outside central Paris. Sarah has a sauce class in a couple days. We are trying new places to have a broad range of experience. We just shopped at  Monoprix supermarket for groceries. Using google translate if we have questions. 

 

We go to Copenhagen on Oct 01 for 3 or 4 days then fly home. 

[Razors Edge ★]

1 minute ago, Scrapr said:

We just shopped at  Monoprix supermarket for groceries

I can find a Costco for you!!!!  Don't tell @dinneR 

[Razors Edge ★]

1 minute ago, Scrapr said:

We just shopped at  Monoprix supermarket for groceries.

And, FTR, one time my wife was off doing something for a few hours, so I did my normal "just wander" and see where I landed, but, I did spend about 30 mins just perusing the chocolate, cookies, and the like in a Monoprix. I left with a good bit of chocolate

[Kirby ★]

12 minutes ago, Scrapr said:

whaaaa???  we are still here! We are in a town called Cheville.

 

Better still! 

[Razors Edge ★]

3 minutes ago, Kirby said:

Better still! 

And now you know where to find them if you board a plane ASAP!!!!

[Scrapr ★]

I misspelled the town we are in...it's Chaville. oopsie. Had to run into Paris today. I sent some clothes out for laundry last Friday. She says...back Monday. I show up 2x's on Monday.  Maybe Tuesday she sez....shesh. It's the same the world over. We moved out to Chaville Monday. Sara with an H had another cooking class today so I went in with her. (now she says she needs a Kitchen Aid mixer & a couple more tools) I guess I got Christmas gifts covered! 

 

So tomorrow is moving day. We have to decide where to go. We tried to extend here for a couple days but it's booked right after us. I'm thinking back into Paris in a different arrondisment. We want to go to Strasbourg for a few days & maybe do a couple day trips. Need to be back on the 30th for a flight to Copenhagen on the 1st. It's currently Happy Hour so 

 

First picture Louie XIV (14) bed. Apparently it was an elaborate ceremony on the going to bed & getting up. The baluster in front of the bed was to only let in the "good" staff (courtiers) He died on this spot from gangrene in his leg. Antibiotics anyone???

The other picture is the elementary school next door. Scooter parking! Adorbs 

I also got a haircut & shave today. I saw a shop in the Marais that was doing hot towel shave. It was about $55-60....or about what I pay my "guy" with tip. This guy was $18E.  I paid so fast I forgot my sunglasses. I was tring to get out of there before he shook me down for more. It wasn't hot towel but pretty good. And it's hard to mess up the top part. It's a 1. My french is no bueno so we were sign languaging. He starts in on the 1 & stops & asks....OK? I'm like too late now! 

[Razors Edge ★]

22 minutes ago, Scrapr said:

First picture Louie XIV (14) bed. Apparently it was an elaborate ceremony on the going to bed & getting up. The baluster in front of the bed was to only let in the "good" staff (courtiers) He died on this spot from gangrene in his leg. Antibiotics anyone???

I love that that is your Versailles photo  No fountains for us?

I at least razzed Kzoo

[Scrapr ★]

[MoseySusan ★]

We hung out at the park in front of the Eiffel Tower for three hours an a Sunday. So do a lot of other people. We brought a picnic and a book of cat haiku (in French) to read aloud to each other. Best Sunday afternoon ever.

[Scrapr ★]

We took a bagutte sandwich & some water. Made fresh at the local boulangerie.We got grocery store pastries & thought they were pretty good. As we are eating them on a bench we looked across the street at another boulangerie & they have several awards posted outside.So we got lunch there...plus some beignets. OMG they were delish. 

 

It was about a 15 minute bus ride to Versailles. We went to the gardens first thinking the am line was going to be bad. It was. At least an hour. We waltzed in at 1:30. There was no line. I had to slow down to pull up my ticket on my phone. We did not get out to Marie's hamlet. If we have time we may run out there. We really liked Triananon. That is Louis' relaxation palace, Marie's little spot plus her hamlet. We named one of Maries places the Love shack. Because it looked exactly like a trysting place

[KrAzY]

I have a lot of pictures from the areas y'all are at.. I would have to dig them out since they were all on 35mm film, and from the 90's. 
Glad y'all are having a good time. So did ya just walk past the Louvre pr did ya go in? I could get lost there for a week looking at all the stuff they have. Loved the place.

[Razors Edge ★]

3 minutes ago, Scrapr said:

We took a bagutte sandwich & some water. Made fresh at the local boulangerie.We got grocery store pastries & thought they were pretty good. As we are eating them on a bench we looked across the street at another boulangerie & they have several awards posted outside.So we got lunch there...plus some beignets. OMG they were delish. 

 

It was about a 15 minute bus ride to Versailles. We went to the gardens first thinking the am line was going to be bad. It was. At least an hour. We waltzed in at 1:30. There was no line. I had to slow down to pull up my ticket on my phone. We did not get out to Marie's hamlet. If we have time we may run out there. We really liked Triananon. That is Louis' relaxation palace, Marie's little spot plus her hamlet. We named one of Maries places the Love shack. Because it looked exactly like a trysting place

The food   So awesome!

Versailles is huge and adding the two separate properties plus all the grounds is certainly a full day and not as enjoyable as just getting out and taking it in as much as reasonable.  

I think the palace is quite a spectacular place and does have significant history as well as intrigue, but to me, I was ready to get back outside fairly quickly.  As a home to entertain, it works great, but for me, I'd spend most of my time wandering the grounds (which they likely did too).  I generally find that true of other palaces, castles, estates, etc I have visited.  I'm a sucker for well done outdoor spaces.  And, from a "guided tour" perspective, I tune out so much of the so and so did this, so and so said that stuff, and tend to just wander around the room letting my mind wander.

[Scrapr ★]

3 hours ago, Razors Edge said:

The food   So awesome!

Versailles is huge and adding the two separate properties plus all the grounds is certainly a full day and not as enjoyable as just getting out and taking it in as much as reasonable.  

I think the palace is quite a spectacular place and does have significant history as well as intrigue, but to me, I was ready to get back outside fairly quickly.  As a home to entertain, it works great, but for me, I'd spend most of my time wandering the grounds (which they likely did too).  I generally find that true of other palaces, castles, estates, etc I have visited.  I'm a sucker for well done outdoor spaces.  And, from a "guided tour" perspective, I tune out so much of the so and so did this, so and so said that stuff, and tend to just wander around the room letting my mind wander.

We really liked the smaller estate out in the "Back 40". 

The guided tour groups were ok except when 1 leader takes his group to a doorway & starts yammering. He was literally in the doorway. I started through the group saying pardon moi, pardon moi. In one  small room there was 5 different tours talking along with us peasants. At least a few of the cruise ship groups. When it was a bigger space like the Hall of mirrors it was better. But the anterooms & vestibules? Oiy veh. We picked up the audioguide things and it did give more interesting  info. That's about enough for me. I spent some time in the Napolean  rooms. One room had paintings of him covering all 4 walls. 

[Razors Edge ★]

4 minutes ago, Scrapr said:

We really liked the smaller estate out in the "Back 40". 

The guided tour groups were ok except when 1 leader takes his group to a doorway & starts yammering. He was literally in the doorway. I started through the group saying pardon moi, pardon moi. In one  small room there was 5 different tours talking along with us peasants. At least a few of the cruise ship groups. When it was a bigger space like the Hall of mirrors it was better. But the anterooms & vestibules? Oiy veh. We picked up the audioguide things and it did give more interesting  info. That's about enough for me. I spent some time in the Napolean  rooms. One room had paintings of him covering all 4 walls. 

We did a "funny" hybrid thing instead of a human guide. We had the free audioguide one Versailles supplies and we shared our AirPods and played one of Rick Steves room by room narrations.  Some overlap of info, but also something unique from both. 

I suck at photos, but even I got some good ones (relative to my norm):

[Scrapr ★]

Live stream at the train station.  Look at this pile of luggage! Better be 147 people in this group

[shootingstar]

As a simple day trip from Paris, via short train ride, Versailles is totally worth it.

Great highlights, Scrapr. We loved Paris and stayed there on our own for 4 days when I was there with a sister... 3 decades ago. We stayed in Saint Germain neighbourhood (Left Bank).  Dearie and I would pass through Paris, because each of us already toured Paris in previous trips.

I strongly recommend Strausborg and make sure you are in the historic centre.   We were  there for 2 different trips. Dearie would go 2 more times on his solo trips.  By the way when there, you would be only 30 km. from Germany..the wine region /Black Forest area. I believe the Deustschbahn...German trains run from Strausborg. 

[Airehead ★]

What a lovely adventure. 

[Scrapr ★]

What an interesting train station experience today. That pile of bags looked to be about 6 late teens & 2 mom's (?). Lots of luggage. We had to buy another piece of luggage for all (your(?) gifts. Sarah has it packed full. It's heavy. I wanted to put it in bag storage & she was worried about getting it back. I found a site that would partner with a hotel to store bags. I took it over then explained about it to Sarah. She was uncomfotable with security so I retrieved it & it is with us. 

In the station we were sure where to go to find our train. So we found a line & joined. In front of us was a Russian kid early 20's going to "study" in Rieis.. Instead of taking a train or flying he drove & bussed(?). Moscow, St Petersburg, Norway & Paris. He was against the war & all his friends are as well. He didn't want to train or fly because border checks. Anyway we were in the wrong line & the line was to buy tickets. Guy looked at us like we were cray cray. So we go find a seat at the terminal. That's when Sarah & I start bickering about the bag in storage,. I go get it & a guy in my seat pod looks at me, the bag & her & gives me the raised eyebrow. LOL...I shrugged. This French Canadian asks to sit next to me while Sarah is off so I say ok. We start chatting & she is chatting with the rest of the pod. The couple across the pod is from Portland! We all had a really nice convo because this French Canadian sat down. 

We get our seats on the train...I was a bit confused about the seat numbers. But it worked out. We sat next to an Israli kid that said he was Muslim. Studying in Marine Biology. His path to PHD is mapped out until his 30's. He was a good kid. He is staying with avfriend in Strasbourg. Last night we found an Air BnB in Strasbourg & applied. He has 24 hours to agree or decline. He had not replied by the time we got to Strasbourg so we sat at a cafe & checked hotel. Booked one & headed over. Cheaper by about $100 than the Air BnB. A tram seems to be the way to get around town so I got some tickets on a reloadable card. I got 1 then startted pushing the same buttons for another & about 5 more popped out. No idea how much they hit me for...but I think we are covered for the trip LOL

[shootingstar]

1 hour ago, Scrapr said:

That's when Sarah & I start bickering about the bag in storage,. I go get it & a guy in my seat pod looks at me, the bag & her & gives me the raised eyebrow. LOL...I shrugged. This French Canadian asks to sit next to me while Sarah is off so I say ok. We start chatting & she is chatting with the rest of the pod. The couple across the pod is from Portland! We all had a really nice convo because this French Canadian sat down. 

We get our seats on the train...I was a bit confused about the seat numbers. But it worked out. We sat next to an Israli kid that said he was Muslim. Studying in Marine Biology. His path to PHD is mapped out until his 30's. He was a good kid. He is staying with avfriend in Strasbourg. Last night we found an Air BnB in Strasbourg & applied. He has 24 hours to agree or decline. He had not replied by the time we got to Strasbourg so we sat at a cafe & checked hotel. Booked one & headed over. Cheaper by about $100 than the Air BnB. A tram seems to be the way to get around town so I got some tickets on a reloadable card. I got 1 then startted pushing the same buttons for another & about 5 more popped out. No idea how much they hit me for...but I think we are covered for the trip LOL

Just to comment on European train station storage lockers...which is something not seen in huge numbers in any big city North American train station.  We put our folding bikes in train station storage lockers if there was no conceirge service storage.  

Then went away for the whole day. Just fine.  It's a different culture there too.

So Sarah must have bought something super precious. Jewellery, artwork???, drugs.  

[Scrapr ★]

2 hours ago, shootingstar said:

Just to comment on European train station storage lockers...which is something not seen in huge numbers in any big city North American train station.  We put our folding bikes in train station storage lockers if there was no conceirge service storage.  

Then went away for the whole day. Just fine.  It's a different culture there too.

So Sarah must have bought something super precious. Jewellery, artwork???, drugs.  

LOL...no drugs!!! We watched Midnight Express. I saw train station storage but the note I saw said 72 hours. We are going to be gone 4 days. I found a storage app that partners w/hotels. I dropped it over. Then meet up w Sarah and told her about it. If you had a key card you would have full access to all the bags. She wasn't comfortable with our dog treats and other gifts being lifted. And I wasn't going to die on that hill. It would be better to have an indivual locker & not an open suitcase rack. 

[Scrapr ★]

and our month in France comes to and end. We stayed in Copenhagen for a few days because the original layover was going to be brutal. We stayed in a hostel. They are pods...1 up & 1 down. Very clean and nice enough.  The lovely Sara with an H says she is glad we did it but no more. Her polite way of saying this sucks. Lol

We went to Freetown Cristina and walked around. It was "ok" but not my vibe. Damned dirty hippies took over some abandoned military buildings in the 70s and seceded from Copenhagen. Open air pot & hash selling on Pusher street. Some interesting street art. There was a shop building bikes. Looked like cargo bikes

We had a transit pass so took a water taxi to the end of the line and walked around. A newer neighborhood a local called Little Venice. Once it fills in it will be good. 

Happy hour at the hostel. 

We always take a picture of our feet on arrival at a new place. It's a PDX thing. We were loading and forgot to snap a picture so we took it on the jet way. Then wheels up!

We are home but the trip doesn't end until we pick up the doggehs today

[Dirtyhip]

Beautiful.  I like all the gold.

[Kirby ★]

Do you have any pics of the inside of the pod sleeping thing?  I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.  I like the fact there's an area where you can clearly stand up.

[shootingstar]

How much per night did you pay for those pods?  We didn't bother looking for a sleeping capsule experience in Japan. 

[Scrapr ★]

We paid about 80 euro a night. Euro & dollar are about even now

 

Here is a video of the inside. A bit wonky

https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/8mPPgFB6x78h