Paris! I loved Paris the first time and was super excited to get back there. We arrived in late from Bordeaux on Sunday, about 10.30pm- long bus day! We hung out with Kris, our last night with him before we all went different ways.
Monday we woke, had brekky, packed up, checked out and put our luggage in storage at the hostel (we were staying somewhere different for the next three nights). We set off for our bike tour, only to realise I left my ticket at the hostel- whoops! Lucky there was another one later in the day. Back to our first hostel, grabbed our bags and headed for our next hostel in Montmarte, up the street from the Moulin Rouge and across the road from the hill with the Sacre Coeur. We did our washing- worst part about traveling and headed for the Eiffel tower to start our bike tour. We had a really good guide, so funny and interesting, so the bike tour was a massive success! That evening we bought simple dinners from the supermarket and went and ate it on the steps of the Sacre Coeur overlooking Paris- beautiful spot, and so busy at night.
Tuesday we woke up to miserable weather and rain. We braved the weather and went to see the Notre Dame. Such a beautiful church! There was a service on at the time we went through, it was amazing to see. Afterwards we headed for Forum Des Halles- a shopping centre to get ourselves out of the rain. That evening we went to a restaurant suggested by our bike tour guide. It was beautiful! We me up with my friend Aleesha, who we've been bumping into the entire trip. Three course dinner- Malaika and I shared snails & a Caesar salad for entree, I then had a steak for dinner, and creme brûlée for dinner. Delicious meal & good value too :)
Wednesday the rain held off so we had a very touristy day! First, we headed to a market close to our hostel. It was so interesting to see a local market. We bought food for our picnic that night, so cheap too. Onto the Louvre next to see the Mona Lisa, she's so small! We then walked up the Champs Élysées to the Arc De Triomphe. Back to the hostel to grab our picnic supplies (including our wine from Bordeaux) and onto the Eiffel tower! The weather was still chilly, but not raining so it was a beautiful night. We watched the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle (my blog photo).
Thursday we headed for Napoleons Tomb in the morning, and then back to the Eiffel tower with our leftover picnic for lunch. We had a productive afternoon booking trains for England and some final accommodation for the next couple of weeks before moving back to our original hostel (busabout picks up and drops off at certain hostels so it's easier for us to already be there when it's an early bus in the morning). We had a much needed early night, for once!
Next stop, Bern!