Our first hiccup in regard to the strike was the cancellation of our train ride from Paris to Bordeaux.  Thankfully, we were able to get on another train.  Bordeaux is known as the red wine country of France. I loved this city!  So many beautiful, historic buildings left us in awe of the time and artesian skill needed to erect these magnificent landmarks found along the river and the town. We were searching for the reflecting pool at the Stock Exchange Square when we realized we were standing on it.  The pool doesn’t open until April.  One of the disadvantages of going in the off-season. 

We did a great deal of walking as we first headed off to the marketplace, where the aromas drifted from one stand to another.  Picture-perfect vegetables, a fragrant array of flowers, and various meats and cheeses made me wish our food shopping emulated this open-air market.  The town is adorned with restaurants with outdoor seating, decadent pastry shops, and wine stores.

The next day, we eagerly awaited our tour guide as we traveled to Saint Emilion for a day visiting wine country.  Our first stop was a winery that, in addition to the modern way of making wine, still held fast for a portion of the wine they produced done the old-fashioned way.  Yep, stomping on grapes, using holistic ways to avoid harsh pesticides and good old oak barrels.  Needless to say, those bottles were costly.

We had lunch in the quaint town with its narrow cobblestone streets and old-world charm.  We left the countryside with great memories and six bottles being shipped back to the States for us to enjoy and reminisce about our time in Bordeaux.

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Forty-year wedding celebration held in the romantic country of France.  Unbeknownst to us, the country had a labor strike which caused a couple of hiccups in our well-laid-out travel plans.  As Mitch said, “It’s all in the experience.”  Four full days in Paris, and we covered so much ground. I will try and give you a flavor of our experience in this city before we move on to Bordeaux (the next blog).

Eiffel Tower – option to take the elevator from the ground floor to the top or climb the first two stories, then get on an elevator to the top.  No surprise there; Mitch wanted to take the stairs – all 689 of them! What an amazing view of Paris from the top. The stunning sunset was an added bonus, and when we returned to the bottom, the tower was lit with a warm amber color making it magical.

Our daughter’s gift was a two-hour dinner cruise along the Seine River.  Upon our return, what a treat to have the Eiffel Tower sparkling brightly like diamonds in the sky.  After dark, the tower sparkles for the first five minutes of every hour.  It was everything I imagined it would be. 

Getting around the city is easy, and for $30 euro per week, one can take unlimited city transportation to all the iconic sights.

               Lourve – once a royal palace, now home to masterpiece arts, including the infamous Mona Lisa. If you stopped in front of every picture for 5 seconds, it would take nine months to see it all.

               Arch de Truimph and Champs de Elysee. – Crazy traffic, and the street is lined with every major elite brand one can think of.  VSL, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Tiffany all accounted for.  Reminded me of Rodeo Drive in California.

               Throughout the city, scaffolding is seen at Norte Dame and in many other areas of Paris as they are sprucing up the city for the 2024 Olympic visitors.  There is no shortage of pastry shops or little cafes.

               Bike tour to Versailles – When in France, this is a must!  In addition to the castle, one can visit Marie Antoinette’s summer home and the beautiful grounds.  Having a picnic on the grounds with wine and cheese was a highlight for us.

               Montmarte – This is the highest point in Paris and is affectionately known as the town of Artists. The number of stairs to get to it is staggering.  When you thought you had conquered them, another set of multiple stairs awaited you. Don’t forget to take a picture by the “Wall of Love.”

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