1- I've Arrived

Well, the day finally came, but unlike the past I had to fill a whole day before my flight at 11:15 pm. Security was much simpler as I didn't even have to take my tablet out of my bag. All she asked was liquid over 100 ml.  I almost fell asleep in my chair at the gate and I was frustrated by a tv screen hanging down from the ceiling that could have been broadcasting the game instead of the same promotions over, and over, and over for CTV weather and Morning Show.

We got away on time and I was pleased to discover the seat next to me was unoccupied. After we were cruising a while they brought our suppers- I chose chicken. Then lights out until they started waking us for breakfast service at 4 (in my body), but let's change our clocks, it's 9 am. We landed in Paris 10:25 a.m. after a coffee and breakfast cookie. 

Blue Jays 11-4

Steep steps from plane, bus to terminal, line up for passport check, pick up luggage, 'nothing to declare', then through to the waiting throngs and there's David among the crowd. 💞  We walked a lot to get to the ticket machine then tickets for the subway into Paris. We went to the train station and got a locker to stow our stuff for the day while we roamed around Paris. Then a subway and a walk to get to Notre Dame. The waiting line moves really fast and then you can linger inside as long as you like or stay in the flow that's pushing along.

There were quite a few people in the seats and I wondered if you could just sit and look around or reflect, but they were roped off. Turned out there was a wedding happening  so we got to be unintentional observers. The priest came out and told us it was a special one, as it was actually one of the workers that had worked on the roof after the fire. We weren't allowed to take pictures of them, but I got some shots of the surroundings.

Charlemange

Artists in class

I remembered from when I was there before that Shakespeare and Company was just across the bridge so we went there and got some pics and a couple of books, because they will only stamp books.

We ate next door at the Brasserie. Good food, nice surroundings, with an adventurous toilet trip down some winding stairs,  through a hallway like a cavern, and then your nose told you that you had arrived.

Fortunately, we had relaxed and rested until it was time to leave for the station because there was no more sitting. We walked to the subway, caught our train, walked to our locker to pick up my luggage, and then up to the station to find our train.

The station was plugged with people and more coming all the time because, we kept hearing an announcement that 'there was an accident involving people' on the tracks, which also delayed our train. They finally posted our departure at Hall 1, Gate D, and we were car 5, seats 83&84. For us, it was about half hour delay but no place to sit or lean for all that time.

I managed to complete day 600 of my Duolingo lessons while in Paris. How fitting!

It was the fast train so there was only 2 stops, a nice nap, and we arrived in Grenoble about 9:45pm. Two or three blocks walking in the pouring rain got us to the vehicle (which thankfully had not been towed) and home to hugs all around.   💞  A bit of talking but soon to bed about 12.

I learned the next morning that the Blue Jays had lost.

Apparently the Seine now has water taxis.