Come travel with us!: September 2017

Friday, 29 September 2017

Some more info

Here are some receipts so that you can see what we paid for in food. Also pamphlets on discounts on the river boat.

If you plan on going on these, do accept these vouchers as you'll get a 2€ discount and we all know that every bit we can save is great 😇

Here we ate very well and at a very reasonable price. We initially went in for me to get a scarf ;) and when we saw the price of the food we stayed. They have tables and chairs and a microwave oven and even a coffee machine for your use.

Rest Louvre was certainly the most expensive restaurant we ate and the food was just food ...the panini was horrid and so flat and to top it all we got charged for extra cheese??? Carrefour is another great place to buy your road food and keep expenses down ;)

Any other good food suggestions we'd love to hear from you.

Sunday, 24 September 2017

Tips and curiosities about Paris

Here I leave some tips, curiosities and sites I used when planning our trip to Paris ;)

Sacre-Coeur: You can climb the 222 steps (we went around) or take the funicular to reach the top. The entrance to the chapel is free (don't get put off by the queue) so much sure to go inside. Do not let the salesmen at the funicular put a bracelet on your arm ;) Sit on the steps and just admire the gorgeous scenes. If your lucky there'll be someone singing and you can sing along :)

Arc de Triomphe: Do not try to cross the roundabout rather take the underpass to access the Arc de Triomphe.

Champs-Elysees: If you want to go shopping, remember they're only open till 10pm

Tuileries Gardens: The admission is free and they are open oct-Mar daily from 7:30 - 19:30

Place de la Concorde: There was a lot of works going on but by night it is simply remarkable.

Alexandre Bridge: This is such a lovely bridge with its Art Nouveau lamps and winged horses and nymphs. It connects the two banks of the Seine from the Champs-Elysees quarter to the Eiffel Tower quarter.

Eiffel Tower: To be really wowed get off at Trocadeiro, it's really impressive! It's possible to climb the stairs as far as the 3rd floor but to go to the top you need to take the elevator.

individual

RATES

Valid from January 1st until October 31st 2017 *	ADULTS	CHILDREN 12 - 24 years old	REDUCED RATE 4 - 11 years Disabled persons(1) French job seeker(2)
Lift entrance ticket (valid to the 2nd floor)	11,00€	8,50€	4,00€
Lift entrance ticket to the top	17,00€	14,50€	8,50€
Stairs entrance ticket (valid to the 2nd floor)	7,00€	5,00€	3,00€

* (subject to change)

Handicapped people (1) and job seekers (2)
(1) must provide proper documentation; Reduced rates apply to one individual accompanying per handicapped person.
(2) Rates are for French job seekers, upon presentation of a certificate from the unemployment agency dated no more than 6 months

Children under 4 are able to enter the Eiffel Tower free of charge. Those accompanying them pay the regular adult rate.

WARNING: the top floor and stairs access are not allowed to persons with reduced mobility.

Louvre Museu:. Admission to the permanent collections €12, exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon €13, combined tickets €16. Residents of the European Economic Areas that are under 18 and 18-25 go free. Opening hours: Monday, Thursday and weekends 9:00-18:00, Wednesday and Friday 9:00-21:30

Orsay Museum: Be aware that the museum is closed on Monday.

Petit Palais: Is also cloded on Monday.

Arc de Triomphe: Admission is €9,50 and free for the under 18.

Opening hours: Museum and exhibitions

open from 9.30am to 6pmdaily, except Mondays
late night on Thursdays until 9.45pmlast tickets sold at 5pm (9pm Thursdays)
museum cleared at 5.15pm (9.15pm Thursdays)
group visits, pre-booked only, Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm (Thursdays until 8pm)
closed on Mondays, on 1 May and 25 December.

Galeries Lafayette: Opening hours 9:30-20:0, Thu 9:30-21:00, closed on Sunday.

Notre Dame: Cathedral is free, towers €8, crypt €4 and treasury €3

Cathedral daily from 7:45-18:45, Towers, Oct - Mar 10:00-17:30, Crypt, Tues - Sun 10:00 - 18:00

Holy Chapel: You really must visit it when the sun is shining to experience the full beauty.
Jan 2 - Mar 31

Daily: 9 am - 5 pm
Apr 1 - Sep 30
Daily: 9 am - 7 pm
Oct 1 - Dec 31
Daily: 9 am - 5 pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Closed on Jan 1, May 1 and Dec 25.

Admission: Adults €10, Concessions €8

Luxemburg Gardens: Admission free. Open daily from 7:30 - dusk. Be sure not to miss the Fountaine des Médicics.

Rodin Museum: Admisson €4, gardens only €1. Free entrance on the 1st Sunday of the month. Opening hours: Tues - Sun 10:00 - 17:45

Hotel des Invalides: admission €9,50 Opening hours : Église du Dôme and museums Oct - Mar daily 10:00 - 17:00. Closed on the 1st Monday of every month from Oct - June.

Sacre Coeur Basilica: admission : free, Dome €6. Opening hours: Basilica 6:00 - 22:00, Dome and Crypt Oct - Apr daily 9:00 - 17:00, May - Sept daily 8:30 - 20:00

Some very useful sites that I used when planning our Paris trip:-

http://www.visitacity.com/ This I used to plan our visit to all the attractions
https://www.ratp.fr/en/itineraires?lang=uk Used to plan the metro trip
http://vasyenmetro.com/iMTY3NHwxNjc5fA?lang=en This one too is an excellent planner for the metro
http://www.about-paris.com/paris-metro.htm Info on the Paris metro
http://www.aeroportbeauvais.com/bus.php?lang=eng For transport from airport Beauvais Tillé Remember it's best to buy tickets online...they're cheaper and you don't have to stand in queue´s

Ticket or pass? Check-out these sites. We bought the 10 x 2 ticket booklet and it worked out perfect for our 3 days ;)

For parking at the airport we used this site and we compared prices. It's so much easier to do it this way and way more inexpensive too ;)

Some extra tips for making your trip to Paris easier.

Be very careful when crossing the roads eventhough you might be crossing at the zebra crossing. Remember that the French couldn't give a S##t. They will ride right in front of you and behind you, so don't stop they seem to know how to do it without killing anyone 😼😼
I noticed too that bicycles, bikes and ubers have no rules, they just cross from lane to lane without any precaution.
If you want to save money buy baquettes, cheese, ham and whatever you like to eat and drink at supermarkets and then carry them in your rucksacks and then when it's lunch time sit down in one of the many parks and eat.
If you do want to go for coffee or a drink do not sit down because you will be charged double or more...have your coffee or drink at the counter! Unless you're tired then sit and pay 😇
I found that the French like the Spanish will and can get their cars to fit in the most incredible small parking places. They use the method of bumping the front and back cars lightly untill they fit 😊
Do not be afraid to ask for directions, eventhough the French are useless at speaking English they will try to make themselves understood 😉 I had this theory that all the French were arrogant and stuck-up people but I have since completely changed my opinion of them.
I found that in most of the monuments and churches they write all the info in French and hardly anything in English? This was very strange to me as English is a language that most tourists understand. I think this was one of the negative things about Paris.

Thursday, 21 September 2017

Our flight back - 17th September 2017

So the day has arrived when it's time to pack up and go back home. I'm leaving with a sad heart, firstly because I love to travel and secondly because Paris and it's people have blown me away with their helpful ways and their kindness. I for one have completely changed my views on the French people...I imagined them (as I think a lot of people do) rude, arrogant and full of crap :P I certainly will be back for another visit some time in the future. Make sure to check the videos, tips and curiosities that I'll be posting about Paris too.

Check-in at Beauvais Airport

On the bus on the way to Beauvais Airport

The plane we'll be flying back in has just landed :)

Just clouds

We can already see land

Thinking,,"How did she get me to do this again?"

Keeping occupied :)

Day 3 - 16th September

...and so we come to our 3rd day in the city of lights :) On this day we saw Palace Royal, St. Sulpice, the Luzemburg Gardens, Place du Terre, Sacre Couer and then toured around the Montmartre District. Enjoy the pics ;)