The Left Bank

Sitting on the high speed Thalys train to Paris from Brussels right now.  Having just finished our lunch courtesy of our B&B. Since the Europeans serve cold cuts and cheese not to mention mounds of every kind of bread with their breakfast, we are getting really good at smuggling out sandwiches. Although, our hostess looked at us a bit odd when we asked for mustard yesterday.  She remarked "That's different!"

We watched a movie on the laptop last night. Had a good night's sleep. No one else at the B&B to make any noise.  After breakfast, we packed up our stuff and made sure that we knew where we were going and the connections to make. Also how to get to our Paris hotel from the train station.  Said our goodbyes to Jane and hiked down to the station. Boarded an earlier train to Brussels then we had originally planned.  This left us with a little more time to figure out where to go to get the Paris train in Brussels.  Figured it all out without too much trouble.  The train was already at the track, found our seats and viola!  We are on our way.  The ride is only about 1:30 hours.

The weather was rather bleak when we left Bruges but as we travel, the skies appear to be getting brighter.  Or maybe I am willing them to be brighter.  Leaving behind the beer, chocolate, frites, and wafels, we are looking forward to arriving in Paris for another leg of our European adventure.

Would love to hear from any of our barge pals to know if you made it back home OK.

later...

Got to Paris and was deposited at the Gare de Nord - went to the info counter and bought a 5 day metro pass - hopped on the #4 and I immediately had flashbacks of being back in NY.  The culture shock hit hard, especially when we exited the Metro at Montparnasse.  It looked like Times Square. It took a while, but we eventually found our hotel.  Nothing to get too excited about.  We changed rooms to one off the street - didn't care for the jack hammering too much.  This room is quiet, clean, and the bed is the best one yet!  Plus it was free, so we aren't complaining.

After a rest, we ventured out to find some dinner.  We are in the heart of some kind of theater district on the left bank - lots of outdoor cafes and lots of people.  We were in and out of practically all of them - looking at menus and getting totally ignored. Decided that authentic French food was far too rich for us and kept looking for some middle ground.  Finally got went into some place that had a decent menu and actually waited on us. Very friendly, the food was good.  I had to send my steak back because it was like leather and then I got a terrific piece of meat.  Geoff got crispy bream which is a white fish.  The wine here is unbelievably expensive considering it all comes from this country.  I don't get that at all.

Paris at night

Not too many pictures, we were too bushed to do much of anything. Took one night scene leaving the restaurant. Tomorrow, if the weather is good and that is a big IF, we might do a bike tour of Paris. Right now we are tucked into our very comfy bed looking forward to getting a good night's sleep.

Next time ... Touring Paris