Life Time Adventure - Paris Eiffel Tower & Champs Elysees

Having learned from our mistake, we made another trip into Paris on 5th May and it was easy after really understanding how the system works.

The first place that we headed to was the Eiffel Tower, a landmark that is synonymous with Paris. If you had not visited or seen the Eiffel Tower then you would had missed a big part of Paris. I had seen lots of photos before about the Eiffel Tower but being there and seeing it personally is like wow! It was majestic. Even looking at the photos now is different.

A selfie shot with a selfie stick!

Just opposite the Eiffel Tower is the Trocadéro with sculptures, gardens and fountains.

There were a couple of carousels and high performance car that you can ride or drive for a fee off-course.

Next destination is Champs Elysees, we thought of taking a walk along the Seine and being a first timer in Paris not wanting to get lost we decided to ask the policeman that was there. He advised us to follow his directions along the road which is easier rather then follow the Seine river.

The walk was pleasant along the Avenue d'Iéna and we saw the statue of  Washington. After about 20 minutes or so were more or less in the center part of Champs Elysees.

Yes a trishaw.

We can see the Victory Arch at one end of Champs Elysees and decided to walk towards it. Along the way a cup of coffee with croissant and danish along the sidewalk make it complete.

 We continued on our stroll and soon we were at the Arc de Triomphe. It was crowded with tourist from all over like all other tourist hot spots in Paris.

Soon it was time to call it a day and we were able to get back with the metro then the train easily.

Life Time Adventure - Colombes

Colombes is one of the suburbs of Paris and this was where we stayed. It wasn't big neither was it small, there are many shops, a train station, a couple of supermarkets, cinemas and theaters, pedestrian mall and so on. One of the thing that caught my attention are very narrow houses.

There are quite a few of these slim houses around here.

Lots of yummy stuff here.

One of the supermarket.

Building with a decorative pillar.

Different looking house.

A Theater.

The clock is still working.

Modern day church.

 A Museum.

War memorial.

Cinema.

Train Station.

 Another Super market.

Inside the Village.

Shopping Street.

Colombes is indeed a very well self contained suburb.

Life Time Adventure - Gancourt

On 30th April, we had the opportunity to visit and assist the owner in preparing her country house for some guests over the weekend. It is outside Gancourt-Saint-Etienne, a small village in Normandy. The house is old, very old like about 300 years old or more but it was refurbished with all modern amenities. It is a nice and interesting house with lots of character.

The drive to Gancourt takes about an hour and a half with nothing much to see but lots of cultivated land of rapeseeds, grains and dairy farming. We pass through some small village town and the largest town closest to our destination is Gournay-Sur-Marne.

On the way to Gancourt.

My very first time driving a mower tractor, it was fun!

The very old country home.

The Organic Cheese, butter and cream farm/factory.

 Making cheese.

 

 Curing Cheese.

Our visits to Gancourt was interesting including those wonderful and interesting lunches we had.

Life Time Adventure - Paris Walk around

Our first time out to Paris was on May 1st., a major holiday in France. We were not able to get to where we wanted but had be contented and make the best of where we were. We were staying in the suburb called Colombes and by just taking a train it will take us right in to Saint Lazare Station. From this station we can go almost anywhere because the Metro is just below it.

 Inside Saint Lazare Station 

After checking with the information office we were told to go down to the Metro station in the basement to catch Line 9 and get down in Trocadero Station. From there we can easily get to the Eiffel Tower. Sound easy enough and off we went to the Metro. 

Upon arriving at the Metro station, we were surprised that the ticket counter were closed and only ticket machines were available. "Oh-O" ... neither of us could speak or read French, the queue at the ticket machines were long and everyone seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere. So we decided to wander around the area around the station.

Just outside the station.

Printemps

All shops were closed.

The Opera

Galeries Lafayette also closed.

A Electric Car - Autolib'

When we got back our host explained to us again that we can make use of the Colombes to Saint Lazare ticket to continue on our journey into Paris. This time we understood and I guess you can understand how we felt!