Paris - Venice 15.11.2012

At 6.15 am this morning our taxi arrived to take us to Gare de Lyon for our train trip to Venice. Another huge train station. Our seats in 1st Class were very comfortable and the train was quiet and smooth. During our journey the scenery was amazing. It went from the city to industrial and then to rural farmland (beef cattle and sugarbeat),and then to the alps, some of which were covered in snow. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a lot of track work, which meant our train was over 45 mins late getting to Milan where we had to change trains !! The next train departed from a different station. The stations are about a 5 min Taxi ride apart, and seeing there was a queue it was looking very unlikely we would make our connection. Along with at least 6 others we got to the train with about 5 mins to spare only to find that they wouldn't let us on the train !!!luckily our tickets had been signed to say the train was late and after a 30 min wait we were on the next train to Venice. During all of this, we met an Argentinian lady in the same predicament!! She had 3 ex husbands, spoke a little of at least 5 languages , and was traveling alone. Arriving into Venice at around 7.45pm was interesting, we caught the Vaporetto (water bus) one stop and then walked back to the Hotel Grand Canal, which was situated right in the Grand Canal. We then strolled around the lane ways near the hotel in a state of wonder!!

Paris 14.11.2012

We woke this morning to blue skies, chilly but not too bad. We caught the Metro (train) to the Sacre Coeur, the Basilica in Montmartre. We came to visit it last time, but the train from the street to the basilica wasn't working, and as there is a huge number of steps only John saw inside. Thankfully, this time the train was working!! It is one of the most serene places I have been. There was a Mass being said while we were there - it was a very moving visit. On the train we actually saw a girl who went to pick pocket an older man. Another man, a Parisian I presume, saw her and stopped her!! After our visit to the Basilica, we stopped to buy something, and as I was putting my change in my bag, a woman tried to put her hand in my pocket !! Thankfully I had nothing in it, so she missed out!!!There are a lot of beggars in and around Paris - at the Metro Stations, Church entrances even in shop doorways. We see nothing like it in Australia. We then caught a bus back to the Left Bank to soak up some more of the atmosphere. Unfortunately by mid afternoon, the weather took a turn for the worse, and became bitterly cold, so being a little on the tired side, we decided to head back to the apartment,(via the Patisserie) for an easy dinner, a hot bath and a reasonably early night, as we have a taxi booked for 6.15am tomorrow to take us to Gare de Lyon for our train trip to Venice.

Paris 13.11.2012

This morning we caught the bus to Opera, which is close to the centre of Paris - where we tried to change our Traveller's Cheques again without success (unless we wanted to pay commission - which we were advised we wouldn't have to pay). We then walked around the Left Bank, which is the artistic centre off Paris, which is a really interesting quarter. There was even a man playing a piano on one of the corners. We then went to the Musee d'Orsay, which is in an old train station. Here we saw works by Monet, Van Gough and Rodin, and many other sculptures and paintings. From the Museum we rode in what would be called a Tuk Tuk in Asia, to the Eiffel Tower, where while we waited for our visit to the top, we had ham & cheese crepes. The visit to the top of the Eiffel Tower was fantastic - such a long way up!! Unfortunately, the weather had turned quite cold and misty, so the view from the top wasn't as good as it could have been, but it was definitely well worth it. John, who has developed a fear of heights even enjoyed it !!

London - Paris 12.11.2012

We left London today on the Eurostar and 2 1/2 hrs later arrived at Gare de Nord in Paris. We are staying in Monmatre again, not all that far from last time. Our apartment is quite small (petite) but has everything we need, including a bath, and is very clean.we went to a bistro for a very late lunch , and then just walked around the town,found a Patisserie and bought pastries for John, croissants for breakfast the following day. Later in the night we went back to the bistro for dinner, which was drinks, followed by coffee & dessert.

London 11.11.2012

Back on the train today, this time to Greenwich. The main reason for our visit is that John wanted to see the Cutty Sark, the Clipper Ship that was built specifically for the Tea Trade between China and London. Within 5 years the Suez Canal had opened and sailing ships were not able to use it, so instead the ships were used for the Wool Trade between Australia and London. Unfortunately, our time here was limited and we caught the ferry back to Westminster. We thought that by 1.30 the Remembrance Day Parade would be over and things would be back to normal in the city ! WRONG Remembrance Day here in London issue lot bigger than in Australia - much more like our ANZAC Day. The. buses were all still being re routed , so we were a little confused as to where to catch the bus to the British Museum. After walking way too far (for my legs) we ended up catching the underground to somewhere close to the museum, and after being given the wrong directions and again walking too far, we eventually made it. Some of the amazing things in the museum are the Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles, the relics of the Sutton Hoo, the Viking Burial ship. From the museum we headed for Camden Town Markets on the off chance that I could replace an earring I bought there 2 1/2 yrs ago, and lost in the Lakes District 3 weeks ago. To our surprise - I was able to buy the exact earrings:) John bought a beautiful leather notebook with handmade paper. After a quick look around we were back on the bus in the direction of Harrods to see the Christmas window display, mainly Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, Pocahontas even Tinker Bell was there ! It was just amazing and well worth the trip back to the city. Unfortunately the Department store itself was just closing.

London 10.11.2012

Today we caught the train to Windsor Castle. What an amazing place !! The Queen was actually in residence today, however we didn't see her ! The tour of the Castle took us about 3 hrs. The State Apartments are incredible as is Queen Mary's Dolls House. St George's Chapel is beautiful and full of history. Both King. and The Queen Mother are buried here as well as Henry VIII.
After returning to London we then went to see the Household Cavalry Museum and arrived in time to see the 4pm Inspection. Then down to The wharf near the Tower of London For fish n chips and a night time boat ride down the Thames. We were lucky enough to be able to see Tower Bridge open to let a sailing boat through - quite a spectacular sight!! The sights of the city at night time are just beautiful