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“more rose to make the trip up the hill to yet another Cathedral much easier to swallow” |
We left Lyon, having our hotel booked ahead for us by the Citadenes Apartments. This chain is quite reasonable and has parking which is a big issue in the cities. With Paris organized we have over 400kms to get through. The weather is cooling down and the European roads are full of holiday makers heading home before school begins. When stopping for fuel at the auto route shell shop it is so crowded with cars, vans and people wanting a break, Billy and I head off to get coffee and Kit Kats while Will gets fuel. This would be the first time. It took forever to queue up, get change and coffee but it took Will even longer to go three cars up a queue and pay for fuel!!
We detoured off to Vezelay, which is a like village high above the vineyards of northern France, and has streets virtually inaccessible by car. These are wonderful places where you meet lovely French people who have time for a “chat’; we have had our best experiences in these places off the track. Here we strolled up a narrow winding street scattered with craft shops, wine shops and tasting, alternative galleries, hostels and restaurants. We have lunch in a tiny bar/restaurant eating elbow to elbow with a friendly crowd. Will orders fillet of beef salad with avocado; Kimmy an omelets parysnne with cheese, croutons and salad, Billy fat chips and coke. Did I mention more rose to make the trip up the hill to yet another Cathedral much easier to swallow?
We still had to walk up the rest of the hill to the Basilique of Mary Magdelan, which must be significant as there were flocks of tiny nuns tottering up the hill. Inside the church was once huge but not ornate. Under the main area of worship was a level of prayer with a crypt with relics of Mary Magdelan. We tiptoed through there and spent some time and $2E while Billy lit a candle in memory of all the people and pets that have died. Nice little kid!!
Arriving in Paris you could sense this was a big city; the roads were busy and the city sprawled a fair way out. Successfully we arrived at our apartment at a civilized hour of 7.00pm without any traffic dramas at all, threw the bags in and walked to the supermarket filled with yummy Parisienne foods, but no Kit Kats. Our apartment is next to a Metro station Campo Formio, and tomorrow we pass through stations with stops like Gare d’Austerlitz, Cardinal Lemoine, Maubert Mutuaine, Cluny, Cluny La Sorbonne and Palais Royal Museedu Louvre. Impressive…we will need a good nights sleep having seen the map of the Metro.
previous travel blog entry
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