Paris and Versailles with Riviera Travel
Just back from a lovely weekend with Riviera Travel accompanied by my friend Amanda. The single person supplement was a little over what I would normally pay but it was a lot better than Solos travel company which is for single people. Their Paris weekend is around £800 !!!!! Solos - good for skiing weeks not for city breaks.
We were met at Gare de Nord by our tour manager Andy and taken to our Mercure hotel. Andy mentioned a number of restaurants in the area which had been recommended by other people. Amanda and I opted for Bistro 42 near the hotel which was so excellent we went back for lunch on Monday. A another couple joined us on the Monday and said the meal was the highlight of their weekend!
Up early the next morning and a short coach ride to Versailles. The queue wasn't too bad as we had missed out going to see the Eiffel tower and Champs Elysee which we had passed the previous evening. Since we passed these sights several times over the weekend, I think going to Versailles first was much better. After a quick tour around the very crowded palace we went into the gardens then toured around the town before catching the coach back to the hotel.
I took a short walk in the afternoon while Amanda took a rest. I found a nearby cemetery which is always good for photography although it was too sunny.
We went to Montmartre on Sunday and had a few hours to wander around until our cruise on the Seine. I was in search of the street art in Montmartre. On the Seine we had a good view of the Paris marathon and life by the river. After the cruise, Amanda and I walked to Notre Dame via the Louvre. The queue was very long for Notre Dame so we went into Saint Chapelle instead. The images of Notre Dame were taken the day before the tragic accident.
On Monday, Amanda went on the sightseeing tour and I wandered over to the other side of the Seine. It was industrial for the first part then I found the lovely island off the Pont d'Issy. Wish I had known it was there earlier. I managed only to do a small part of it do to time. Lunch in Bistro 42 then showed Amanda the Souvenir Francais cemetery before we were taken back to the Eurostar.
I popped into WWT Barnes on Tuesday before Amanda took me to Hammersmith to catch Berry's for home.
Next trip to Greece on a singing workshop with Claire Anstee.
We were met at Gare de Nord by our tour manager Andy and taken to our Mercure hotel. Andy mentioned a number of restaurants in the area which had been recommended by other people. Amanda and I opted for Bistro 42 near the hotel which was so excellent we went back for lunch on Monday. A another couple joined us on the Monday and said the meal was the highlight of their weekend!
Up early the next morning and a short coach ride to Versailles. The queue wasn't too bad as we had missed out going to see the Eiffel tower and Champs Elysee which we had passed the previous evening. Since we passed these sights several times over the weekend, I think going to Versailles first was much better. After a quick tour around the very crowded palace we went into the gardens then toured around the town before catching the coach back to the hotel.
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| Tulips outside the hotel |
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| Versaille palace |
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| A couple of in camera movement images |
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| without the blur |
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| I added another background for this statue |
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| Fountain show |
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| Amanda |
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| Some snaps around Versailles town |
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| Amanda in the market |
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| Versaille from a traffic island in the middle of the road |
I took a short walk in the afternoon while Amanda took a rest. I found a nearby cemetery which is always good for photography although it was too sunny.
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| Garden of Meditation |
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| Outside the cemetery |
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| On the evening tour of Paris we had two stops, this one on a bridge near the Louvre and the one at the Trocadero to see the sparkling tower |
We went to Montmartre on Sunday and had a few hours to wander around until our cruise on the Seine. I was in search of the street art in Montmartre. On the Seine we had a good view of the Paris marathon and life by the river. After the cruise, Amanda and I walked to Notre Dame via the Louvre. The queue was very long for Notre Dame so we went into Saint Chapelle instead. The images of Notre Dame were taken the day before the tragic accident.
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| Sacre Coeur |
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| View from the Basilica |
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| Street art |
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| Snapped while waiting for our coach |
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| Little did I know this would be ruined the next day |
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| The girl was dancing to some music |
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| My sort of selfie. I am in the yellow |
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| The end of the Paris marathon |
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| In the Tuileries |
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| In the Louvre |
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| Wandering on the island |
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| Beautiful windows in Saint Chapelle. A good recommendation by Andy |
On Monday, Amanda went on the sightseeing tour and I wandered over to the other side of the Seine. It was industrial for the first part then I found the lovely island off the Pont d'Issy. Wish I had known it was there earlier. I managed only to do a small part of it do to time. Lunch in Bistro 42 then showed Amanda the Souvenir Francais cemetery before we were taken back to the Eurostar.
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| An oasis on the Seine |
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| There is a pony club on the island |
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| No cars so the rubbish cart is horse drawn |
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| The area we were staying |
I popped into WWT Barnes on Tuesday before Amanda took me to Hammersmith to catch Berry's for home.
Next trip to Greece on a singing workshop with Claire Anstee.
posted by carodragon at
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