1) Carcassonne. Went 3 days to Carcassonne, an intact fortified medieval walled city Fig1, situated in the French province that borders Spain. It is a magnificent complex with the centre piece being a fortified castle with high castellated walls, circular watch towers Fig2, and a deep dry moat inside an historic village of narrow cobble stone streets Fig3. This compact ‘cite’ is further protected by two outer concentric walls with its own towers and barbicans. And yet, in spite of all this visual superb architecture, there was something missing. It lacked a soul. For there were very few resident locals, the streets being populated by visitors and tourists like me, who, come June, would be shoulder to shoulder. Took the 0720 TGV from Paris arriving at Carcassonne at 1355. Went to get a taxi, but found the taxi rank is some 200m towards the town centre on the right. En-route found the taxi is not permitted to drive into the Cite during the day, so the driver telephoned the hotel which sent its small car to rendezvous just outside the Cite entrance. Stayed at the Best Western Hotel located in the centre of the Cite. Note this hotel has […]
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Week 2. Highlight 1. Had lunch at le Train Bleu, a restaurant inside the main railway station of the Gare de Lyon. Built for the 1901 Paris exposition it is furnished in a grand style with crystal chandeliers, ceiling frescos and ornate gilded arches. Into this voluminous Bistro, casually dressed travellers are escorted to their tables while waiters dressed in dinner suits scurry to and from the kitchen with silver food platters held high on outstretched arm. It all adds up to an ambiance of opulence and grandeur, a canvas of former regal times. I read le Train Bleu does not rank in the top gastronomical establishments, but for me the food was excellent and good enough to provide an overall memorable experience. Main Course: Duck done three ways. (fig2) Dessert: Rhum Baba, served by the waiter pouring rum fig3, and leaving the full bottle as an accompaniment. Booking:Advisable. Dress: Smart Casual. Highlight 2. Perhaps an even more grandiose experience was the Bolshoi Ballet performance of Flamme de Paris, at the Palais Garnier, an imposing neo gothic theatre with a majestic marble staircase dominating its opulent entrance hall fig4. We made our entrance up the grand staircase, and bypassing […]
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This will be our 3rd 5 week stay in Paris. Dahlia’s objective is to reinforce her Parisian accent. Les’s Objective is to refine his portfolio of Paris images. This Paris blog will consist of a number of sections each some 7days long. Part 1. SYDNEY TO PARIS TRAVEL REVIEW. A) Overall Itinerary. Sydney to Paris. London to Svalbard. Svalbard to Sydney. Booked with Scandinavian Airlines, long haul flights business, regional flights economy. Sydney to Paris Sectors. i) Could not check in online on the SAS or Thai air websites. Sydney -Bangkok with Thai air. 9hr30m, on time. Service on ground: Vgood. Service in Air: excellent. Food: vgood; seat pitch and sleeping; vgood. Sydney lounge is Air New Zealand lounge: good. Bangkok –Copenhagen SAS. 11hr. On time. Service in air: good. Food: average. Seat pitch and sleeping: excellent. Bangkok lounge is Thai air lounge: average and crowded. Copenhagen-Paris: economy. 2hr. On time. Service in air average. Seating pitch 30” (my estimate). Must pay for all food and drinks including water. Arrived at Charles De Gaulle terminal 1. Baggage came out fast. Decided to get TGV (RER B) to Gare du Nord and then taxi to apartment in Rue Mazarine on left […]
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