After spending a ridiculous amount of time at the airport, and feeling a bit like an extra in the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles, I finally arrived in Paris!
The metro system was easy to follow and I settled down for my hour ride to the city centre. Exiting the station I pulled out my phone to locate the whereabouts of my apartment and set off. Finding myself quickly on my street I looked up from Google maps and there was the Eiffel Tower!
I was shown to a tiny little room in the converted attic overlooking the Parisian streets. Small but perfectly comfortable. My time in Paris was spent eating crepes under the Eiffel Tower in the Champ de Mars, strolling through the streets and alleys of Montmartre past Van Goghs house, the Moulin Rouge, and the cafe where Amelie was filmed up to Sacre-Coeur and viewing the sunset over the city from 208 metres at the Montparnasse Tower. I also took a trip to Versailles for a tour of the gardens for the fountain and music show.
All too soon it was time to move on to Dijon for a few restorative and relaxing days without the rush of sightseeing. I did devote one day to taking in a few of the tourist spots such as making a wish whilst rubbing the little owls belly at the Notre Dame, climbing the spiral staircase to the top of Phillippe le Bon Tower for some city panoramas and walking out to Lac Kir to watch the sun set. However my time was mostly spent lazing in gardens in the sunshine with a good book! Then it was time to hit the road again.
Once in Lyon I did some research of things I'd like to see and do and made a plan for the following days. My first day was spent visiting a few places in the 1st arrondissement including Place Bellecour, Fresque des Lyonnaise, the amphitheater of the three Gauls and other historical buildings. As climbing to high up viewpoints seems to be becoming something of a tradition on my trip, the next day I climbed my way up many stairs and sloping pathways through Parc des Hauteurs to La basilique de Fourviere and up onto the roof to look down on the city. My last day in Lyon was spent simply wandering amongst the flowers and statues in Parc de la Tete d'Or which is also home to the zoo. It took four hours to walk a circular around the lake ending in a brief visit to see the animals. The zoo isn't particularly a very nice one as it is rather small and cramped, so I decided not to linger here. Instead heading back to the apartment for a fun filled night of laundry and packing.
Aboard the train the next morning I was en-route to Toulouse where I was to meet my Auntie for 3 days. This was my first proper train journey on the trip so far and I have to say it was rather pleasant. Although the man seated next to me may not have had the same experience due to me being incapable of holding in my feelings at the ending of a terrific book and emotionally blubbing for part of the ride.
We realised quite quickly that there isn't much to Toulouse if you aren't interested in religious buildings or art, but we spent a couple of days wandering the street soaking in the atmosphere and even taking a boat trip along the Garonne and through the lock onto the Canal de Brienne.
After nearly 3 weeks in France it was time to say Au Revoir and head across the border into Spain, where I was to meet my Mummy in Barcelona!