Wednesday, 2 June 2010, Paris
Eliza B
Ron & Elizabeth HOWARD
Wed 2 Jun 2010 13:17
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We are still in the Port
de Plaisance of Paris-Arsenal - enjoying the tastes, sights and sounds of
Paris.
 During our first full week we were visited by three
of Elizabeth's school-friends (Judy, Heather and Diana) and husbands and that
gave us the perfect excuse for walking and
sight-seeing. Judy was brave enough to stay on the boat with us but the other two
couples opted for the safety and comfort of a local hotel.
  We were blessed with beautiful sunny weather
during their visit. In addition to discovering the Monet Waterlillies
exhibition in the Orangerie in the Tuileries, Victor Hugo's house and a
disused elevated railway line which had been converted into a very peaceful
garden walk between the old Gare du Bastille and the Gare du Nord, we also
managed our own private boat trip along the Seine to admire Paris from the river
and stopped for a picnic at the foot of the Eiffel
Tower.  Heather's husband Chis insisted on visiting the
Notre Dame, only a short walk from the boat, since they had romantically
arranged to meet there during their university days when they were both
travelling (independently) in Europe. The fact that there are no steps in
front of Notre Dame left us all speculating whether they meant Sacre Coeur, or
it was some other woman Chris had met or whether age had blighted his
memory.
On Sunday morning we explored the wonderful fresh
fruit and vegetable market at the Place de la Bastille including bread and
cheese and fish.
     In addition to fresh baguettes and
croisantes each morning, collected by our visitors on their way to join us
for breakfast on the boat, we found some wonderful eating places for evening
meals including "Le P'tit Bofinger", La Biche au Bois" and "La Coupole".
We finally waved our visitors goodbye on Sunday afternoon after a very enjoyable
extended weekend.
We have also learned of the French predeliction for
public demonstrations - normally based at the Place de la Bastille. Last
week there was a very large march, organised by CGT (the national trade union)
with noisy delegates from all over France, protesting about the government plans
to increase the national retirement age from 60. (Apparently the Mitterand
government reduced the national retirement age from 65 a few years ago and -
like most European governments - the French have decided they can't afford
to continue with it.) This was followed the next day by a noisy
dispute to "regularise the position of interim workers" on the steps of the
beautiful new opera house and yesterday we discovered a protest by
"municipal policemen" but we couldn't identify what it was for (possibly the
same pension question) - however, that was a very orderly protest!
Last Monday we welcomed Ron's sister Janet who came
to stay on the boat for a few days. Again, more walking and sight-seeing
including the Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur and another battle of wits with the
bateaux mouches and barges in the form of another river trip in Eliza B.
(I think she was more impressed by some of the ancient sights than
others!)
   We put Janet back onto the Eurostar on Friday
lunchtime and then went back to the boat to prepare for Laura & Alex's
arrival later that evening.
Best wishes,
Ron & Elizabeth,
Eliza B + 44 7768 816 579
+ 33 (0)6 11 66 79 08
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