Our last full day in Paris, which feels a little bittersweet in all honesty. I've enjoyed this experience so much, we've had a sensational honeymoon and this exclusive time together has been such a blessing and a wonderful way to begin our marriage, but I've missed home (we both have) and our children and friends, and it's time to go back. It does feel strange today, though, to know that this is the last day.
We spend the morning packing and organising - and have a few anxious moments of uncertainty about whether or not we'll fit everything in and if not then whose gift will have to be left behind......... only joking ;-) (about the gift, not about the couple of anxious moments...........!!)
Once we're satisfied that all will fit, we decide to get out and about in the fresh air for the afternoon, following another recommendation from our apartment host, who suggested that we take the Metro to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. The weather was sunny earlier in the day, but has turned chilly again and it's raining as we set out, so we turn back for our brollies. But we've weathered Paris' freezing temperatures and I've endured snow, so a little rain is not going to stop us now!!
It's a bit convoluted on the Metro to get to this park, as the station we need is closed for renovations, so we have to go one station further, then backtrack on another line. We end up alighting at the deepest Metro station in the world - honestly, we truly are in the bowels of the earth, and it's 175 steps up to daylight!! When we get to the top we see the elevator that we could have taken.............. :-)
The park is right next to the Metro station, and it's green and lovely, and now we know what "butte" means - it's a hill (actually the direct translation is "hillock" or "mound" but it looks bigger than they sound, so I think "hill" will do nicely). We should have guessed really, as the Montmartre area is on the Butte Montmartre, and that's no small mound!!
It's still raining lightly when we arrive, but it's fun walking with umbrellas up, enjoying the lush greenery of the park. At first we think we've covered it all in about 15 minutes, but then we realise we're just at one corner, and there's so much more.
The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is in the 19th arrondissement, in the north-east of Paris and covers about 25 hectares - just a trifle compared to the Bois de Boulogne, but really lovely. Like the Bois de Boulogne, it too has a chequered past. Before the invention of the guillotine, the hill on which the park now stands was the site of the gallows that were used to hang criminals. It was also a refuse dump and a depository for sewage in its day, so I'm glad they decided to make it into a park during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III, and it was opened to the public in 1867. They have such interesting parks in Paris!!!
We enjoy wandering and exploring, taking some photos of the beautiful spring colours and the view from the Belvedere (temple) of Sybil, from where we can see Sacre Coeur quite clearly. I get disoriented and try to locate la Tour Eiffel and other familiar landmarks, but then realise that they're in the opposite direction and obscured by the rest of the park and the surrounding buildings.
We wander on, down the hill and through the grotto, complete with stalactites and stalagmites, and around the lake. Parisians are out and enjoying the park despite the earlier rain.
Just outside the main park gates is a pâtisserie - oh dear, how unfortunate.............. afternoon tea on a park bench by the lake ;-) The sun has returned and the park is stunning. We wind our way back through the park, under the unfortunately named "suicide bridge" and eventually back to the Metro - to count the steps that we traipsed up earlier in the day. At least this time it's all downhill :-)
Back in the Bastille, we dine out again (the fridge and pantry are now empty) at another restaurant recommended by our host. The waitress is very helpful and explains every main course in English. As we're leaving, she calls my lovely husband over to the bar and offers him a free cigar from a box - "very French" she says. He's delighted (even though it tastes disgusting)! ;-)
As we walk home, we reminisce about our time here and take in "our stomping ground" one last time. A little later, mon beau mari takes his camera and tripod to the Place de la Bastille to capture the night life before we leave - our familiar turf while we've been here.
This will be my last post from Paris. Tomorrow sees us heading off to the airport around lunch time for the long haul home. My wonderful two months in Paris (and our amazing 5 week honeymoon) is almost over. We have some beautiful memories, not to mention thousands of photos to remind us of our time here. And I have no doubt we'll be back at some stage, and next time we won't feel the need to do any of the touristy stuff!!!
Au revoir Paris, and g'day Perth!!
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