Saturday, June 20, 2009

Paris - day 3


Tuesday – Day 3

We had enough of the metro yesterday so today we decided to try out the velib, which are the free bikes all over paris. It’s pretty cool. There are stations all over the city, notes on maps and all you do is take a bike from one velib station and return it at another. You do have to subscribe first, but that only takes 5 minutes or so. We did the short-term subscription, we had a ticket with a number on it and all you do it key in the number and choose to take a bike and your set. The rates are 1 euro per day and if you keep the bike for under 30 minutes you don’t pay anything else. If you keep in longer than ½ hour it’s something like 1 euro an hour. But what we would do is ride towards our destination and right before the ½ hour was up, we’d ditch the bike and rent another. I don’t recommend it to everyone though, you really have to be a confident cyclist because it’s pretty crazy on the roads. The first day we saw 3 accidents, not with cyclists, but with scooters/mopeds and cars. There are many streets which are highlighted green on maps and these have bike lanes, which are much better.

We started out renting some bikes and riding around the 7th. We were going to go into the Rodin but we got lost on the bikes (something very easy to do) so it took us longer to get over there than we had planned. So we ditched the bikes and walked around the 7th for a bit. I had lunch plans in the 4th, I was meeting Leesa, Barbara and Dawn! So excited to meet some fellow bloggers. Leesa picked her favorite restaurant in the Marias so I left Bruce at the Rodin and hopped the metro over to meet them. We had a great lunch at a super cute place called “le loir dans la theiere. 2 ½ hours went by so fast but I had a lovely time with the girls. They are all wonderful, friendly, warm and super cool.

just cruising around

one of the velib stations

Bruce and I had planned to meet in front of the Rodin at 4:30, but I didn’t leave lunch until 4:30, so I was a bit late, he didn’t mind. I found him at the bistro on the corner, at the bar, drinking a pastis. He had a great day at the Rodin, he took his sketchbook and spent the entire time sitting in front of amazing sculptures.

Rodin sculpture

Pastis

We had dinner plans with Sebastian, his parents live near us in the Aveyron. They retired down here many years ago and we met Sebastain over Christmas. He and JP live in the 11th and we met him at his flat for dinner. Lovely lovely night, a great bottle of Burgundy, excellent meal and delicious dessert. We’ll be seeing him next week when he comes down to the Aveyron.

Another long day, but so much fun. Not sure I could live here full-time, I’d be exhausted, but part-time, oh yes!!!






5 comments:

La Framéricaine said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
La Framéricaine said...

You two are the best! I'm having so much fun reading about your trip to Paris! I am excited to return at summer's end and must see you in LA in August.

Have fun with the Tour de France--I know it's coming up!

CS said...

Great photos and I too am enjoying your visit to Paris.

Well done on the vélib rentals!

Cheers,
Carolyn

Barbara said...

Hey there Alisa !
I was very happy to have met you during your trip to Paris ! I enjoyed hearing about your life in Aveyron & some of your future projects.
I'm sorry to have missed meeting Bruce but he enjoyed himself at the Musée Rodin so that's OK too.
Your hubby sounds like a local, sipping Pastis ! I have tasted it but for myself it's for the Messieurs ( it was traditonally my FIL's signature drink for many many years).

Big hugs to you; I'll be continuing to read your blog & follow your adventures.
XX

Mark said...

Hi,sounds like you are having a great time in Paris.
Anyway I’m back but the old blog has gone. THE NAME EXPIRED and some guy from Cyprus is now selling cars from it, I wouldn't mind but so far I haven't received any commission!!
Here is the address of my new blog :

http://saintemaximeliving.blogspot.com/