This morning we checked out from our London Hotel. Dusty was ready to go early, and went down to the cooler lobby while I finished packing my things. We needed to get a few more pounds to spend and so we estimated how much we thought we might need to last us a half of the day (we ended up with only a few extra).
After stopping at the ATM, we bought a little breakfast at our grocery store and then got on the tube to King's Cross. The train station would hold our luggage for us, but it was going to cost almost 20 pounds to do it, and if we walked around the block to the British Library, it would be exactly one pound for both of us to store them. What can we say? We like to save money. Also, one of the perks of packing light is you get to store your bags in more interesting places.
You enter the Abbey from this north side of the building, not the front. We got in the cash line and used our Pass. After getting audio guides, we toured through the structure. Some churches are open, airy, light. This one isn't. It's packed. It's full of sculptures, tombs, alters, candles, chandeliers, chapels, gates, you name it. It was incredibly fascinating.
Everywhere you turned, someone else was buried there. As you are walking, you can see tombs underneath your feet and tombs in every recess of the walls. Our favorites? Sir Isaac Newton, GF Handel, and all the poets in the "poets corner". There are many many queens and kings there, but I only remember being struck by the two Marys-- Bloody Mary Queen of Scots and her cousin Mary, Queen of England. They are next to each other. I'm sure they love that. not.
An inscription on the outside of the Abbey.
We had about 45 minutes before we needed to leave to get our luggage and catch our train on time. Dusty thought it would be fun to see the inside of the Parliament building and watch legislators in action. I was hesitant, afraid we would be cutting it too close, but after a minute decided why not?
Getting into the building was like getting into our Capitol Building. Layers and layers of security. Printing out our photo to wear around our neck. Having to wait in lobbies until the next guard came to get us. I was getting more stressed by the minute. That being said, it was a very neat building. There is a huge open room where Parliament can assemble to hear speakers. On the ground are plaques that say things like, "This the spot where Nelson Mandela addressed Parliament". There are lots of paintings, and stained glass, and cushy chairs. We asked an attendant what we should watch and he told us "the House of Commons has more action, but the House of Lords is prettier."
After waiting longer, and another security place to check our bags, we were led up to the "Strangers Gallery". And we sat almost 10 minutes watching the House of Lords. The head guy wore a white wig and everything. Pretty cool. I can't remember what they were discussing. Sorry.
And then we had to beat it out of there. We timed it pretty well in getting our luggage, but lets' just say that we didn't have to wait very long (2 minutes) in the station before being allowed to get on the train. Before going through check-in I hopped into Marks and Spencer to get some snacks for the ride-- grapes, biscuits, lemonade.
While planning this trip, we decided to take the Eurostar under the Chunnel to get to Paris. The security was just like at an airport, except we could take any liquids we wanted. We had to go through passport control, and screen our bags and everything. And because we were so late, the waiting area was packed, but we didn't wait long. We found our coach and got settled in for the almost three hour ride. Say goodbye to St. Pancras Station and London. :(
What I want to remember about LONDON:
so many accents so much walking very expensive modern + old
misty rain dapper gentlemen everywhere umbrellas no garbage cans
congestion no trucks the Thames American Music Indian food
love for their Queen red buses Big Ben chiming traditions the tube
"mind the gap" advertisements in the tube so many stairs!
friendly people
Say hello to the Eurostar and France! We ate our snacks and watched a movie together. I also caught up on my journal writing ( a common occurrence on our train rides). We were underground about 20 minutes that I could tell, but also went in tunnels quite a bit.
And we saw the first bona fide sunny day so far on our trip, after about an hour into France. Such a lovely countryside. (someday we have to come back to Normandy and see more of this country)
When getting into the Gare du Nord station, I think we were both feeling a little more culture shock than when getting into London. It was definitely more congested, and had a more wild feeling to it. I didn't have any problems reading the signs or finding where to go, thanks to being here before and French classes in College. What we did have a problem with was buying our "carnet" of tickets for the metro. Our debit cards wouldn't work in the little billet machines (which we had been warned of) and would only take Euro coins (we only had paper). But, we quickly found a Tourist Information booth which sold us some and we were on our way to our Hotel.
It didn't take us long to get to our hotel. The metro in Paris is amazing and has stops everywhere. Our hotel was only about 100 meters away, across a few streets. We stayed at Hotel Port Royal (also recommended by RS) and had a very nice time. It is family operated and they take great pride in their place. We checked in and rested for a moment and then set out again for adventure.
The Musee D'Orsay was open late this night and we stopped there first. We bought a Paris Museum Pass, which is an excellent value. This museum features art from the early 1800s- early 1900s. I love impressionist art. Such beauty. Dusty was wary about this time period at the beginning, but I think I have him converted. :) I love this museum so much.
Favorites? All of the Monets, Manets, Renoirs..... and on. We didn't have enough time to suit me before it closed.
The museum used to be a train station in its previous life (note giant clocks) and is located right on the Seine, close to the Louvre as well.
We were getting tired, but chose to hit the Arc de Triomphe as well tonight. It was supposed to be open until 11:45, but was closed for some reason, so we just wandered underneath it.
We sat underneath for quite awhile and rested our feet and watched hormonal teenagers flirt with each other. It seemed very late for a tour group of youngsters to be out and about. But whatever. It's Paris.
After we were done admiring the first of many of Napoleon's monuments to himself, we crossed under the subway and strolled down the Champs Elysees for a little while. Most things were closed, but the ambiance was still there. Classy and romantic. Love this city.
Metro-ed back to our hotel for some much needed sleep. Bonne nuit!
Looking back:
I am very glad we had come prepared with some euros already in our pockets from the states. Sure, the conversion rate wasn't fabulous, but we didn't have to search for an ATM in the crazy train station and could buy what we needed.
Again, am so glad I had the metro all mapped out and memorized the directions to our hotel. It just makes traveling easier.
Riding the Eurostar can now be checked off the bucket-list, but next time I go, I want to take the boat. It will take longer, but be more romantic.
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