Actress Audrey Hepburn is famously quoted as saying “Paris is always a good idea”. Despite a slightly hair-raising journey (during rush hour!) into our campsite in the 16th Arrondissement, and there being wide-spread strikes affecting all modes of public transport during our visit, Paris delighted and impressed all of us!
We landed in the city of lights for C’s birthday, and kicked off our time with a trip up the Eiffel Tower. We were impressed with the ability of all three girls to climb the (almost) 700 steps to the second level. The views didn’t disappoint, and with barely a cloud in the sky we could see all the way across to the city, from the elegant Sacre Coeur to the modern La Defense Arch.
Jumping on an Open Tour bus we enjoyed some of the city’s grand buildings and statues from the comfort of an open top bus (and the girls appreciated the rest!). This was a great way to get around the city, and the three-day ticket later proved invaluable when it was one of the few modes of transport available to us during the strike!
The birthday day out was topped off with a visit to the infamous Galleries Lafayette. The central Christmas Tree suspended under the beautiful domed ceiling was an explosion of colour and lights. However, the real Christmas magic came from a spin round its roof-top ice rink. As the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower, four of us took to the ice for a slip and slide round this free attraction! We left Andy safely on the side lines as photographer and bag-carrier!
In the lead-up to Christmas, Paris really has such a magical Christmas air. The storefronts are classically decorated with fairy-lit twigs, berries and Christmas foliage or stylish glass baubles …not a tacky Christmas decoration in sight!
As the strikes against President Macron’s proposed changes to the pension system presented significant challenges, we were grateful for the automated Metro lines. Line 1 was still operating and this gave us a way into the city centre (albeit it with a 45 minute walk to the Metro station).
The state workers’ action presented a good opportunity to explain to the girls what a strike is and why people often take such action to fight for a cause they believe in. With the mass transport chaos stretching from days into weeks it's been a story we have continued to follow as we have continued our journey across France. Its been uplifting to read stories telling of the resilience of those who are battling the odds to get to work (and to even read about the lady giving birth on one of the few over-packed commuter trains running!). It's also been challenging to try and understand how the suggested reforms can be so disagreeable – especially when compared to retirement ages and state pension levels in the UK. It also led us to have an interesting discussion with one another about where we believe the provision for our own future lies - beyond the hopeful trust our societies place on human economics.
With an average daily step count of around 20,000 while we took in the Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Notre Dame and Place de la Concorde, we also spent a few days closer to Camping des Paris which was our base. As well as settling down to some roadschooling, catching up on laundry, and walking to the local Carrefour Market for groceries, we took advantage of the pool and table football tables!
We also managed to meet up with some friends of friends whom we had never met. Despite being strangers, they invited us to their home and their warm welcome and hospitality led to a 45-minute long on-foot expedition across the city in icy rain. The reward was our first experience of raclette! Suffice to say this melty cheesy lunch was mouth-watering and a hit all round. It was lovely to share this lunch with new friends, while the girls played with their children, and we had the opportunity to understand a bit about what living in Paris can be like.
As we packed up and moved on, we’ve been left charmed by this historical city, and awakened to the political scene here, and the differences with our UK culture.
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