How the trip to Paris went! [View all]

We saw the Eiffel Tower with the grandkids and their parents, our son and daughter in law. We had been up to the second level before, but this time went to the top. It was crowded, and half the people were taking selfies and in the way, but we did get to see some nice views. We caught the end of the Tour de France later, by accident as we were trying to find this one cafe. Lots of crowds and security! They searched our bags just so we could walk down the street as the riders came in.

The second day we took the train to Monet's Garden and house. Very nice and bigger than I'd thought. Nice to get out of the dirty city streets of Paris. It was rainy but not too much. Again, the place was clogged with people who stood everywhere taking selfies.

Indian Food! Maharajah, corner of rue Nollet and rue de la Condamine in Batignolles!

We took the canal boat ride in Paris which ended up at the Bastille, which we hadn't seen before. Nice and relaxing and it goes through several locks and underground for part of it, right under the Bastille.

We walked through Luxembourg Gardens and listened to some live Jazz at lunchtime. It was a high school type band, but still fun. The Orangerie had an art exhibit. Then went to the Louvre and saw Mona Lisa again. That day had too much walking for this 64 year old!

Our daughter took us to some interesting restaurants and coffee shops and told us which was the best place to buy a baguette. Batignolles, where she lives is a pretty nice little community which was once a village near Paris before it got swallowed up. Near Sacre Coeur and Moulon Rouge and used to be inhabited by arty types.

The last day we visited the local organic farmer's market and then Opera Garnier, in all it's gilded Napoleonic-era splendor! At night we did the boat ride up the Seine and saw the Eiffel Tower all lit up, as well as other buildings along the way. It was a boat that shines spotlights on them as it passes, much to the annoyance, I'm sure, of people on the riverside.

So we did find new things to do and had a pretty good time. I wish there wasn't so much walking. Maybe those people who go around in the air conditioned tour buses are onto something.

If you are going to Paris and want to stay in the Batignolles district, I can tell you about an Air BnB that is clean and cute and well-equipped. You do have to walk up three flights, though. It's a one bedroom apartment big enough for a couple, and was about $80 per night.