Paris, France

Friday 3rd April 2015: 

We awoke on Friday to yet another delicious surprise from Hotel Central, before boarding the coach for a 600+ kilometre journey to Paris. Upon finally arriving, we were taken on a brief drive around the city, viewing attractions including the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower. We stopped briefly at an Eiffel Tower viewing platform, where we were again greeted by a multitude of gypsies all selling the same product - this time it was miniature Eiffel Towers.

The following day, we set off in search of all the major tourist attractions. First, we jumped onboard the Paris Metro system (where Brendan discovered he still remembered at least some of his 4 years of high school French) to the Arc de Triomphe. From there, we strolled the Champs Élysées, home to many high end retailers, including the Mercedes Benz and Peugeot flagship showrooms plus Tiffany and Co, where Roslyn tried on a $40,000AUD ring (rough conversion), prior to us calling into the world famous, Ladurée macarons store.

From here, we again boarded the metro in search of The Louvre (Musée du Louvre). Considering the estimated 3 hour wait to view the Mona Lisa inside, we were satisfied just to see the glass pyramids. By this time we were getting quite hungry, so we set off towards Notre-Dame Cathedral and the River Seine on the hunt for frog legs. We both agreed that they were quite tasty, flavour like chicken and the texture of fish but were quite difficult to eat due to the small amount of meat on their delicate bones. We washed these down with a glass of French champagne, then consumed crepes. Next we headed to one of the love lock bridges, Pont de l'Archevêché, and added our own padlock.

As our Contiki was quickly drawing to an end, the final night we went to a group dinner where we ate escargot (and really enjoyed it!) along with other typical French dishes, accompanied by more champagne and too much wine. Far too much wine...

Once the dinner was completed, we boarded the metro once more and ended the evening under the twilight glow of the Eiffel Tower, which is illuminated by twinkling lights every night for the first five minutes of each hour. 

Highlights:

- La tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower) viewed from afar

- Palais Garnier opera house

- Arc de Triomphe

- Champs Élysées

- Peugeot, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Citroën flagship showrooms

- Tiffany and Co

- Ate Ladurée macarons

- Musée du Louvre

- Notre-Dame

- River Seine

- Ate frog legs

- Ate crepes

- Pont de l'Archevêché, one of the love lock bridges

- Ate escargot

- Drank champagne

- Twinkling Eiffel Tower, viewed from afar and up close