I'm just back in Paris and already have some CB visitors - the Grampies came to town.
Steve first contacted me a couple of months ago about a possible meet-up in Paris in early May, at the end of their Valencia-Paris tour. At the time, it seemed like it might work and over the last couple of weeks we've exchanged emails as to possible dates and where we might meet. However, I became a bit concerned that they might not make it after reading about the near demise of Steve's bike Victoria. But the Grampies are troopers and they made it to Maisons Lafitte yesterday. Paris was a go for today!
My/our plan for the day was pretty loose - stroll down to Rue Cler and pick up provisions for a picnic on the Champs de Mars and wander along the Seine to the Alexander III bridge. And that's pretty much what we did, except Dodie and I made an executive decision to forgo the picnic in favor of a sit-down roast chicken lunch of the day.
A flash of hi-viz yellow exits the metro - it's Steve, with Dodie just behind, coming down the stairs.
The Champs de Mars and Eiffel Tower. Preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympics were in evidence everywhere - if you look closely, you can see a white tent and the metallic silver of grandstands at the far end of the Champs de Mars
The scene along the Seine. Note the giant Olympic flame replica on the quai. The opening ceremonies are not being held in a stadium but rather on the Seine. Boats will transport the national teams 6 km down the river on boats, ending here in front of the Trocadéro
The Grampies engaged in a mutual session of "the ususal questions" with bike tourists from Grenoble, Silvere and Pascaline, who were on their way to St. Malo for a 10 day tour.
It was a most enjoyable day - wandering the streets of Paris while getting to know one another, sharing stories of long ago and the recent past. Rest stops included ice cream on the Seine and a mid-afternoon pastry back on Rue Cler.
Invigorated by rest, sugar, and caffeine, we found our way to the nearest metro and I walked them through the transfer to Line 6, which would take them to the RER A and back to Maisons Laffitte. Given our mutual love of Paris and all things France, I'm sure this won't be my last meet-up with the Grampies - I look forward to the next one.
