March- April 2013

26.3.13

Our carefully planned trip to Paris with Malaysian Airlines, via KL with a short stopover didn't eventuate. For once we were at the front of the queue to check in when we were handed a piece of paper apologizing for the fact that the scheduled flight had been delayed for ten hours due to illness of the second officer. Another one had to be flown in and he needed the mandatory ten hour break before flying again. So, there was a frantic shuffle of passengers to other airlines and we were eventually fobbed off to Cathay Pacific. We had no sooner had our ticketing completed than the very sad lady from Cathay Pacific came to tell us the bad news, something had fallen off the plane and she could no longer be responsible for us, so we were handed back to MAS.

They placated us with free meal vouchers and we spent the next few hours becoming closely acquainted with all the other passengers left in limbo with us.

Five hours later we were issued with boarding passes for a Qantas flight to London.. and a connecting flight to Paris. We checked the luggage in at last and were rushed through the express lanes onto the plane which was revving up on the runway and plonked into seats at opposite ends of the plane. On the way past the welcoming hosties we told them we were in love but were in separate seats. We were no sooner in the air than we were moved to exit seats with all the legroom in the world. We were disappointed that it wasn't first class or at least business but were grateful for small mercies. Same thing happened on the London to Paris leg so 'we no complain'.

Despite our problems we arrived at the door of our apartment in Paris just as the agent was letting the other six of our friends in the door. .. talk about good timing after all. There were hugs and kisses all round and great excitement as we explored our two, two bedroom apartments, one above the other and oh so French!

The apartment is in a small cobbled lane on the Ile Saint Louis and when we walk to the end of the lane we look directly at the back of Notre Dame Cathedral across the Seine.

We have done two guided walks which were excellent. The guides are young, educated and native to the area of the walk and very knowledgeable and passionate about their place. The first was through the Marais, which contains more per-Revolutionary lanes and buildings than anywhere else in Paris and is Medieval. Once bohemian, it is now vibrant and trendy. We saw so many places we would have missed on our own including the street art which our guide William pointed out and explained.

The second walk was in the Montmartre district, the picturesque village once home to Van Gogh, Edith Piaf and Picasso. We met our young guide Marie outside the metro station almost opposite Moulin Rouge and Le Chat Noir. We walked uphill past shops with delicious pastries and wonderful leather goods towards the top. On the way we saw the houses of such notable artists as Renoir, Van Gogh, Utrillo and Toulouse-Lautrec. The Place Du Tertre was filled with artists painting and selling their art and it has been the town square of the village of Montmartre since medieval times.

At the top, on Paris' highest point sits Sacre Coeur Basilica. Interestingly, the exterior is laced with gypsum which whitens with age. Inside is the impressive dome, decorated with a mosaic high above the altar where Christ exposes his sacred heart, burning with love and compassion for humanity.

We were there on Good Friday and watched the Stations of the Cross, a re-enactment of Christ's journey, carrying his cross up to Mt. Golgotha to be crucified. The crowds were enormous and devout, a reminder that France is 80% Catholic.

On Saturday the day dawned cold and overcast with a smattering of snowflakes and six of us went to Pere Lachaise Cemetery, final resting place of many notable people, including Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Chopin, Proust, Sarah Bernhardt and artists Gericault, Delacroix,Seurat, and Modigliani.

The 100 acre cemetery has 70,000 of tombs crammed in every which way but still accepts new residents. Price of a 21sq foot plot is in excess of €II,000! It is huge and confusing and the guide book says "have you had enough of dead people? Thank God you can leave" ..... And we did.

The big night, the purpose of our trip to Paris arrived. Carol's 70th birthday. How great it was to be with good friends to celebrate in such a place and such a way. We all tarted up and I must say Brian looked very fetching in his red bow tie. We followed our instructions to the office where we were bussed to the venue and then lined up briefly outside before we went into The Moulin Rouge for dinner and a show. There were a thousand people closely packed into the venue and seated. We were right near the stage, so close in fact that Zig had feathers tickling him all night.

Jan, Zig, Susan, Jenny, Glenn, Carol and Brian.

I took the photo just before we entered Moulin Rouge where photography was not allowed.

The very nice meal accompanied by wine was served and cleared with speed and efficiency and then the lights dimmed and the show began. And what a show it was! It was a fast moving, tasteful and glamorous whirl of bare -breasted women and athletic and graceful male dancers all wearing stunning costumes. There was also a 'Cirque d' Soleil ' element with a clever ventriloquist and exceptional acrobatics. The entire show was colourful and totally engrossing, and a perfect way to celebrate Carol's birthday.

The next morning we went to Notre Dame for the Gregorian Mass. We got there half an hour before it started thinking we 'd be early but just managed to get Into the cathedral where it was standing room only. Every seat was taken and people were standing in every possible space for the entire Mass. The singing from the all male choir was beautiful, despite being in French of course. We all met for a delicious lunch and then went different ways.

Mass at Notre Dame.

some interesting street scenes.