Should You Drive In Ireland?

 I asked myself this question--only once. For me, the answer was YES! I'd been to Ireland a few times, and always on a motorcoach tour. This is a great way to see a country. The first time, our driver got a wee bit lost. That was wonderful because we ended up on a local road and a few sheep spilled into the street. I do love to get lost! In Ireland, though, the local roads are windy and of course I got motion sickness.

For this trip, I wanted to experience aspects of Ireland that I couldn't get on a motorcoach tour. And, I got exactly what I wanted!

I'll start with my mistakes.

MISTAKE #1--CAR RENTAL SET FOR TOO EARLY ON DAY ONE

Our plane landed at 5 am. I knew that I'd be tired and should not drive. So, I had booked a hotel for the day before. Two weeks before landing, I called them to remind them I'd be in the next morning vs the day of the reservation. I used an airport hotel so we could get the shuttle from the airport to the hotel and get a little shut eye. (I had only slept for two hours on the flight over.) 

Once I got into the room, I grabbed my PJs out of my carry on, changed and jumped into bed. My husband on the other hand took a shower then set up his CPAP and then laid down to sleep. Of course, with all the racket he made, I was unable to sleep.

We were in the hotel from 6 am to 9:30 am, and I only slept for an hour before I had to shower, get dressed and leave. Our car rental was for 10 am--too early!

MISTAKE #2--SPEND TWO DAYS IN DUBLIN BEFORE YOU START DRIVING 

I should have stayed in Dublin at the beginning of the trip--not the end. Then, I could have dropped off my luggage at the hotel, had a little breakfast and started exploring Dublin. I always enjoy Dublin! 

Another option is to book a night prior (my flying night) and check in early the morning of my arrival. Then, I could take a little nap before exploring Dublin.

Why will I do this next time? Because I was really too tired to begin driving (for the first time) on the left-side of the road. I side-swiped two curbs which removed some rubber from the tires. Yes, I took out the extra insurance on the tires and the wheels (thank heavens) so I wasn't charged for any damage. I didn't take pictures of the tires, the windshield and the various sections of the car--which could have easily turned into Mistake #3! Take pictures of the entire rental car for your records.

Had I spent two days in Dublin, I would have caught up on my sleep and adjusted to the 5-hour time difference. When I hit the road, my driving would have been better.

DRIVING ON THE OTHER SIDE

I don't know why I didn't realize that the steering wheel was going to be on the "passenger side" of the car. This really changes one's perspective of the road. It's easy to become accustomed to driving on the left vs the right because you're following the traffic. On narrower roads, the view of oncoming traffic freaked me out.

On the "M" expressways, you will have two lanes on each side. Having a car going in the same direction is not a problem. On the National "N" roads, you will have two lanes vs four with median. You still have plenty of room to drive. The Regional or "R" roads aren't bad either! However, the local "L" lanes are an entirely different story. 

LOCAL ROADS--A MIXED BAG

You will sometimes have a lane that seems to be one and a half car widths. That means when a local person (who drives way toooooooo fast) is heading toward you from the opposite direction, you just want to scream in terror! Sometimes, you can get by each other without having a collision and ending your life in the beautiful Irish countryside. 

I remember thinking "if I'm going to die, it's only fitting that I die in the country of my ancestors". But, who wants to think that while on vacation?!

At other times, somebody needs to find a little space to pull aside and let the vehicle in the opposing direction pass by. Many Irish people are very good about pulling over and letting you pass. You need to be ready to do the same in return. 

Then, there are those people (and they're all over the world) who fancy themselves race car drivers. The speed limit may be 40 kph (which is 25 mph), and they're driving what looks like 45 mph. In that case, I would really slow down if there's no pull-off on the road. 

More about the "L" roads:  in addition to being narrow, these roads are typically hilly and full of swerves. Some had very old stone bridges on them. The edges of the bridge went right into the lane. So you really need to slow down in order to drive around that stone edge. My husband grabbed his seat and yelled that the bridge was coming right at him. (I really wasn't going to hit the bridge--even though the windshield damage would have been covered.)

My impression is that many of the roads are not maintained. This is not true for the Motorways (M roads). You'll find potholes and patchwork. Also, there's not a sewer system running under these roads. You won't have drainage after a rain so you really want to slow it down to avoid hydroplaning. 

In defense of the "L" roads:  you will see beautiful parts of Ireland that you'll only see by driving! Really beautiful! We also journeyed through many small towns. When we were hungry, it was easy to pull over and enjoy a pub. We didn't have one bad meal in Ireland! In hindsight, I really am glad that we drove many "L" roads. 

Google Maps and the iPhone maps will include Local roads in your directions so I would map everything out before leaving the States. You may have better luck avoiding the Local roads in that case. After three days of driving, I was much better on the Local roads, but I was still frightened when an opposing driver sped instead of doing the speed limit. 

The trucks! Most of the truck drivers are very good about moving to the left when you are headed toward them. A few will ride the line which is frightening. You have to remember that on the "R" roads you really do have enough room in the lane--even when the truck is on the line.

SHOULD YOU DRIVE IN IRELAND

We had an incredible trip to Ireland! My husband has never been there, and I think he would have enjoyed himself whether we took a train or motorcoach trip, but I'm so glad I drove! Driving made the trip completely customizable and special. We had delicious meals; we saw beautiful parts of the country; we visited places we would not have been able to visit in a group. We did whatever we wanted when we wanted. We can't wait to return! And, next time, my husband wants to drive too. 

Having recently sailed for the first time on Ponant Cruises, I thought I'd share my experiences with you. I hope you find this information helpful.

I sailed on Le Jacques Cartier on of four Explorer class ships of Ponant. These ships offer 82 staterooms, one "formal" dining room with an outside eating area on Deck 4 and one "al fresco" dining area on Deck 3 by the pool. The Explorer ships also feature a beautiful infinity pool which really enhances your experience (and your views) when you sit outside.

The Ponant ships feel like yachts vs ocean liners. Here's a view from the pool area.

This was our view as we returned from our excursion in Rovinj. See the two people in the pool?

Our cruise began in Venice, Italy. The ship was docked at the end of town; so when we left our hotel, we took a private water taxi up the Grand Canal and were dropped off near the transit “center”.

Then, we took a cab for the short ride to the pier. We checked in, our Negative COVID test results were inspected; we had cookies and cold water, and then our luggage went through the security scan. Outside, we had a choice of walking to the ship (about a 10-minute walk) or taking a Ponant shuttle. We walked.

We were greeted at the base of the ship's steps by the Captain and other key crew members. Then, we climbed the stairs and entered the ship, where we were given a warm washcloth. Next, we gave our name at the front desk and a credit card imprint was taken for incidentals.

Time for a glass of Champagne! Yes, it was Champagne--not Prosecco. After all, this is a French-flagged ship with food prepared by a French chef and they serve French wines. Then, it was time to go to our stateroom.

Here's a video showing our stateroom which is called the Prestige Deluxe Stateroom.

This category stateroom is also available on Deck 3 as a Deluxe Stateroom, and it’s the entry level cabin on this ship. Several cabins have sliding doors which lock. These are perfect for families. Each side has its own full bathroom and bed, as well as table and chair.

We were also able to view two suites during our week aboard Le Jacques Cartier. The sleeping area looks identical to our cabin. The sitting area features a sofa bed. The shower rooms is larger for the suites than in the Deluxe Staterooms. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the more expensive staterooms as these were occupied with guests! I loved the neutral colors and the use of leather in the design of these staterooms. You can see this better on my video. One of the many things I like about Ponant is the availability of so many sailings to solo travelers--without charging the single supplement. On our cruise, for example, approximately 7-10 guests were solo travelers. We also had two families traveling with their three teens, and a grandfather with his teen-aged granddaughter. Even though the teen who was with her granddad seemed bored at times, she was always polite and quiet. One of the other teens even took our pictures when we asked. They were a pleasure to have on board.

What’s Included

Our sailing was part of Ponant’s Smithsonian Journeys which gave us included excursions and additional lectures in the evening by a Smithsonian lecturer. I thought this was a great enhancement.

Typically, the following components of your vacation are included:

• Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the ship on the day of embarkation
• Transfer and luggage handling from the ship to the airport on the day of debarkation
• Cruise with food, wine, special inclusions and the stateroom
• Ponant uses either Clarins or Hermes products in your stateroom which are included
• One included shore excursion in each port of call (optional excursions may be available for purchase)
• Open bar with wine, beer, champagne and some alcoholic beverages (a premium beverage package may be purchased onboard if desired)
• Activities onboard which may include the Blue Eye Lounge (depending upon the ship), as well as a visit to the Bridge to learn about how the ship moves you safely through the seas.

What’s Not Included

• Independent meals and beverage ashore

• Personal expenses (e.g., laundry, telephone, gift shop, etc.).

Food

The food is prepared under the direction of a French chef onboard. When you sail on one of the Smithsonian Journeys, the guests are English-speaking; so the menus are geared toward this audience. The menu also offers hamburgers, which I did see the teens choose at times. I would say that only 2% of the choices were not to my taste, but that’s because I don’t eat goose liver or fish that is foamy (and I know there’s a name for this, sorry!). Most everyone else at my table at it and said it was delicious. I could always find choices that fit my tastes and were delicious too.

Day 6 of our cruise was July 4. The crew surprised us with a party—corn on the cob, barbequed pork and chicken, grilled vegetables, baked potatoes with sour cream and chives, brownies—and there’s always ice cream! I mean there’s always ice cream on this ship!

Special Touches

Which brings me to Ponant’s special touches. On the evening of July 3, we had a cocktail party and Gala Dinner. All of the crew was introduced to us—without their masks—one by one, department by department. This felt very special to me. Then, the Captain said to us (I’m paraphrasing.) “We know that this is your big holiday, and you’re not home. We appreciate that you’re spending your big day with us.”

At which point, our Cruise Director Johan (he’s from the part of France which is near Belgium) announced that our lead singer was going to sing The Star Spangled Banner. She was amazing! We cheered, and then the dancers came out in Uncle Sam outfits (the young woman version) and danced to New York, New York. It was quite a show! We went upstairs to Deck 4 for a wonderful dinner! Later, more American music to celebrate America and lots of dancing!

The next day, we returned from our morning excursion for lunch. What a surprise—red, white and blue balloons and flag pennats had been hung! A barbeque buffet was set up for us! We had more live music while we ate. It was all just perfect, and I, for one, didn’t mind that I’d missed my first 4th of July at home because I was celebrating with my new friends.

Another Special Touch is being invited to the Bridge! I’ve never been on the ship’s Bridge. I learned there’s always a backup process—and paper charts are included in the plan.

Ponant Explorer Class ships are the only ships with eyes! That's right! We visited the Blue Eye Lounge three times during our week onboard. This is a great place to host a small (14 people only) cocktail party or a relaxation/meditation class. The Captain call tell you the best time to see fish. On our cruise it was in Dubrovnik at night which we were still in port. The Blue Eye Lounge puts out a blue light that attracts the fish. Here’s my video (when we didn’t get to see fish). It gives you an idea of the experience.

Ponant excels at Special Touches. One day, we heard a rumor that the Captain was going to let us jump into the Aegean Sea. Was it a rumor or was it true? I heard a loud noise from my stateroom and ran down to the aft of the ship. Here’s a video I made and some pictures too!

This was the highlight of my cruise! The water was so clear and clean that we could see our feet in it! Perfect temperature too! It was heaven!

This picture is thanks of Kylie, one of the four sweet teens onboard.

See the dark brown dock? This Marina Deck serves three purposes: move it to the water and you can use it as a platform to jump into the water; move it up a bit and it’s a dock to get on and off the tenders; move it up higher and it provides extra space on the sun deck for those enjoying the infinity pool.

Entertainment

In addition to those lucky moments when you can "take a jump in the lake", Ponant stores zodiacs on Deck 7 for use during certain sailings. They have a troupe of dancers two singers, a guitarist, and a classical pianist--all entertained us daily and were wonderful! There's no reason to be bored! Additionally, when we are in port during the evening, you can explore town and the nightlife.

Internet and App

Here is my only complaint. Because I always work when I'm traveling, I need good internet access. I couldn't get any access in my stateroom. So, I had to work from the Main Lounge. I wasn't able to access the Ponant app at all; I don't know if I missed something, but I'm guessing I didn't. 

What to Pack

Ponant will suggest your packing list.

On our cruise, we needed comfortable walking shoes for the day. Some people chose an excursion where they were walking on what one person called "a goat trail" up and down hills--no flip flops for that one! 

I noticed that the stones in towns were high gloss, and I've slid on such stones in other countries so I wore flat sandals with a grip (Dansk). I packed a dressy pair of sandals for the evenings and a pair of flip flops.

It was very hot in Croatia and Greece; so we packed sunscreen, shorts, light-weight tops to wear with the shorts, bathing suits and cover up (although some people used the plush robes in our staterooms for their cover ups).

We had two "Gala" Dinners with cocktail parties and a "White" Party. If you didn't have a white outfit, you could wear black and white or all black. The attire was "suggested". In reality, some people wore what they wanted and the rest wore white or black or black and white. I didn't see anyone in anything sparkly, nor did anyone wear a tuxedo. The men wore dress slacks and shirt (no tie) and a sports coat. If I had to describe the suggested attire for the cruise, I'd call it "country club casual".

Value

Ponant offers great value. The wonderful food and open bar, the beautiful staterooms, the ability to visit small ports that larger ships can't access, the ability to spend time with less than 200 guests while experiencing the world, included transfers and excursions. And, of course there is no way to put a dollar amount on the special touches and the service they give you. I was a guest in their home, and they were generous hosts! 

Copyright 2022 All 4U Travel, LLC

Our Hawaiian Cruise

 

I took this while Bill drove--on our way out of the town of Haleiwa.

My mind is on Hawaii. It has been on Hawaii for the past two years when I became a Hawaii Specialist. I'm also an Oahu Specialist and a Kaua'i Specialist.

Last year, we had planned a Hawaiian cruise, but had to reschedule due to my husband's work. So, this year, we flew out of Jacksonville International on March 5 and headed to Honolulu. 

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. I chose this because the beach was across the street which made the price a little more "affordable". 

Is anything really affordable in Hawaii? No, you have to be ready to spend. For us, this was a bucket-list trip. But, I have to say that I would happily go into major debt again if I could return to Hawaii. I sit and look at my pictures. Even the ones that didn't come out so well look beautiful to me.

I had reserved a Mustang convertible for Bill to drive. He was thrilled! 

Bill was so excited about showing me Oahu, where he had been stationed many (many, many) years ago. Honolulu is like a big parking lot--tons of traffic! First, we went to the base where Bill was stationed and then to the base where he went to Communications School. Bill is fond of telling me that his unit is typically killed during times of war because they have to go to the front lines and fix communications equipment. So, they are shot at and blown up during war time. Bill didn't serve during war time, and that's why he's driving that convertible Mustang in the photo (above).

Here's my favorite picture of the North Shore. 

Well, it's one of them. The North Shore is stunning! I think my favorite town on the North Shore is Haleiwa (ha-lay-eve-a). Something about this town just touched me, and I didn't want to leave. It wasn't the drink we had in the funny mug either!

              


There was much we didn't get to see in Honolulu (which is my justification for a return trip). However, we did go to a Luau on Friday night. I've seen Hawaiian dancers on TV, but that's not at all comparable to seeing them in person!

I have more on my You Tube channel . 

On Saturday, we dropped the rental car off at the airport and took a cab to the cruise port. This was an easy transition! 

Because we've sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line before, we had priority embarkation. That was GREAT! Before we knew it, we were on the Pride of America (POA). This is a charming ship, and perfectly fit the Aloha spirit of Hawaii! She's an older ship, and we found her to be a good home to us that week--the week that something changed in the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We were in a cocoon that week aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America. The crew constantly cleaned and sanitized (which is typical for NCL). 

We didn't realize that something was changing in the world outside of our ship, until the crew stopped letting us serve ourselves in the buffet. One morning, all the displays of food were roped off. The crew wore gloves and stood by the ropes giving us plates and utensils rolled up in a cloth napkin. At each food section, we could tell staff what we wanted to eat, but we weren't allowed to get our own food. 

NCL has always had the pleasantly aggressive Happy Happy Washy Washy crew outside the buffet and dining rooms. They are armed with a squirt bottle of hand sanitizer. They stand near the sanitizer dispenser too; so they can see whether you've used it on your own or if they will need to squirt you down. They are attractive; they make eye contact with each person, and they smile a lot as they say, "Happy, happy, washy washy" and squirt your hands. I always repeat this back to them as I cheerfully rub the sanitizer into my hands.

There she is! 

I took this picture at a hotel in Hilo. We sailed from Oahu to Maui that first night.The water was choppy, and Bill (who is never seasick) felt nauseous most of the night. The entertainment was really great--Billy Joel and Elton John sung by the same singer. It's bad to forget someone's name, and I have! I'm sorry! We listened to him in the Pink Champagne Room every night.

I should explain that the POA is in dry dock in April; so the Pink Champagne Room might not exist when she cruises again. Maybe the Pink Champagne Room will just get a little facelift during dry dock. I really enjoyed the time I spent in this lounge.

When we first came aboard POA, we learned that our snorkeling with the tortoises was canceled for the next day--not enough people signed up. We had brought our own snorkeling gear. I was VERY disappointed. I love turtles and tortoises--so much that I signed up to volunteer on the Sea Turtle Washback Program before we'd even moved to Florida.

Anyway, we had three excursions set up for Maui--snorkeling and the Sunset at the Haleakala Crater on March 8 and whale watching on March 9. 

Sunset at Haleakala was like a spiritual experience. The guide slowly acclimated us to the 9k feet above sea level altitude so no one got sick. I felt a little lightheaded at one point, but I was fine really. The guide showed us a plant that had been near extinction. He showed us where people were NOT supposed to walk (and, yes there were people walking anyway). 

Here are some people watching the sunset--also in a spot where they weren't supposed to be. This didn't distract from the beauty of it all--the sun setting below the clouds. 

    



See the clouds? We stood in the parking lot at the Park Rangers building, but above us was the peak of Haleakala, where you'll find nukes! Don't mess with the state of Hawaii!!!

The next day we boarded a zodiac and went whale watching. Momma whales swim down from Alaska when the waters there are cold so they can have their babies in Hawaii. We saw a few mommas and their calves. We also saw two male whales trying to get the attention of the mommas! 

If you get a good picture of a whale fluke, you can go on www.happywhale.com and post your picture. Since whales aren't tagged, this website is the best way of tracking the movement of whales you've seen. 

Day 4 took us to the Big Island. First, we visited Hilo. Our guide showed us the restaurant where Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson visits when he's on the island. 

Hilo is rustic. We rode through town on the way to Rainbow Falls. Then, we rode a bit to see Akaka and Kahuna Falls. Here are Bill and I by the famous Akaka Falls and the other is Rainbow Falls.

       

The POA moved over to Kona for our second day on the Big Island. Kona reminded me of a place where water sports people would love to visit. It's a small town. The Sheraton is down the road, located in a cove. We saw it from the zodiac. We were going to snorkel (finally), then see dolphin and lava caves. What a day! I have no pictures because I was holding on to my seat for dear life on that inflatable boat. 

It was such a great time, but I did hurt my back a little; so if you have back problems, don't do the zodiac here. 

I deliberately purchased a waterproof disposable camera so I could take pictures. Yes, I forgot the camera. We saw whales on the way to Kealakekua Bay Marine Preserve. I could watch whales forever.

We saw a memorial to Captain Cook, who came to Kealakekua Bay in 1779 during the makahiki time which celebrates the earth god Lono. The people thought Cook was the second coming of Lono so his crew got the royal treatment.  However, the English stayed too long and behaved in ways that made it very clear that they were not gods. They sailed out of the harbor on February 4, but had to return due to bad weather. Several incidences of violence broke out on both sides, and Cook was killed. 

It was by the memorial to Captain Cook that we snorkeled. It was gorgeous! When we were finished, we climbed back into the zodiac and had juice. Who greeted us? Several spinner dolphin--again no picture!! They're smaller in size than the bottle nose dolphin we have here, but they're just as friendly.

Several spinner dolphin came alongside our zodiac, jumped out of the water, spun around for us and then back into the water. What a great way to say, "Hi, look at me! Welcome to Kona!" They have the most joyous faces. 

Gradually, we had to leave our new friends and return to the ship--but wait! Our captain pointed out some lava caves and pushed the throttle on the zodiac. I knew he wouldn't drive us right into the walls of lava. 

At the last possible moment, the captain turned the boat to the right. We screamed with laughter. Then, our zodiac floated into two of the lava caves--just our nose, but the entire experience was thrilling. Seriously, I wish I had the camera!!!!! That must mean I have to return to Kona! Right?

For Days 6 and 7 we headed to Kaua'i for two days. Bill was really looking forward to visiting this island since Jurassic Park was filmed here. Our first day took us to the National Tropical Botanical Park. On the way, we stopped at Sprouting Horn. Watch the video and you'll see why it's called this!

While studying to be a Hawaii Specialist and also a Kaua'i Specialist, I learned about the McBryde & Allerton Gardens. It's the National Tropical Botanical Park. I just had to see this. What a beautiful place. We saw a bird that was close to extinction. The grounds are gorgeous.

               

The picture on the far right has been filmed in several movies including Seven Days, Six Nights starring Harrison Ford and Anne Heche. On our walk near the water, we passed an old tree with big white dinosaur eggs sitting between roots (from Jurassic Park).

One of the most breath-taking spots on our cruise was Waimea Canyon. My pictures don't do it justice (another reason for me to return?!). 

It's impossible to choose one representative picture of Waimea Canyon.

When you exit your tour bus, there are two ramps up to the sightseeing platforms--no steps. The ramp to the left is a bit steeper, and the one to the right is shorter and not steep. There is a lower viewing platform that as a few steps, but you really don't need to do that if you don't want to or can't. We bought fresh pineapple and coconut from the vendors here too. Hit the spot!

Sadly, it was time to leave the amazing islands of Hawaii. But first, the Pride of America had a great surprise in store for her guests! The Na'Pali Coastline!! So many times during this cruise, I said to myself "God made Hawaii." I can't recommend this cruise enough if you want to see absolute beauty and meet kind people. 

Aloha!



For More Information On Hawaii or Hawaiian cruises, contact Anita O'Donnell at 904-342-0740 or email me at anita.odonnell@cruiseplanners.com. Visit our website too! 

Your Hawaiian Specialist in St. Johns County, Florida!

Paris Before the Storm

 

My pano of the Louvre on Sunday morning of our Paris visit. 

I love Paris. Most of the flights home from our Bordeaux wine river cruise (see last month's blog) stopped in Paris. I thought to myself "Bill and our friend Steve have never visited Paris. What a great opportunity. Let's go!" Even though we'd only have two nights there, I couldn't resist a return trip to a city I loved and first visited in 2006.

I purchased train tickets for the ride from Bordeaux to Paris, found a great boutique hotel in the arrondissement that I wanted, and started to daydream about Paris. 

Twenty-two arrondissements or districts comprise Paris. Most of the tourist destinations are located within the eight central districts. You can sight see via the Hop On-Hop Off (HoHo) double decker bus or you can purchase a pass for the Metro (subway). 

You can also plan specific excursions with a vendor who will provide round trip transportation from the airport, train station or a cruise ship and then take you to your hotel at the end of the excursion.  In August, we'd take the HoHo. We could walk to one of the stops from our hotel. I love to use the HoHo when I'm seeing a city for the first time. It gives me an overview of sight locations and helps me use my time well. 

My first visit to Paris was with a group of friends in February 2006. The city was chilly and we had rain on a few days, but we were in Paris!

Karen, Angela, Terri, and Dennis 

Karen and Anita on a cloudy day in Paris

Approximately 20 of us flew from Philadelphia to visit Paris, armed with our one-week pass for le Metro so that we could come and go as we pleased. I served as a kind of translator since I remembered a decent amount of our school French. (I don't remember as much now, though!) 

One day, while walking along the Champs d'Elysses Dennis said, "I feel like I'm home here." I responded, "Do you know why Paris feels like home?" 

I explained that the first Ambassador to France from the U.S. was Benjamin Franklin. He loved Paris, and recreated several of the buildings in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a replica of the building pictured on the left.

I pointed to the Petit Palais which is replicated in Memorial Hall in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. I explained that City Hall in Philadelphia is a part of the Louvre. 

Walking up the Champs Elysses, one of my friends said, "This is the Benjamin Franklin Parkway!" Yes, it is. Then, we reached the Arc de Triomphe, a replica of which can be found in Fairmount Park too. 

One evening we dined at a very nice restaurant. The owner-chef approached us. When we told him we were from the Philadelphia area, he was very excited to tell us that Philadelphia's famous French chef-restaurateur Georges Perrier is one of his friends. Coincidentally, we recently had had drinks in the bar of his new restaurant in Philly.

So, Paris does feel a lot like home to me. Now, it had been almost 14 years since visiting Paris that first time. Time flies by so quickly, and I was going to return!

Since it was August, I had prepurchased our train tickets from Bordeaux to Paris. We took a taxi from the ship to the train station, and waited for our train to arrive. Each car had a luggage stand at the entrance where we stored out baggage. We found our reserved seat, plugged in our cell phones and watched the countryside pass by at 200 mph! We reached Paris in no time, where we grabbed another cab, then checked in to our hotel. We needed some lunch.

In 2006, we stayed in the 9th Arrondissement. This is the district where L'Opera is located. In 2019, I wanted to stay in the 6th Arrondissement. I found a great boutique hotel. We had a French door in our bedroom which led to a balcony with a small table and chairs--perfect for coffee in the morning and wine later in the day! 

Across the street from our hotel was Les Deux Magots. We sat outside, bought a bottle of wine, and ate. Yes, the price of our lunch was inflated. It's a tourist sight, and we expected to overpay.        

                                                                                               

Les Deux Magots was the meeting spot for famous writers, poets and artists such as Geraldine Stein, ee cummings, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso. This was a sunny, glorious day in Paris! Next, we walked a few blocks to the Seine and across one of the many bridges. 

We had two nights in Paris. During that time, we walked a great deal when we weren't riding on the HoHo. Just soaking up the mood of Paris--shopping in a small market for bottles of wine, trying outdoor cafes along our walks, watching the residents and tourists of Paris. Our weather was perfect, and this added to our feelings about our visit to Paris. Back home in Florida, people were preparing for a hurricane. We had just moved to Saint Augustine a month before. When we'd left for our Bordeaux river cruise, a hurricane hadn't been a concern. During our time away from home, the forecast developed. So, we were a bit nervous about getting home and what we would face. We were concerned that our flight into Jacksonville would be cancelled; so we changed the flight to Chicago and drove home! 

Still, nothing can detract from a visit to Paris! We decided at dinner one night that we'd return with the "kids" in a few years and this time, we'd spend more time in Paris. 

If you want to visit the Eifel Tower in the summer, you need to
prepurchase your tickets!

Here's our view as we walked to the Louvre.

Our neighborhood was energized at night!