Day 10 Paris

Non, rien de rien, non, je ne regrette rien

Paris, one of the worlds great cities, and one of my favourites, it's culture, it's architecture and uniformity of buildings. Art, history, museums and architectural monuments. It's big and busy with the greater urban population of over 12 million.

It has the second busiest airport in Europe with 64 million passengers a year, and Paris has the third largest GDP in the world, impressive.

 Another hot day our last for the trip. Lots to do and see. We are meeting Lei and Peng today at Peng's Brasserie in Bagnolet

The photos above are the Amici's outside the Metro Opera, and above the Palais Garnier, the Paris Opera built in the 1860's.

Left is the most famous shop in Paris, La Fayette. Spectacular shopping, but bring a big wallet if you want to buy.

Below is Peng outside his business Saint Germain.

When we disembarked at the Metro Porte de Bagnolet, exiting at the top of the elevator Ross experienced a unsettling encounter with two thieves. They took a fancy to a necklace he had and yanked from around his neck. Ross unsure of the intention of the assault at first realised they were pick pockets. These two young adult about 18 yrs were probably unaware that he was accompanied with three other big burly Australians who are trained in the marshmallow arts. I realising their intent grabbed one by the hoodie and Ross, Paul and Garry confronted them from all sides. A scuffle broke out, one of the assailants fled. As it was in a busy area with shops, locals were trying to understand what was happening. I said I would look after the luggage which was dispersed across the pavement, as the lads forced the thief down a flight of stairs, give him a nice touch up to the body from left and right. The friend who fled decided to return before he was invited in for a touch up also. They then fled missing their shirts but not before Golden Gaz sunk the slipper into one of them. Au revoir monsieur.

Golden Gaz (The Slipper) with Peng

A few of the local landmarks that Paris has to offer, with the Amici's. Notre Dame and Eifel.

Below Lei, who stayed with our family in 2008 is our driver and tour guide for the day. He is wonderful, showing us all the sites double parking whilst we site see, full of local information and humour. Originally from China, settled in France with his family over 20 years ago, speaks English, Italian, French and Chinese. Impressed Lei. 

Lei looking for a park on the Champs Elysees. Stop for an ice cream and cool drink outside McDonalds  in the seating area. Little bit of activity, police running, sirens blaring, cannot see what the issue is!

After we return to the car Lei after listening to the radio advises that there was an attack on the Champs Elysees about 200 mts from where we were sitting. A car deliberately drove into a police van before bursting into flames, and the driver who was on a security watch list died in the incident. Wow so close yet we were unaware of the seriousness of the incident. Pick pockets, terrorism, having a great day so far. Is it the Rosario Factor!!

The Arch de Triomphe and below the Louvre Palace, became a royal palace in the 14 century and many of the kings of France resided here. A truly wonderful building on the right side of the Seine

 Lei's car outside the Louvre Palace and below the Place de la Bastille. This is on the original site where the Storming of the Bastille took place which started the French Revolution in 1789. It was built in the 1350's to defend the eastern approach to the city from the English threat at the time (100 yrs war) Always fighting these two. No wonder they are cautious about an English accent when asking for assistance.

 Place de la Bastille. Below back to Peng and Celine's Brasserie, a relaxed french style restaurant where we are made to feel at home by the lovely couple. Thanks Peng & Celine we look forward to seeing you in Australia it has been too long since your last visit. Merci à vous deux

 A cool drink and lei and Peng's friends we take us to the airport. 

That was one of the most interesting rides I have ever experienced to an airport in a van, weaving and snaking, stop /start trips with a very friendly and lively Algerian. 

The baggage outside the terminal at Charles de Gaulle. Lei insists on paying for our food and stays with us until our flight biards at 9.00pm. Merci Lei see you and your family in OZ!

Home Wednesday 21st June 5.00am Michelle picks Ross up,(no one to meet us, looks like we will catch a bus)exhausted after a fantastic 7 week adventure and excited about our plans for the next 7 week trip to Spain in 2020.

Thanks for the great times. Peter, Ross, Garry & Paul.

Day 9 London

I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts
There they are all standing in a row
Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head

We landed in Paris last night, dropped all our baggage and bikes at Peng's Café, Merci Peng and Celine. By the time we had some food and settled in the hotel it was after midnight. We had an early start as we are off to London on the High Speed Train for the day.

Paul is ready with his newly acquired 'man bag'

We are staying at a hotel on Rue La Fayette, very central to all the arts and attractions that Paris has to offer. Also one of the worlds most exclusive shops...La Fayettes.
Above at the Metro which opened in 1900 and serves over 5 million passengers a day, phew!
After the Metro we disembark at Paris's Gard du Nord railway station which is among the top 10 busiest stations in the world, where we connect for the international trip to London under the Channel.
We are really looking forward to this. We leave at 8.15am local time and arrive in St Pancras at  9.30am local time. Good seats, impressive train. Cost is 50 euro to London and the return trip is 75 euro. 

Gard du Nord

Ross checking his phone at St Pancras, only 2 hrs and 15 mins to London, I think we were in a 'Time Machine' hitting 320 klm whilst having a coffee at the bar, amazing.

Making enquiries with the local british rail customer service, Paul the Station Master was so helpful, advising us the best most cost effective options for a days travel. If you have a Pay Wave credit card you can hope on and off as many times as you like for GBP 6.50 for a day, no tickets required. Sure enough when I returned to Australia my credit card was debited with $11.15. Great Value.

Fantastic sunny day in London, 31 deg today in the middle of a heat wave, it is hot and humid. don't you love the British, deck chairs for hire in St James Park @ GBP 1.60 hr or an annual fee for GBP 110. When would you get to use it!

Hello Hello Hello my son, what's your game then Gov! We decided to watch the Changing of the Guard, which occurs daily in London in the summer months

 Changing of the Guard time Table. Garry,  don't mention the War.
Looking down the Mall to Lizzie's House.

 Admiralty Arch commissioned by Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen Victoria, connects the Mall to Trafalgar Square

 Two icons of London, Trafalgar Square and Double Decker bus. A great way to see London's highlights without paying for a Hop On Hop Off bus ride.

 One of the horse guards outside Horse Guards Building, which fronts Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade, built in the 1750's and later became an important military headquarters.

Downing Street which is also on Whitehall and below Westminster Abbey

 "I say old boy, you wouldn't happen to have the Tyme? Awfully grateful old chap.

"Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner that I love London Town.."

 We are covering a bit of ground today boys, making full use of that 6 pounds, sorry Garry yours was twelve because you didn't have a Pay Wave feature.

Above Tower of London where we had some fish and chips, London style. The Haddock did not grab me as much as the old Flake back home.

 Where's Paul?
Garry always says my body is my Temple. Well they named a tube station after you Garry.

 It was hot in the underground, particularly as the trains are not air-conditioned.


Ross in Regent and Oxford Street. What shall I buy Michelle, hmmm, a Monopoly Game? You will have to do better than that Rosario.

Headed off to Camden Market for a shop and a few ales with the locals.
A fascinating and extremely busy city. The worlds largest financial centre and a world cultural capital.
 A population close to 10 million, founded by the Romans, with many wonderful sites of interest and the oldest underground in the world, and dates from 1863.

What a great day in Old London Town, better make our way back to St Pancras back for Paris.

Whilst on Westminster Bridge a visiting group of Chinese tourists asked Garry if he could oblige and take a photo. He was more than happy to do so. Then said let me take another just to be sure. When they would have come to view the photos they would be humoured to find he also took a selfie as a keepsake for them.

Day 8 Milan and Paris

Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel....Let it roll, baby, roll, let it roll, all night long....

Stephanie & Theo after a big day and night, time to clean up and for us to say goodbye. 2.00am Danke! We will never forget Theo dancing to Radar Love.

 As we depart at 4.00am. We farewell Stephan and Vereena dawn is evident on the skyline. A lovely drive south through Germany and reach the Swiss border by 11am. Beautiful scenery in this part of the world.
We have been changing drivers every two hours seeing as we had very little sleep. Stop for lunch glorious sunshine all the way.

 A long day on the road as we exit Switzerland passing Zurich Lucerne lakes Zurichsee, Lugano and enter Italy near Lago Maggiore. Not far to Milpensa Airport. Ross and myself drop Garry and Paul at the airport as we have to meet a representative from the motorhome rental company to hand over the car and view the damage incurred.
In our rush to hand over the motorhome and meeting up with others Ross leaves his phone in the van, frantically try to ask the driver to return but he says no, looks like we will have to rely on the post. This is an anxious time for Ross. 

Finally make it on board everyone is exhausted as we head for Paris. A similar distance Melbourne to Sydney, just over an hour.

Paul pushing out the zzzzzzzzzzzz in no time! Peng has arranged some of his friends to pick us up, but it looks like we will have to call up for re-enforcements as we will not fit all the bikes in the cars. I speak with Peng on the phone and he arranges for a van.