I’m going to interrupt the posts on Malaysia to share what I did over the weekend. Many of you who follow my blog know I love tennis. I don’t play that much anymore, and I was never that great when I did. However, I love to watch. This past weekend we took the train to Paris for a couple of days and went to the French Open on Monday. Considering we recently returned from our trip to Malaysia (there was a scheduling snafu, which is why these trips were so close together) we didn’t do a lot of sightseeing in Paris. I took our travel guidebook, but didn’t actually pull it out of the bag. Instead we enjoyed just walking through the city without knowing what we were looking at. We lucked out. Last year when we went the weather was horrible. This year it was warmer and not much rain. Here are some photos from the first day. By the way I would like to mention how lucky we are. Paris is only a two-hour train ride away. We have been so spoiled since moving to London.
50 Year Project 
Lucky you! Wish I could move to London for a couple of years 🙂
Living here as been a wonderful opportunity.
Wow!! Only 2 hours away? You are truly lucky :). So, maybe I should add that to our plans for next summer.
We left our flat by 7:30 am (train left a little before 9) and were in Paris by noon. Paris is one hour ahead. If you do add it, make sure you give yourself a couple of days in Paris. It’s such a wonderful city.
Hmmm, the wheels are turning in my head now, and that can be kind of scary you know :). So, how much is a train ticket from London to Paris? And, would you recommend the hotel you stayed at? I wouldn’t even know where to start when picking hotels! Any advice you have, oh wonderful, knowledgeable friend of mine, would be greatly appreciated (for London and Paris) :).
I copied the following info from Eurostar and I don’t know if the price is for certain days or times: Eurostar stands for unbeatable value; explore exquisite Paris from as little as £69 return.
If you do decide to go I would recommend my hotel. It was in the Latin Quarter near Notre Dame. Not too fancy, but a nice place and a wonderful location. and there’s a great Pizza/Italian place nearby. As for hotels in London I haven’t stayed in any. Do you want to stay in the heart of London (it will be more expensive, but you are close to things) or just outside, like in Earl’s Court, where the hotels are less but you will will have to take the Tube places. Unless you like to walk a lot.
Yes, I’ve got to start planning, researching and making notes (organizing don’t you know LOL), so if you can give me the name of the hotel in Paris, it sounds great! As for London, at this point I’m thinking we would want to stay right in the heart of London, so if you have any suggestions that would be wonderful too. Once I start adding up costs, I may change my mind, but right now since we would only be in London for a few days, I think it would be nice to be right in the middle of everything :).
I’ll have to think about London hotels. I’m only familiar with the ones near me, and we are not in the center of things. As for Paris we stayed at the Villa Pantheon. http://www.villa-pantheon.com/index.html
We booked it with our train tickets so I think we got a deal on the rate. I can’t remember how much we paid unfortunately–I don’t handle the finances.
Have fun organizing and planning. What other destinations are you planning on?
Well, the main purpose of this trip is to visit Scotland, the home of my mom’s ancestors, for our 25th anniversary. I have always wanted to go there! We are really just in the very early planning stages, but so far I’m thinking 2 weeks with the first 5 or 6 days split between London and Paris and then take the train to Scotland for the rest. Who knows though. My hubby thinks we should see all of Europe LMAO!!!
I vote with Mike! Of course you may need longer than 2 weeks.
I just came back from Paris…such a lovely city! I’m also very close to London and jumped on the Eurostar instead of flying, and wow! It’s so much more relaxed, and you almost feel as if you’re having a day out in Brighton rather than Paris just because you skipped the stress of flying!
The train is much more relaxing and the customs bit isn’t as annoying. Glad you had fun in Paris. I’m looking forward to going back next year for the Open.
Big Man will be soooo jealous, he loves the tennis! Our first “big” trip together was to Paris on Eurostar…a city I know well and love, so many happy memories 🙂
We got to see Nadal play in Paris. That was amazing. Paris is great. You can try to run around and see it all and have a wonderful time and you can cafe hop, not see much and still have a marvelous time. I love Paris.
The thing about living in Europe is that it’s so easy to travel between countries because everything’s so geographically near! Australia is so far from everything, so traveling is always more time-consuming! Stunning images, I especially love the last one with the sunset – incredible colors!
Daniel
http://www.myworldatyourfingertips.com
I understand. I felt the same way when I lived in the States. Everything seemed so far away. Now I’m trying to take advantage of the nearness.
Isn’t it the greatest to just say, ‘I’ll just hop to Paris for the weekend.’ I do miss that.
Yes. Growing up in California, we had to drive to hours to get to a different state. then when I lived in Boston, we could drive for an hour and be in Rhode Island. Now I’m two hours away from a different country. So cool.
London – Paris – two hours because there is now the Euro tunnel undercrossing the channel …
It is odd when you are in the tunnel under the channel.
Good old Paris, so much character and charm. I spent my honeymoon there with my first, late wife…happy memories.
I’m glad you have the memories and Paris is the perfect place to make them.
How fortunate to be so close. If I were two hours away, I would be going to Paris frequently. I’ve been there a few times already, but I would go again.
Great photos and glad you had a good weekend trip!
I wish we could go more, but it’s hard getting people to watch the boys so much. I really can’t complain–London is just as wonderful. I’m pretty lucky overall.
Oh, I do miss living in Europe where everything is just a train ride away. Paris is the best city to walk! So much beauty around every corner.
There is something special about Paris. it feels historical, vibrant, and magical.
Definitely a place I would like to visit again. Seeing your pictures reminds me of this.
I hope you do visit. It’s a great place.
I love the photo collage! You are making such wonderful memories:-)
Each trip, no matter how big or small we really do have fun. Thanks.
My sister has taken the train from Germany to Paris. It takes her a bit longer but not too much and with the ICE it’s such a breeze. The photos are great!
We need to take the train to more places. it really is convenient!
I’ll bet that’s a great train to ride, too. Great photos.
It’s really beautiful, however all my pictures didn’t turn out.
Still got to do that ! What fun TBM .
I hope you do!
I’m going soon as well. Usually I go several times a years since I don’t live there anymore but the last couple of years were too busy.
That’s a shame that you haven’t been as often lately. Life always gets in the way. We hope to go once a year. Now that we are so close it would be a shame not to. Will you take a train?
Yes, the TGV. Takes 3 hrs.
3 hours isn’t bad and train travel, for me, is more relaxing.
Two hours from Paris. Great! Wonderful photos!
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
I’m pretty lucky!