Montparnasse - Paris - March 2010

Flying in to Charles de Gaulle has become like walking through the great mouth of Luna Park - the delights of another trip to France waiting to be experienced. Never thought we would look upon an International Airport in that manner but its what lay beyond the airport that fills you with anticipation.

Even waiting for Paris Shuttle has become a familiar experience now. I remember our first experience of arriving at CdG and Paris Shuttle. Where do we go, will Paris Shuttle be there - panic, panic. Now its just matter of course.

This trip would hold no surprises, no dramas - France had become familiar to us. Plus it was the year of my 60th birthday, a present from Sue. Not a long trip this time, only 3 weeks, with two weeks of living in a Paris apartment.

Paris Shuttle took us to our hotel which was almost across the road to Gare Montparnasse. This is where we would catch the TGV to Tours for an overnight stay before meeting with friends on the Cher river in the Loire.

The view from our hotel room. Montparnasse Tower lurking.

Bringing the bike with me, I was looking forward to doing the same as this fellow, riding the streets of Paris and getting lost.

I'm not sure if we were jet lagged or not but we did wander down the road from our very average hotel - as I said it was close to the station being the only reason we booked it.

There it was, just on the main drag - Le Montparnasse 1900 on Boulevard Montparnasse. We thought, "that might be a nice place to try for dinner".

The decor is Bell Epoque and the menu was mainly seafood - I had oysters!!!!!!!

I do remember that I enjoyed the meal, the wine and the general experience but it's now over two years ago to give you an informed critique. I did look it up on a few forums and noticed mixed reviews.

Scenes from a restaurant. le Montparnasse 1900.

Reflections in a mirror.

Even the toilets are worth a visit.

For us, breakfast is always a street cafe.

Traditional French breakfast - Petit Dejeuner but at home its probably a cup of tea with vegemite toast.

The morning of our train trip to Tours loomed and so we needed to have an early breakfast. We tend not to eat at the hotels, preferring to find a cafe and watch the Paris life go by. Much better than sitting in a hotel with other tourists or business travellers. Petit Dejeuner of juice, coffee, croissant or a bread stick is our choice.

It was time to get back to the hotel, collect the bags and get the TGV for Tours. See you next Wednesday.

The Blues Brothers of Bikes...

A sunny Sunday Melbourne morning was just perfect for a Father and Son ride. The last time we did this, Mitch was 12 years old, me 50. Hope we don't wait that long before our next ride - I don't think I could keep up.

This Sunday was the running of the Annual 220 kms Round the Bay ride. Some 8000 riders of all ages, sizes and physiques were out today. Mitch and I were just doing a casual ride to Frankston and back, not much more than a casual 50 kms spin with a coffee stop half way.
Sitting down for coffee we watched the 1000s of riders heading off for the epic ride, many on bikes that I would not even consider using. Very brave people but all with a purpose in mind and the fact that much of their entry money went to charity was good to see. I wonder how they will feel Monday morning.

Cool Dudes - Blues Brothers of Bikes.

Many of you who read this blog will know my passion for the bike. Its a great way to meet people and to absorb the local scene at a more leisurely pace than from the inside of a car. I like to chat to the riders we meet on the road, make contact in some way. I saw a chap on a uni-cycle and gave him a thumbs up - he did the same back to me.
The bikes we rode today have only one gear - Beach Road, Bayside is flat so we don't need lots of gears.

As we sat having our coffee, one could wonder what this bayside town may have been like way back during the early years - well not so early in context of European history. Frankston was an early fishing village in 1850, reached only by boat from Melbourne. Later a dirt track was opened up that today is a busy thoroughfare. A freeway bypassing the many beach side suburbs was opened up for those that were on their way somewhere else pass Frankston.

Frankston was the site of the first Australian Jamboree in 1935.

Gregory Peck starred in "On the Beach" filmed in the Frankston area. Ava Gardner, not that impressed said that if you were going to film the end of the world, then Melbourne would be the place!!!

Frankston was the location of the film, "On the Beach" made from the book by local writer Neville (Shute) Norway. It was also the home to Graham Kennedy, an early pioneer of Australian live Television.
Here's a skit he did in the early years of Australian television, only months into a long running variety show, "In Melbourne Tonight".

I'd Rather go Blind - You Send Me.

Many years ago, friends introduced Mary Coughlan to us. We bought the CD they played for us that night and then every CD before and after that one. Mary is Irish and I have to admit to being partial to Irish singers. Van Morrison, Luka Bloom, Mary Black are all amongst our CD collection.

 Mary Coughlan came to Australia - she came to Melbourne to a venue called the Malthouse in South Melbourne. We had tickets, I bought them early as I didn't want Sue and I to miss out.
We need not have bothered - we were amongst no more than twenty people in a venue of possibly of 200 seats or more.
I felt sad at seeing so many empty seats but Mary gave us a great show. Here's a You Tube Clip but please don't watch it with your morning cup of tea - Wait until late at night, grab a coffee, a glass of your favorite liquor and get into a mood where you may have had a special person in your life jilt you - and then listen to Mary sing. Tell me that just a little tear didn't fall down your cheek with a memory of a lost love.

Back to France - 2010

In 2006, we took what we thought would be our "Once in a Lifetime" overseas trip. Sue had just retired due to health issues, we paid our the mortgage and put some cash aside for that trip to France and Italy.
Little did we know that 2006 would be followed by France in 2008 and 2009. Wednesdays in France finished last week with our return from Paris to Melbourne for that 2009 trip. It was one where we met some really nice people along the way, saw some great scenery and architecture while experiencing markets and culinary delights of France.

You dream that you might travel back but its not a certain. 2010 was to be my 60th year and Sue asked what would I like to do to celebrate this milestone. Would I like to have a party and invite all my friends , so I rang them both and they were busy on that occasion. Sue had another idea - would I like to celebrate my 60th in Paris. Fantastic, yes please!

So Wednesdays in France returns next week with our 2010 trip. It was a shorter one this time but no less enjoyable with two weeks in an apartment in Paris and a few days in the Loire staying with friends.

I also had my bike with me again and had the chance to ride with two of my cycling friends in Paris.
We see Wednesdays in France as a bit of a travel diary and YES, a little indulgent. BUT isn't that what blogging is? We enjoy all our favourite Blogs and hope you enjoy our travel experiences.

But more next week - 

Meeting an old Friend

I heard that the Citroen Classic Owners Club of Australia was having their annual concours and they could not have wished for a better day. A very pleasant spring day - cloudless sky - about 24 degrees, perfect.
In the late 60s, early 70s I was a member of the Citroen Car Club of Victoria. Most of the members were of a rather mature aged and owned the more modern D Series Citroens but us youngsters were more interested in the Traction Avant and 2CVs. Anyway we were seen as those kids that drove those old cars. We were at the time keen to preserve the Classic Citroens and trying to keep them on the road by stockpiling spares. The Club didn't see this as part of their charter so there was a parting of the ways, hence the "Citroen Classic Owners Car Club of Australia".

Sue and I owned a 1951 Slough built Traction Avant. It was our first but in a previous life I'd owned several Citroens and as a young girl, Sue's father owned a Family 9 or in French, a Familiale.

I've called this post, "Meeting an old Friend" because that Citroen Traction Avant just happened to be on display on the day. Three of its previous owners just happened to be there on the day. The son of the people I bought the car from, and the person that currently owns the car - it still has its original number plates.
So Bob, Steve and I had a good old chin wag.

The Citroen Classic Owners Club of Australia logo has not changes since its inception during the 70s.

Sue and I purchased our Traction Avant sixteen years back when I had a payout from a company that I worked for. It was probably the fifth that I've owned since my late teenage years. I have to admit that I was feeling a little nostalgic.

Now this it what most Citroen Traction Avant enthusiasts would want in their garage.

If you're looking for a bit more power, how about a Maserati engined Citroen SM.

Or maybe the Citroen CX?

Then there's the D-Series 

But the cutest of all the Citroens is the 2CV, Deux Chevaux

This sign that you see on the side of the 2CV above was from the RAID. What's a RAID - well its when these crazy 2CV owners travel some ungodly distance through Australia, from the big cities to the outback and through deserts and over the alps. Brave people indeed.

So that was the feature of our "Weekend in Melbourne". After meeting an old (Citroen) friend, Sue and I with our son Mitch traveled into South Melbourne market to have lunch. Bad mistake, Sue's favorite kitchenware shop (one of many), The Chef's Hat was just across the road.
After Flathead, chips and a white wine it was off to The Chef's Hat and some spending.

Overall, its been a great weekend - hope yours was too.