Paris - Week 2 - 7/10 to 7/12; a walk-about, a hike, and an Arch

Sunday was a day of laundry, resting, and walking around Le Port-Marly.  We found there is a Picard store  (sells only frozen food) and a wine / liquor store.  Our timing was off and we found the stores closed after we had lunch - Dang!

The cats lounged around the boat... they are cuties. 

Louis on the Gangway

Marie above the Patio

 

 We had a family of swans wander in and we fed them bread, then a lone male stopped by.  He enjoyed bread, too.  In fact, he hangs around a lot.  His bill looks like it had been fractured, but he seems to eat OK once he soaks the bread.




On Monday, we did a hike Lee found on the internet.  This older guy and his older dog supposedly trudged over the bridge from Le Pecq toward St Germain-en-Laye and then up to the Forest.  He said it was about 2 miles and took only a couple of hours.  Well, the old guy and his dog beat us on every point.

The bridge is beautiful and the 2 stone statues guarding each river looked like - as the gentleman said - they had done major squats for eons!
Then the hike took an upward turn, quite an upward turn and it got hot.

We saw Paris in the distance and we hiked along the 2 walls protecting the chateau and its' forest and got to a nice, shady park area.   Then we had a rest and did a couple of dipsy-doodles on the way back to the car.



Walked through some neighborhoods, saw the train from a new angle, and were extremely happy to get back... 4 hours later.  That old dog must have been some hardy hiker!



Tuesday we did a test run to the Gare du Nord (Paris /North) train station to make sure we have no issues getting Doug and Joan to their Chunnel train this Sunday.  Then we stopped off at the "Etoile", the center of which is the Arc de Triomphe.  The traffic was funny there and it is apparently different from all other 'round-abouts' in that people entering the circle have the right of way.  This had people a tad confused.  There were a lot of tooting as people cut others off when turning or people just stopped - in fear for their lives. 
 



We took the lift to the top of the Arc and the sights from above were awesome.   The day started out rainy and hazy and then started clearing.  



12 roads form the "etoile" or star and they were all busy.  But the view from above was spectacular.


                                         

There was a sculpture on the way down from the top of the Arc that seemed to have the "Holy Crap, did you see what that guy did?" look of everyone viewing the traffic. 

 We took the train back to the boat and relaxed... it is SO nice not to have to drive in Paris.