European Bike Trip

European Bike Trip page 1c

In Paris we saw the Arc, the Champs-Elysee, Notre Dame, with its
gargoyles and saints:

and Sacre Coure- the beautiful church high on the hill with the Spanish Steps over Paris with the sidewalk art displays. Those with girlfriends at home especially missed them as we sat on the Steps and watched the evening lights come on in Paris, while listening to a guitar player. We went up the Eiffel Tower only to the first platform (in the wide part, near the base, because of the cost of going to the top. But we had a great view anyway, as the pictures bear out.)

Reflections


 All the museums seemed to be closed when we went to see
them. This was a major disappointment, for me, especially the Louvre. But the
day after we left Paris we did see the Palace of Versailles, which was
beautiful.


 Did see a prototypical Ugly American tourist confronting a non-comprehending,
nasty French guard. The tourist had left the tour in the middle because his
wife felt ill, and was now trying to rejoin. The guard was arguing he would
have to pay admission again. They both got nasty, and as onlookers, we could
tell language was a major problem.
Somewhere between Versailles and our next evening stop, we came
across this open air market, a typical French weekly occurance:



 We stayed in a youth hostel/school building
(typical 1960s) in Chartres, on a rise across the river from the absolutely
magnificient cathedral. That night first Brian, and then Jeff, decided they
were heading back home. I couldn't believe it. Brian was having knee problems.
that I could understand. But Jeff! He said France reminded him of Wisconsin!
And he missed his girlfriend.
The next day they left, and Dave, Keith and I headed towards the south into a
strong headwind. About 15 miles out, Keith decided he was leaving, too. He
started back alone. Dave and I stopped, and Dave decided he couldn't let Keith
go home alone. Dave was upset by this. (me, too!) He was torn.

But after he got home, Dave proposed to his childhood
sweetheart, a college friend of mine through whom I
met Dave and Keith. The three of arrived in the Paris train station to spot Brian
and Jeff's bikes hanging from a luggage cart, while the two
of them were already on there way on a straight-through
ticket to London. Based on that, we decided to buy tickets
to Bologne, and then separate tickets on the ferry.

Desire 2
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