Last of Paris.

I'm sitting on a train headed for Toulouse. As we picked up speed my ears started popping - due to the speed I'm guessing. Never had that on a train in NZ! 😳. I'm writing because I can't see much, courtesy of filthy windows. Thanks SNCF - not.

Thursday I was exhausted from broken sleep and in pain. I realized that I needed a quiet day. I can't believe I stayed in my pajamas all day and snoozed when I could. And I tackled setting up a Wix blog. I had to employ my mothers's timely (not long before she died) sweet comment "try not to be disheartened dear" a lot.

Friday I went to La Poste to send some things home, to cousin in Weybridge, and to Susan in London - I was desperate to lighten my load a bit. What an experience. Using google translate camera and lots of pointing I managed to get boxes to suit (that were out the back - not displayed) and use a machine with a god-awful interface to weigh and detail the goods, me, and the recipients. After 3/4 hour a young Nigerian woman came on shift and with her superb English and devotion we got the job finished. I kinda love these experiences for the test, and for the jovial merci beaucoups, and au revoirs by the end. They were so patient as I held up the queue of customers repeatedly.

I ventured back to the osteopath and afterward could feel an improvement. On the visit 2 days prior the area was quiet and dull. But this visit there was a huge market of fresh produce and all manner of wares. And the place was humming with diversity and animation. So after a wander I parked myself in a cool cafe for yet another hideous latte and people-watched.

So Saturday was the big push to get to the two other places I had aimed for here. First Sainte Chapelle. I had figured out the transport enough to work out to train 2 stops away from the city to come up next to the 96 bus stop. As you can imagine it's a constant challenge to get around efficiently to fit my needs. I enjoyed a 3/4 crawl through the suburbs to get the Cite stop right outside Sainte Chapelle. I only bought my entry ticket online while on the bus and needn't have worried about the timing - still a long queue. However, I was befriended by Maurizio, a renewable energy consultant, and his brother and sister in law and enjoyed the wait in the queue with them. Chapelle was my favourite church of all my travels and it was marvelous to come back. As well as the beautiful spaces and extensive stained glass panels (all 1113!), the engineering to allow for so many windows is considered very clever for its time. Though there has been much restoration, two-thirds of the windows are original, and considered "A jewel of the art of stained glass". Here goes with some photos that cannot do it justice.

Then to Musee des Arts decoratifs. I became lost in the bijoux section. Here's a snippet of my lousy photos. I'm so pleased to have purchased the book.

And just cause I was there and tired and realizing I hadn't eaten anything all day I checked into the first touristy brasserie for a Caesar salad and bubbles. And photographed my favourite lamp.

So, off to Gare Montparnasse this morningwhere on arrival was told they couldn't assist me with my bags and getting on the train. So I headed to the other end of the gare and asked at the actual office for disabilities where they smiled and offered help. Furthermore the enthusiastic young woman rushed me to my carriage to get the safest spot for my suitcase at the dead-end of the carriage and where I could keep an eye on it. Another travel moment where it's the people who make it great. Just another hour til Toulouse for 2 nights, then the big event when I pick up a hire car to drive to Cousin Jenny's at Alzonne. I have been preparing by imagining I'm driving every time I'm in a bus or car while I've been in Paris. Here's hoping it is effective preparation!!!

Au revoir for now.

PS No pressure to read these blogs. X