Paris and Chartres before the tour
Ah, Paris!
I spent right around 24 hours in Paris, much of which I was recovering from jet lag and sleeping. I had not been there for 6 years and had forgotten how much I loved the city. I wished I had allowed time to visit my favorite spots and linger in the lovely surrounds. Next time I will remember.
I stayed in Montparnasse to allow for a quick getaway to Chartres. I had never been in this area and enjoyed just walking around, exploring the streets and looking at the cafes. As I walked, I wondered what member of the "Lost Generation" might have lounged in the corner cafe a century ago.
I had read that Montparnasse had great creperies and got a recommendation from the hotel desk clerk for a quick dinner. I had a lovely ham and cheese crepe and bottle of cider. I sat on the patio and was intrigued by the family sitting next to me, speaking German. I guess they were tourists too!
I walked a bit and then went to bed early. excited for the next days.
After having a long, restful sleep and lovely breakfast I struck out to explore. Being Saturday there was a street market just a block from the hotel and I wandered down the aisle, admiring the produce, flowers, fish, and other products. I knew I was in France when I saw a vendor selling many different types of goat cheese! It was great to see the Parisians purchasing their food in the open air.
I took advantage of the beautiful autumn morning, leisurely strolling to the Luxembourg Garden. There were many people out enjoying the day as I was. Children were in the playground and adults were sitting and relaxing in the chairs. I even got to see the iconic sailboats in the pond. What a lovely way to shake off the travel dust and start to enjoy France!
Alas, my time in Paris was at an end and I made a stop back at my hotel to pick up my bags before heading to Gare du Montparnasse for a train to Chartres.
Lovely Chartres
I was pleasantly surprised by Chartres when I arrived in the late afternoon. It is a charming medieval town with the cathedral spires visible from pretty much anywhere. After settling in the hotel I walked around a bit and I ended up a few blocks from the church in the commercial area. It was buzzing this evening with many people enjoying drinks and food on cafe patios. I had a sandwich myself and wandered the tiny streets to the church. I was just awestruck by the structure, the windows, and the carvings. I was glad I would be back here several more times to fully appreciate the beauty.
On my way to the cathedral Sunday morning I was surprised to stumble across the start of a bicycle race. I stopped for a few minutes to watch the excited crowd and participants. But my destination was in sight, I was to attend mass in the cathedral. I am not a religious person but I love to attend services in foreign counties. While I couldn't understand the words spoken, I could appreciate the music and the devout worshippers around me. It was a serene peak into who the French are.
In the afternoon I checked out a small flea market at the Marche aux Legumes and just enjoyed wandering before going back to the hotel to rest, take a Covid test, and get ready for the first tour meetup.
