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| Hand planes in antique shop. |
By the time we got home from Rouen last evening and at supper, Montmartre seemed like a hill too far. We had to get up early this morning. It was my first exposure to a Paris commute. Recognizable it was as a Torontonian. The Parisian rush-hour extends a little later in the morning. People were still pouring out of the Metro right up to 10am. It took me more than half an hour to figure out the ticket dispensing machine off and on and in the end I needed coaching. When I finally got on I headed down to Notre Dame.
Even there I got in the wrong line and ended up climbing many steps to the top. It was good, but it used valuable time. It was after lunch time when I finished the tower and a tour of the church including some quiet time for prayer.
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| The Louvre |
Keep on walking. I walked next to the Louvre and quickly realized that it would have to be for another day and besides I was tired of lines and there are beautiful gardens nearby. The gardens were very enjoyable and relaxing.
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| Gardens near Louvre |
Thinking that I did not want to find myself in the midst of the sort of chaos that I encountered in the morning, I left about three-thirty for the Metro and the commuter train. This time I used the machine correctly the first time, transferred at the right station and got off. I still got a little mixed up once in Franconville, but I think there is hope for my navigation skills yet.
Tonight, we leave for Normandy. Mont St. Michel tomorrow!
