Reading The Incident on the Champs-Élysées at Nelly’s Garden It brought back a memory for me.
Over forty years ago I was invited to join a group who were going to Paris for a five day weekend. The dates worked for me and I had a valid passport. So I said “Yes, I would love to go along”!
My name was added to the list and accommodation booked, so all I had to do was decide what to wear, pack a bag and turn up at Dublin Airport at the appointed hour.
My knowledge of Paris, at that time, came from the movies or books. I knew little more about the small group of girls I was to spend the few day with, all booked into same hotel. In fact The only person I knew on the whole trip was the friend who invited me. We were part of a much larger group, scattered about in different hotels. By the end of the five days I knew at least twenty five by first name and we had plenty of fun & laughter as well as great food, vino and much shorter legs!
Our hotel was central, good for walking from place to place, quite small with lots of stairs. Thankfully we were booked on a Bed & Breakfast tariff, so once we came down those stairs, we returned no more that once in the day and that was usually to freshen up and change before dinner.
We covered most of the popular tourist attractions:
Arc de Triumph, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, and Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine took the life of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, and where today Tour de France runs its grand finale.
Notre Dame Cathedral where, because of the great number of tourists, I did not feel the spiritual magic of the cathedral, but enjoyed the quirky, funny, scary, and spiritual details of the artwork and the architecture. All those Gargoyles and flying buttresses were something else!
We visited the Louvre Museum not quite covering over 35,000 pieces of artwork, we had only allowed three hours for our visit. We waved to the armless beauty of the “Venus de Milo,” and “Winged Victory,” before joining a long queue to see the Louvre’s most famous work – Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. This small, iconic painting, only 21 by 30 inches (53 by 77 cms) was covered with bullet-proof glass and flanked by guards; with not a hope of getting anyway near it – the result of it being stolen in 1911. (It was recovered in 1913.) Is it any wonder her smile is a little faded! 😉
We drooled our way along Place Vendôme – where owning a store is a haughty statement and every shop window is worth over €1 million. You may remember Place Vendôme the 1998 movie starring Catherine Deneuve. We however, moved on and found time and shops with prices more suitable to our fast emptying purses.
We allowed more time for The Château de Versailles, which 30 years ago was added to the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. I have visited again (when Elly lived in France) and my memories of Versailles are from that time.
We explored back-streets where ordinary tourists don’t generally venture. We felt the real Paris as we passed elegantly dressed young mothers escorting their dancing or skipping young children to or from school or kindergarten.
We found time to eat, drink and pause to soak up the atmosphere and one evening we went to the movies. Last tango in Paris, had been banned or cut to ribbons by the censors in Dublin, so we wanted to take the opportunity of seeing the film in Paris. We found a cinema with the film in English so booked for a late showing.
We returned along the Champs-Elysées late that night chatting animatedly about the movie, on the way to our accommodation. The street was busy with people walking in both directions, when a man bumped heavily into me. He almost knocked me over. He mumbled and staggered past, and as I looked over my shoulder I saw him lurching through the crowd behind me. We walked on, I had no handbag/purse to think about. My money was in my gloved hand, a trick I learned from my mother. It was only when we got back to our hotel, that I discovered I had blood all down my new, first time airing – dry clean only -trouser suit. We were going home the next day so the stains had to wait until I reached Dublin, to be sorted.
We never discovered the ‘what or why’ of the incident, from the amount of blood, I assume the guy had been stabbed.
That was weird, discovering blood all over your clothes! And brand new clothes at that. As you say, he must have been stabbed or had some sort of accident.
Sounds like your spur-of-the-moment decision to join the trip led to a lot of fun….
Nick, it was a great trip despite the ‘bloody’ end!
Paris, blood or no blood is always fun, a Disneyland for adults. My husband and I had rented an apartment for a week in late March but we had to cancel because my mom got sick. I hope there is another time for me and you.
Trips to France are always an adventure for me. This is another one: Come fly with me
I love your Ryan Air story. I’m flying Ryan Air with a friend next week to celebrate her birthday in Marrakech.
Ryan Air is a fine no frills airline, a little like a bus with wings. If you want 5* treatment then you have to go pay five star prices.
I spent 2 weeks in Paris back in November 1969. It was so dreary, cold and rainy. David and I were supposed to visit France this October, but had to cancel due to his knee surgery. How I wish I could return, but life being the way it is, I doubt I’ll ever return. All I have are memories.
Thankfully, nobody can take away our memories.
I’ve been to Paris once ~ in 1976. Visited many of the same stops you did. I did not end up covered in blood . . . for me, it was red wine.
Nancy, I had red wine too, but I tried to let it flow down on the inside! 😉
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Paris is still on my bucket list. Hopefully one day …
Morning mircya, welcome to the comment box. I love Paris, in spring, summer and Fall, but have yet to be there in Winter.
PS, I have not forgotten, I am still trying to gather the promised information for you.
What an adventure! At times those more spontaneous trip are great fun. Hope you make it back there.
Celia, I had a few fun spontaneous trips over the years,
I’ve made several trips to France and Paris over the years, though not since 2000. Still wonderful, I hear.
In 1998/9 I made three trips to Troyes where Elly was studying. I travelled through Paris on each journey. I loved my time in France.
That is a weird ending to the story! I was in Paris on three different occasions and on all three occasions, it rained. I did have a good despite that though. On one occasion I was escorted around by a friend who eventually featured in one of my stories!
Weird, but true.
I had a little Paris let down the last time I was there. I prefer the memories of my youth. odd that.
thanks for sharing yours – finally getting caught up on your blog 😀
XO
WWW
WWW, early or late, you are always welcome. You know, I can still see that outfit, I did get the blood out but never felt the same way about it again. It became everyday wear.