Day 4: Brussels to Paris

 

We have had a few interesting days in Belgium enjoying everything from history to fine food and great beer. Oh, and all that chocolate! How do these people stay so thin? There is a chocolatier on almost every corner. Sometimes they are next to each other. Between those shops and the ubiquitous patisseries and boulangeries, I found myself wishing for simple amenities like that in America. Plus, the chocolates and pastries are much cheaper here than in the states. For about three dollars, I purchased twice as much delicious, handmade chocolate as I can at a chocolate store in the Orlando area. Starting each day with a pain au chocolat or a croissant for about a buck seemed reasonable to me. The photo above is of the Starbucks next to our hotel in Brussels. It was taken on Sunday morning around 8:00 AM. The store didn't open until 10:00 AM.

After the usual breakfast, we packed up and headed for the Brussels Gare du Midi/Zuid, which is the south station in the center of Brussels. That's where we caught the Thalys high-speed train to Paris. Our departure was delayed a few minutes by a late-arriving train from Amsterdam but we eventually headed out about 20 minutes behind schedule for the one-hour and 22-minute journey to Paris. Kate and Grace enjoyed the ride in our comfy first-class seats while I watched the scenery of the Belgian and French countryside whiz by.

The ride on these trains is so smooth and quiet compared to the many Amtrak trains I have been on. We reached a top speed of 300km/h shortly after leaving Brussels and maintained it for nearly the full duration of the trip, slowly only when we approached the outskirts of Paris. Out the window, I noticed a pair of jumbo jets in final approach to Charles De Gaulle Airport and then came a short glimpse of the Eiffel Tower on the distant horizon.

The train soon pulled into Paris' Gare du Nord and we stepped off into France for the first time. The station was amazingly busy for a Sunday afternoon but we had no trouble making our way to the metro for the ride to Gare de Lyon. Due to some issues on the tracks, we had to take an alternate train to Chatelet and change to a different line but we made it without any problem. From there, it was a few hundred yards up Rue de Lyon to our hotel (Holiday Inn Gare de Lyon/Bastille) for the next five days. The location is great for getting to the Metro or bus to explore the city and there are dozens of restaurants within a few blocks of the hotel. 

After unwinding, we decided to take the Metro to Trocadero for a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed a meal at Cafe Kleber, which is just across the Seine from the tower. Afterward, we took the bus (#63) back to Gare de Lyon and enjoyed a scenic ride through Paris. At the station, we boarded the #72 for another scenic ride along the Seine back to Pont Il Lena and a closer view of the Eiffel Tower lit up for the evening. So many people! Crowds were everywhere, merchants selling trinkets, and, of course, people posing for pictures with Paris' most famous icon in the background. So...when in Paris...we did the same. 

Au revoir and bon nuit!