Thursday 1 June
Cast
Michelle, 36, addicted to DIS boards
DH, 38, thinks I spend too much time on the Dis
DS1, 8, fond of dressing up
DS2, 5, Buzz fan
A Day in Paris
After a good night's sleep, we had breakfast 8-9am. We found the beds very comfortable and the room quiet, there seemed to be good soundproofing between rooms. After breakfast I collected our Buzz photos from the Sequoia Lodge shop. Weather is bright and sunny.
We walk through Disney Village towards the station. I go into the Tourist Info kiosk outside the station to buy Paris Visite cards, which are valid for travel on the RER, Metro and buses in Paris, E50 for the four of us for one day. Friendly staff here with good English, checked we had maps of Paris.
So into the station and down the escalator where a train to Paris is waiting. We get on, very few other passengers, but it gets much busier as we get closer in to the city. We change onto the Metro at Charles de Gaulle - Etoile and get off at Bir Hakheim for the Eiffel Tower. We had planned to visit Montmartre first but our friends had told us about the 1 hr + queues to get tickets for the Eiffel Tower so we decided to do that first.
Once we had worked out which queue to join, it took about 20 mins to get to buy tickets and then another 20 mins to wait for a lift. You cannot buy tickets and then return later for your visit, as we had planned. All queuing very orderly. We went to the second floor and admired the view from all sides, quite a chilly breeze up here. Toilet break and boys had crepes for a snack, while we shared a coffee. We were unable to get to the top floor as there was a technical problem with one of the lifts. There was a large line of people waiting to ascend, but they had stopped selling tickets by the time we got to the second floor, so no-one else was allowed to join the queue. I said I didn't want to go in any lift likely to break down anyway!
We try to take some photos of the boys but DS2 is being awkward and refuses to be in them. We decide to walk down the stairs to the first floor. DS1 counts as we go but doesn't end up with the expected number! On the first floor is a Post Office and also an exhibition area showing photos, paintings and a film about the Tower. Some photos of fireworks on the Tower are spectacular.
I had reserved a table at Altitude 95, the restaurant on the first floor of the Tower. We arrived at 1pm and were given a fantastic table next to the window, overlooking the Trocadero. A very international clientele in here, so no problem getting ourselves understood. We share some prawns as a starter, then DH and I both have steak with truffle butter and fries. DS1 had chicken and fries, DS2 had ham and fries, they even gave them a bottle of ketchup! We treat ourselves to a carafe of red wine and then desserts and coffee, enjoying the experience. Bill came to about E120, we leave very satisfied.
The weather had taken a turn for the worse, with overcast skies quickly turning to rain. We wait 5 mins for a lift to take us down to the ground. We then catch the 3pm Bateaux Parisiens cruise along the Seine from their pier at the bottom of the Tower. The cruise is accompanied by a commentary on a telephone-like contraption that you hold to your ear, and lots of slightly naff music. The boys go outside on the boat and play a game called 'running the bridges'. Good job I brought the waterproofs!!
The rain has rather dampened our mood so we decide to head back to DLP. We catch an RER double-decker train from Champs de Mars to St Michel and decide to wander over the bridges and walk to Chatelet to catch the train. DS1 decides he needs the toilet so we spend ages searching for one. We then examine the outside of the Pompidou Centre and a nearby pool containing colourful water sculptures. DH is a bit grumpy because he wants to stop at a cafe but the boys want to get back to the hotel. We certainly didn't get to see as much of Paris as I had planned, mostly because we spent so much time on the Eiffel Tower.
We catch the RER from Chatelet, the train is very crowded and we have to stand most of the way. :
: We arrive back about 6.10pm and get some sandwiches in the New York Deli. As we walk back to Sequoia Lodge, we watch the Panoramagique balloon going up for the first time of our trip.
Everyone votes for a swim in the pool. It is quite large, with a waterslide and waterfall feature. The boys play games including water basketball! I sneak off to the jacuzzi, which is lovely and warm. Bit of a design fault here, though, as the only way out of the jacuzzi is via the main pool, where the water is a bit chilly for my liking!!
There are small saunas and steam rooms in the changing rooms so I have a sauna to warm up, wrap myself in a towel and go back to the pool area so DH can go in the jacuzzi while I supervise the boys. We all leave a bit later and go back to the room to dump our stuff. We brought our own towels but we could have hired them at the pool desk. Lockers in changing rooms took a E2 coin. There was also a gym, but didn't go in there! 
We had promised ourselves a drink in the bar. It is a lovely area with a large stone fireplace. Quite busy. The boys find a Country Bear and play games while we relax
DH has a Planter's Punch, I have a Baileys, and the boys have some hot chocolate. It cost about E7 for each of the alcoholic drinks. We wend our way to bed at 10pm.
Cast
Michelle, 36, addicted to DIS boards
DH, 38, thinks I spend too much time on the Dis
DS1, 8, fond of dressing up
DS2, 5, Buzz fan
A Day in Paris
After a good night's sleep, we had breakfast 8-9am. We found the beds very comfortable and the room quiet, there seemed to be good soundproofing between rooms. After breakfast I collected our Buzz photos from the Sequoia Lodge shop. Weather is bright and sunny.
We walk through Disney Village towards the station. I go into the Tourist Info kiosk outside the station to buy Paris Visite cards, which are valid for travel on the RER, Metro and buses in Paris, E50 for the four of us for one day. Friendly staff here with good English, checked we had maps of Paris.
So into the station and down the escalator where a train to Paris is waiting. We get on, very few other passengers, but it gets much busier as we get closer in to the city. We change onto the Metro at Charles de Gaulle - Etoile and get off at Bir Hakheim for the Eiffel Tower. We had planned to visit Montmartre first but our friends had told us about the 1 hr + queues to get tickets for the Eiffel Tower so we decided to do that first.
Once we had worked out which queue to join, it took about 20 mins to get to buy tickets and then another 20 mins to wait for a lift. You cannot buy tickets and then return later for your visit, as we had planned. All queuing very orderly. We went to the second floor and admired the view from all sides, quite a chilly breeze up here. Toilet break and boys had crepes for a snack, while we shared a coffee. We were unable to get to the top floor as there was a technical problem with one of the lifts. There was a large line of people waiting to ascend, but they had stopped selling tickets by the time we got to the second floor, so no-one else was allowed to join the queue. I said I didn't want to go in any lift likely to break down anyway!
We try to take some photos of the boys but DS2 is being awkward and refuses to be in them. We decide to walk down the stairs to the first floor. DS1 counts as we go but doesn't end up with the expected number! On the first floor is a Post Office and also an exhibition area showing photos, paintings and a film about the Tower. Some photos of fireworks on the Tower are spectacular.
I had reserved a table at Altitude 95, the restaurant on the first floor of the Tower. We arrived at 1pm and were given a fantastic table next to the window, overlooking the Trocadero. A very international clientele in here, so no problem getting ourselves understood. We share some prawns as a starter, then DH and I both have steak with truffle butter and fries. DS1 had chicken and fries, DS2 had ham and fries, they even gave them a bottle of ketchup! We treat ourselves to a carafe of red wine and then desserts and coffee, enjoying the experience. Bill came to about E120, we leave very satisfied.
The weather had taken a turn for the worse, with overcast skies quickly turning to rain. We wait 5 mins for a lift to take us down to the ground. We then catch the 3pm Bateaux Parisiens cruise along the Seine from their pier at the bottom of the Tower. The cruise is accompanied by a commentary on a telephone-like contraption that you hold to your ear, and lots of slightly naff music. The boys go outside on the boat and play a game called 'running the bridges'. Good job I brought the waterproofs!!
The rain has rather dampened our mood so we decide to head back to DLP. We catch an RER double-decker train from Champs de Mars to St Michel and decide to wander over the bridges and walk to Chatelet to catch the train. DS1 decides he needs the toilet so we spend ages searching for one. We then examine the outside of the Pompidou Centre and a nearby pool containing colourful water sculptures. DH is a bit grumpy because he wants to stop at a cafe but the boys want to get back to the hotel. We certainly didn't get to see as much of Paris as I had planned, mostly because we spent so much time on the Eiffel Tower.
We catch the RER from Chatelet, the train is very crowded and we have to stand most of the way. :
: We arrive back about 6.10pm and get some sandwiches in the New York Deli. As we walk back to Sequoia Lodge, we watch the Panoramagique balloon going up for the first time of our trip.Everyone votes for a swim in the pool. It is quite large, with a waterslide and waterfall feature. The boys play games including water basketball! I sneak off to the jacuzzi, which is lovely and warm. Bit of a design fault here, though, as the only way out of the jacuzzi is via the main pool, where the water is a bit chilly for my liking!!
There are small saunas and steam rooms in the changing rooms so I have a sauna to warm up, wrap myself in a towel and go back to the pool area so DH can go in the jacuzzi while I supervise the boys. We all leave a bit later and go back to the room to dump our stuff. We brought our own towels but we could have hired them at the pool desk. Lockers in changing rooms took a E2 coin. There was also a gym, but didn't go in there! We had promised ourselves a drink in the bar. It is a lovely area with a large stone fireplace. Quite busy. The boys find a Country Bear and play games while we relax
DH has a Planter's Punch, I have a Baileys, and the boys have some hot chocolate. It cost about E7 for each of the alcoholic drinks. We wend our way to bed at 10pm.
Another great day
