Channel Adventure Day 6

Day 06 - Friday, April 13, 2018 – Exploring Paris on the Metro

Our Friday in Paris began with breakfast at the hotel. The temperature was 51 degrees with overcast skies. Because of the train strike, the city was very quiet – by now all of the Parisians know not to come into the city and avoid the hassle of the trying to get to work.

However, the subways and buses were still functioning so we set out to explore more of Paris. We went to the closest Metro Station to our hotel, Edgar Quinet and bought two all day passes for the subway system. For 15 Euros we both could ride the underground all day within the city system.

We knew we wanted to ride the Green Line (#6) to Trocadero. From there we boarded #9 and rode to the Port de St. Cloud Station to visit Parc des Princes Stadium home to our new favorite football (soccer) team, Paris Saint-Germain.

With several of the Brazilian National team, Neymar, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, and Dani Alves playing for the PSG, we have enjoyed watching them all winter in the French League.

Of course, the stadium was all locked up, as there was not another home game until next week. We did walk around and look into the huge complex and the stadium that holds almost 50,000 Paris fans.

There was a team apparel gift shop that sold everything from shoes, jerseys, key chains, and bottle openers. While we were there, a group of high schoolers were shelling out big bucks for Neymar shirts.

We were not lucky enough to see any of the players but it was very interesting to see the stadium and imagine the noise of the crowds enjoying the games. We went back to the Metro and rode to the National Theatre and the overlook of the Eiffel Tower.

Always a spectacular sight; we took many photos and talked to several Brazilians who seem to be traveling everywhere we go. We walked all the way down to the River Seine and along the footpath looking at the houseboats tied to the piers and watching the joggers, bikers, and the traffic on the river.

Getting back on the Metro we went in another direction to the Purple Line (#4) to Saint Michel and saw the Fontaine Saint-Michel, the Place Saint-Michel, and crossed the river once again to visit Notre-Dame Cathedral.

As if we had not done enough walking, we walked to MG Maison de Gyros, a busy Greek café and enjoyed our lunch of chicken wraps and French fries. With way too much to eat, we agreed it would have been best to share an order.

At 3:00 we got back on the Metro and rode to the Montparnasse Station, another stop close to the hotel. The sun was still out and the day was warm. Paris is such an easy city to explore, especially when the weather is good, you have an all day Metro pass, and a local map.

After getting home about 4:00, we rearranged our bags, repacked our backpacks, and rechecked the maps for our next leg of this adventure. We will pick up our rental car tomorrow and drive west to Beauvoir and enjoy Brittany, the northwestern most region of France.

A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life. Thomas Jefferson

Accommodations: Hotel Mercure Montparnasse - - - Meal: B