Wokingham to Viry-Chatillon May 2007

Wokingham to Viry-Chatillon May 2007
The party to visit Viry set off on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend to travel via the Channel Tunnel.
Smoothly into France we reached St Omer for a lunch break. The town square was occupied by the Saturday
market but as if by magic it all disappeared at 1 pm.
Continuing on our journey we reached the périphèrique to find most of the cars in Paris on it. Nevertheless
we reached Viry on time to be greeted by Madame Herluc of the Council and Ewa Hospod the President of the
Viry Association. A reception was held in the Salon of the Presidents of France.
Sunday saw us back onto the coach for the trip to The Chateau of Pierrefonds where we had a guided tour
after climbing up to the castle. After lunch at leisure we visited the site of the signing of the 1918 armistice
in the forest of Compiegne. In the town we saw a figurine museum mainly depicting various military battles.
In the evening we made our way to a restaurant by the Seine for the main visit meal. There was also some
entertainment which included some aspiring pop groups from our party. I understand that no recording
contracts have been forthcoming!
Saturday was spent with hosts and visits were made to various locations, including Paris. On Tuesday morning
we left Viry at 8 am and made very good time to Arras where we had a lunch stop. Then it was off to the
shuttle and we arrived back in Wokingham in the early evening.
A showery day in Paris – May 2007
On the Monday Christine and Philippe did not work so were able to show us some of Paris. With Brenda and
Mike, and friends, Mimi and Gaby, we set off in a convoy of two cars and parked underground near St
Jacques at the rear of the Louvre. We strolled along Rue de Rivoli, past the shrouded Tour St Jacques,
towards L’Hotel de Ville to see the various environmental gardens.
It had threatened to rain during our walk but soon after arriving at the gardens the heavens opened and it
rained cats and dogs. Umbrellas popped up like flowers over the crowds of visitors. We dashed across the
road to BHV for shelter. Our clothes dripped the excess rain all the way up the escalator to the 5th floor.
Here we were able to eat lunch with a wonderful view over the wet rooftops to Pantheon, the Church of St
Etienne and the Ile de la Cite. Those little trolleys for the four trays were so useful for a family trying to
find a table.
Our next move was out of BHV to Ligne 1 towards Etoile (oops! …..I forget the name has changed to someone
famous). The rubber wheels whispered along the concrete track instead of the familiar clackety-clack of the
Tube in London. Arriving at Palais de Luxembourg/Concorde we found the rain was still falling. We had to pick
our way around the puddles to the Musee de l’Orangerie. Christine was wise to book the tickets in advance of
our visit so we bypassed the queue. Inside we saw Les Nympheads in the round and other more normal sized
paintings. It was a stunning display. Our octet split up to see the exhibits alone and met again at 4:30. The sun
was shining now but there were thick clouds on the horizon. Philippe took a dramatic photo of our group with
a backdrop of heavy black rain clouds. Under the threatening sky we decided to retreat to the Café in the
Jardins des Tuileries for a coffee until the rain cleared. Mike had fun building a House of Menus whilst we
waited for our order. Even when we get older we are all children at heart.
Later, along more of the Rue de Rivoli we saw some opulent visitors at Le Mercure and then it was on to the
tourist traps. Some of these offer surprisingly good value - 13 postcards for 1 Euro, this must be the best
price in Paris! The sun returned and we walked by the Pyrimid in the Louvre, enjoying the fountains and just
being in Paris on a warm May afternoon. We mingled with the hords of other tourists; for there were scant
few French people around. Finally we reached the subterraneon car park, found the cars and wended our way
back to the suburbs. During the drive I reflected on the fact that I did not have to run the gauntlet of the
traffic on the Peripherique driving my own car and I was happy. We spenbt a really enjoyable time in Paris.
We had to dodge the showers but saw so may different aspects of life on a holiday weekend thanks to
Christine, Philippe, Mimi and Gaby.