This morning we actually were able to sleep in just a little, getting up about 8:00 am. We got ready and completed our packing before heading out to find a pastry shop and getting some croissants and other goodies for breakfast. Our plan for this morning was to walk to the Louvre and just take some pictures of the outside grounds. It started out as a cool sunny morning, but then started to get windy and cloudy. The forecast was for rain in Paris today, but supposedly mainly in the afternoon.
After taking pictures at the Louvre, we just walked along the Seine River and headed back in the direction of our hotel. We stopped and looked in a few shops along the way, then headed back to Notre Dame. We had not gotten any pictures of the back of the church (actually the “front” end of the church where the altar is, opposite of the entrance), so we headed towards that area. There was a beautiful garden there, full of blooming tulips and other ornamental plants and flowers.
We then headed back to the hotel in order to complete our final packing and make the 12:00 noon check-out. Then it was time for another walk to the Metro underground station for the ride to the train station, where we would catch our Eurostar “chunnel” train to London, going underneath the English Channel in the tunnel.
The train ride was smooth and fast and we arrived in London right on time about 2.5 hours after leaving Paris.
We purchased our underground tickets for the “Tube”, and picked up our pre-reserved tickets from a machine for the commuter train to the Gatwick Airport on Monday. We had a little difficulty finding the correct underground station, but once we found it, we made it to our stop successfully.
We had some difficulty finding the hotel, the directions were obviously written for someone familiar with the station. The hotel was very near, but we went the wrong direction out of the underground.
Once there, we checked in and then went out to the nearby Catholic Church, and went to Mass. Then it was off to walk around, going over the Tower Bridge, walking along the Thames River, and then back over the London Bridge.
We stopped at a Pub to get a bite to eat, and after waiting for a waiter for about 20 minutes, we got up and left. There was another Pub down the street, and so we decided to try it there.
When we went inside, there were large signs instructing that all orders are to be placed at the bar, including orders for food.
Since we had been downstairs in the first Pub, we had not seen the signs, nor did we get the benefit of seeing anyone else place orders.
Apparently, in these types of places, there is no service at the tables for ordering. We learned that you first get a table, then place you order at the bar, and tell them your table number. When the food is ready, they bring it to your table.
Another thing that threw us off was having menu’s at the table, but we learned that once you pick out your food, you have to go to the bar and place your order. I guess it saves on personnel, and there are no tips.
After eating, it was back to the hotel room for some sleep. Tomorrow, we will spend the entire day sightseeing, it will be the last day of our trip before heading home on Monday morning.