Dinner in Paris

Today was our last day in Amsterdam so we wanted to make sure we did everything still on the wish list. It was another cold and cloudy day but not raining. We have been so lucky with the weather so far this trip.

Our first stop was the chocolate shop near our apartment, here they sell lots of various flavoured truffles as well as other gourmet chocolates and they have an area in the store where you can see them making chocolates – Margaret River chocolate company, Amsterdam style!!

Next stop was the flea market at Waterlooplein – this is the largest flea market in Amsterdam and stretches out over a couple of blocks. We bought a few souvenirs here including some clog style slippers for me! Stopped for a coffee then it was time to head back to the apartment to pack our bags. We managed to drag our bags back down the very narrow, winding three flights of stairs and onto the tram back to Amsterdam Central Station. Found our way to the platform for the Thalys train to Paris and soon we were on our way.

We enjoyed watching the countryside go by, very flat and green with lots of waterways and windmills. From Holland the train passed into Belgium and onto the train came some border

security guys doing random passport and baggage checks – obviously we didn’t look suspicious as they passed us by without a second glance.

After a very smooth journey the train arrived into Paris at 1638hrs. It took us a little while to work out the metro but we managed to work our which trains we needed to catch to get to our air BnB. We arrived at our apartment just before 6pm –first impression was that it felt like a more seedy area than where we stayed in Amsterdam but we noticed a few hip looking bars and cafes on our way to the apartment which made us think the area is not all bad. We used the codes that had been sent to us to get into the apartment complex and up three flight of stairs - not so narrow and winding this time – to our apartment. However no-one was there as expected to let us in when we arrived. A phone call to Mayssem, who operates the air BnB, elicited many apologies and a promise to be there soon so we sat in the corridor and waited for her to arrive. It wasn’t long before she arrived and she let us into an apartment that was surprisingly modern and tastefully decorated compared to the corridor we had been waiting in! After settling in we walked to a nearby café and had a very delicious dinner. The owner who welcomed us in didn’t speak much English but as soon as he realised we didn’t speak French he went and grabbed one of the waiters who did speak English to serve us. On our way home we stopped at a supermarket for supplies and then it was time for bed.