Tues 18 August: Montparnasse area

The metro system here is fantastic  --  it's so easy to get anywhere, all over Paris.  If you don't have a travel card, you can still buy tickets at any station.  WHY oh WHY did they not leave the ticket machines on every station in Melbourne?  They were there and it would have cost a lot of money to have them all removed.  Visitors to Melbourne often find they can't travel because they don't have a Myki card and you can't buy them at all stations.  Crazy!!!

Here in Paris, there is flexibility - you can use a card or a ticket.  AND THERE'S A TRAIN EVERY 2-4 MINUTES.  We've never had to wait longer than 3 minutes for a train.  Melbourne, by comparison, was one lonely circular tunnel under the CBD, and that's it.  A friend in Hurstbridge often finds there's an hour between trains - Hi Michelle!

Anyway, enough of the bitching and on with our adventures here in Paris.  Today, we wanted to go to the observation tower at the top of the Montparnasse building.  Without doubt, it's the most ugly building in Paris.  There were many objections by the Parisians when it was being built  --  it just doesn't "fit" in this beautiful city.

However, Europe's fastest elevator takes you to the 56th floor in just 38 seconds!  The views from the top are spectacular:

Looking toward the Eiffel Tower

Looking towards Les Invalides

Looking towards Luxembourg Gardens

Pompidou Centre right in the middle

Gare de Montmatre

That night, we were asked to Sue and John's for dinner.  When we arrived at their front door, this is the sign we found:

... and what a wonderful welcome!