2024 Norwegian Nomads

Paris

Our first cruise has finished with memories of great service, scenic views of Europe, beautiful food and a snapshot of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. We will also remember the cigar man, the ‘boat cough’, awesome staff, and ‘the big unit’.

Favourites from the cruise

Danny – Maginot line, Roman buildings in Trier

Madonna – Strasburg, Heidleburg and bike ride to Bielstein

Donna – scenery from boat at any time

Mark – bike ride with view from Bielstein

Wayne – massive beers in Cochem beer garden

Ann – bike ride to Bielstein

And that’s a wrap. Last sunrise on our first cruise

We left our ship and caught the train to Paris. Seven minutes to get on board with suitcases and lots of other people. We were in first class and all of us were wishing our plane seats were as spacious and comfortable.

Donna, Danny and I all captured a photo of the same windmill but Donna’s was the best (followed by Danny’s). Mine not so good!

We braved the train system in Paris, systematically loading bags on a moderately crowded train (thank goodness, it wasn’t like the previous train that was completely packed). In the pouring rain, we then walked for 20 minutes, with all our luggage, to our accommodation.

At one stage, a lovely older French woman gave me a lesson in French. ‘Bouge de la,’ she yelled at me. Apparently, she wasn’t welcoming me to Paris. It meant, ‘Get out of the way!’

View from our window- ‘the dead centre of town’

After sorting out all our wet gear, (note to all, zips on bags let in water), we prepared for an excursion to experience the Parisian nightlife. Dry clothes and armed with spray jackets and umbrellas, we began our exploration. Out the hotel door, 10m to the right and into the neighbouring restaurant. We settled in at the ‘hip and happening’ Mexican bar and pool room. After several days on the cruise, it was nice to be surrounded by some youth and to make our own decisions. We made the treacherous 10m trip back to our hotel and retired for the evening.

Faux pas of the day

Donna, Madonna and I getting into a glass lift to go down at the railway station and being unable to decipher the buttons. We went up as the boys were going down the escalators. Mark thought he had lost us.

Donna worked it out and we came down to the right floor. As we waved to Mark and prepared to exit the lift, he had to point out that the doors were open behind us.