Batobus adventure

So Relaxing

On the Batobus

We have decided to take the local advice and grab a bottle of wine and sit in the gardens and watch the people go by.  Chairs are abundant and we find a nice shaded spot where we enjoy a bottle of red as we relax in the gardens of the Louvre on this beautiful picture perfect afternoon.

This is what I'm talking about!

The Louvre in all it's splendor

The Batobus arrives

We enjoy a leisurely stroll through the Gardens

 We have also learned of the batobus which is nothing more than a bus on the water. Hop on hop off the eight stops along the way. Each stop is near a major attraction, ingenious. We purchase a 2 day pass for a very reasonable price and enjoy being above ground rather than underground. On our 2nd batobus trip of the day we are surprised to have a police boat following us at a high rate of speed.  We are even more surprised when it pulls up right next to us and two policemen board us.  There is a bit of a hub bub as the captain comes out from the helm and the 1st mate takes over the controls.  It seems the captain is having a medical issue!  It doesn't appear to be to serious as he is moving under his own power, but we come in hot to the next bus stop where the ambulance is waiting for him.

Paramedics to the rescue!

And yes the paramedics are just as cute here as they are back home. Probably cuter because everyone in Paris is pretty!  Anyway, a new crew comes on board and we are underway in no time.  We hope he is OK.  We get off at the St. Germaine Station where we will have some lunch and walk through the Luxembourg Gardens.  Everything is so well maintained and it appears as if people actually follow the "do not walk on the grass" signs. It is interesting to note that where people are allowed on the grass, it is so crowded.  I don't think Parisians have much opportunity to enjoy the simple pleasures of the outdoors quite like we do at home.  But the upside is, they don't have to mow the lawn or prune the trees or tend the garden or weed or...... Well they wouldn't have time anyway, they are to busy smoking and drinking coffee!  We continue onto the Pantheon and make a quick tour however nothing is in English here so we try as best we can to decipher through the enormous murals what is the story being told.  We grasp a little and are still so amazed at the grandiosity of these structures.

The Pantheon

We leave just in time to get caught in a passing rain storm.  Timing is everything but at least it isn't coming down to hard and we are prepared with umbrellas and rain coats!  Time to head home but Karen and I will make a little detour to visit a friend of a friend who happens to have a Pop Up Art Gallery not far from where we are staying.  Buzz Siler has an Art Gallery on 15th and NW Marshall in Portland.  He is here for a few months enjoying the art scene of Paris.  He is a delightful gentlemen and it turns out he enjoys a good Taco Tuesday at the Dockside!  Small World.  We visit for a spell and are glad we made the time to stop by. He too was happy to have a little bit of home if even for a few minutes. By the way, he is a fabulous artist so if you get the chance stop by his gallery and take a look. As an added bonus he shares his space with a wine bar!