Day 1 - London to Paris

To start with, this trip is not a three Bryan trip. That ship has sailed, so it’s just us two. Adjusting to travelling without the boy is strange. Our little St Christopher has been our companion on amazing trips for 18 years, but now it’s time for him to spread his own travel wings.

We set off on our first leg, from St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord, on the 16:31 Eurostar, tickets paid for with the points from Andrew’s frequent work trips - thank you LSEG! We were a little early, so treated ourselves to a trip to the champagne bar at St Pancras. Delicious, although you could feed a family on what it cost.

We boarded the Eurostar and listened to our own music, read our own books, shared a packet of frazzles and a beer and before we knew it we were in beautiful Paris.

What is it about Paris that is so darn magical? The smell, the noise, the grumpy people, the packed metro…on paper it sounds like hell, but in person it’s just a heaven. We got the metro from Gare du Nord to Charonne. Two lines (5 and 9, not Dolly’s 9 to 5) and within 30 minutes we were at our hotel. The Hotel l’Antoine. It’s a lovely little room, beautiful French windows overlooking a narrow street with bustling bars and restaurants. By the time we were settled it was 9pm, so we ventured to a restaurant across the street called ‘Chez Paul’. I don’t ask for much in a restaurant - just a French onion soup! Chez Paul provided just that. Two French onion soups, salmon for me (no veggie option) and steak for Andrew. A bottle of the house red, some cold water and we had two happy bellies and two happy Bryans.

We went for a walk around after the meal, past the Bastille and planned our route for the morning. Sad that we don’t get long in Paris, but any time on Parisian soil is a treat, so we will enjoy our brief time here.

Back to the room for a sleep, listening the people chatting away in the bar downstairs.

Very happy to be here. It’s not lost on us how lucky we are to be able to visit this wonderful city.