Catching the ferry to France and Paris

I had another trip to Paris coming up, but this time, instead of flying we decided to do something different and instead drive our own car to Paris. That way, we would have our own form of transport, and since we are going for a week, we had time to take it slow. We started our trip by driving two hours from Dublin to Rosslare Harbour where we boarded our ferry to take us across the English Channel to France.  

We drove onto the ferry and made our way to our cabins (which were so small you could barely stand next to the bunk beds, but it would do fine during the 16h trip. After our departure, I enjoyed the views of the Irish coastline as it faded into the distance. During our journey, I explored the ship, got some food and sat down and read for a while before going to bed.

Upon our arrival to Cherbourg, we got back into our car and drove onto France, starting our journey across the Normandy countryside on our way to Paris. Along our trip, we drove through the stunning coastline and drove past signs with names such as Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Juno Beach and more, all these beaches were where battles of the second World War took place during D-Day. 

Our ride took about four hours before we reached the streets of Paris, passing charming cafes and boulevards, until we caught up with some friends in the Gare De Lyon area where we were going to stay during our stay in town. 

During my first day back in Paris, I visited the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery where I walked past moss-covered tombstones and weathered statues before arriving where Jim Morrison is buried and where his grave is decorated with flowers and tributes from fans. I visited Canal Saint-Martin where we recreated the famous scene from the movie Amelie where she throws the rocks in the water and I finished my night by visiting a few of the larger sights by night such as the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre and the majestic Eiffel Tower, which again was the highlight of the trip. It was great to once again see how the Eiffel Tower is illuminated against the night sky and sparkles with thousands of lights, casting a magical glow over the city.

The following day we started in town by ordering some crepes with eggs and ham (and a Nutella with Banana might have sneaked in as well). We then proceeded on a tour of the most iconic landmarks of Paris, walking past the amazing Notre-Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe with the most insane roundabout I’ve seen to date. We walked past and saw the glass pyramid outside the museum of the Louvre, however as we had already visited the museum during our last visit, we didn’t feel the need to do it again so soon. 

The following morning, we left the city, doing a day trip to the Palace of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of the French monarchy which Louis XIV made it into a royal residence during the 17th and 18th centuries. Upon arrival we stepped between the golden gates and made our way inside the palace, seeing a lavish display of art and sculptures, highlighting the grandeur of France’s royal past.

Once we finished with the palace, we ventured onto its massive gardens which featured large perfectly cut lawns, fountains, sculpted hedges, and flower beds. Whilst here I also decided to go for a boat ride, however didn’t realise I would be the one doing the rowing, along the waters of the Grand Canal.

After we got our fill of Versailles, we left and headed back to the city, visiting La Défense area, located just west of Paris, where we saw the large Grande Arche, basically a large hollow square building, standing amongst other skyscrapers before we finished our night with a nice meal and a few drinks. 

The next morning it was time to start our return journey home, so we said our goodbyes and started our long journey home again. Before boarding the ferry at Cherbourg, we visited a local Carrefour store where we stocked up on wines, cheeses, pates and other French specialties to bring back home with us and then caught the ferry that would take us home.

I managed to squeeze in some new sights during my second trip to Paris, however just being in the city and wondering the streets, trying out the different cafes is what I like best about Paris and can’t wait to return to see it all again!