After our First few days on our own in Paris it was time to join up and meet with our Intrepid travel group and begin the backpacking adventure through to Madrid.
We took the metro to the 11th Arrondissement to our meeting spot/hotel for the group. The Hotel Des Arts Bastille was a funky artistic little spot right in the midst of a very multicultural Parisian neighbourhood. The area was not touristy and filled with an eclectic vibrancy. Plenty of cafes, small businesses and many of the locals we met here, were in their 30's, and were studying English and involved in the theatre, arts and music scene. The hotel had wifi, clean small rooms and just around the corner from the charonne metro stop. We checked in and headed to the corner café to enjoy a drink and ponder our group we would soon be meeting.
From as far as we could tell checking in ahead with the tour company there were only 5 of us booked on the trip and Bert and I wondered and bet on what the group composition would be. We figured on an Aussie couple around our age and maybe a solo female traveller from the US? Well we had the mix of nationalities right....but I don't think we ever thought it would be comprised of all solo travellers, and all women...even our Intrepid guide! Yep, Bert was the only guy. Our group was aged between 31 and 54. All single. no kids, and as we quickly came to know, all fabulous, fun and interesting people!
That night we all headed out and walked through the 11th.arr taking in the lively Saturday night atmosphere, music, laughter, and chatter filled the streets. We sat at an outdoor café and got to know each other a bit with a meal and a couple bottles of wine. Turned out we all loved red wine, we all love food, we all love to travel and we all were excited to explore. Couldn't ask for a better start...the next day we would set out by train to Tours.
We connected through LeMans, home of the grand Prix. Great rail station along the way.
Our hotel in Tours was right across from the train station, which was very handy since the rain had arrived just as we did. The hotel has been owned by the same family for more than 80 years and was originally the family home of the wife. Their son and daughter law work alongside the couple now who are in their 80's. They greeted us warmly when we arrived. A well used old grand piano was set up in the small reception room and you could sense this home/hotel was a real CenterPoint for the town and the owners treated their guests like family. Breakfast here was very good and the café and croissants the best we had come across yet.
In Tours, a meal of Poulet Confit, with grilled tomato and pesto with a blackberry and wine reduction sauce. It came with frites and a strawberry gelato to cleanse of some of your pallete. To say it was rich, is an understatement but man it was tasty.
