We took the subway a couple of stops toward the Eiffel Tower and walked a short distance to the debarkation point on the Seine River. For $18€ each we would be taken on a one way trip up the St Martin Canal to the Parc de la Villette about 2 3/4 hours away.
We found a spot on deck out in the sunshine and waited for the boat to leave at 9:30am.
A tour group came on and filled up a 1/4 of the boat. Most of downstairs was still empty when we left the dock. The boat was really only half filled, very comfortably and mostly lots of room to move around and take pictures.
We headed out in the direction of our apartment past the museums and churches we had seen. Who remembers the name of the Museum with the two clocks that we could look out through to the Seine? Hmm. Could it be the Musee D'Orsay? That is correct!
And which famous church had the dirty steeple and the flying buttrusses to prevent the walls from falling down? Why, yes, it IS the Notre Dame Cathedral.
We turned to port and entered a double lock to start our journey up the St Martin Canal.
A couple of locks later we entered a 1.5 mile tunnel under the city. The darkness was pierced by the occasionally vent tube and the ship's spotlight.
Every now and then the light and water would create a rainbow.
When we were in the locks and they wanted to raise the boat they would open these small gates within the large gate of the lock and the water would just come rushing in and would splash all over the front of the boat. It sure was fun to watch.
We navigated a few more locks on the way as we passed families walking on the shore, bikers and joggers, and other boats heading the other way.
We arrived a little late at the docking point and so we were hungry and ended up choosing the restaurant right there at the dock to eat.
After lunch we walked through this big park here and found interesting artwork and a globe of mirrors. It housed an IMAX.
We walked back along the canal in the direction of home knowing eventually we would get tired and take the subway home the rest of the way. We even saw our boat making the return trip back to the Seine.
Along the way there were hardly any shops on the canal. We found a small local fair going on.
There were a few remote control sailboats playing with the wind.
We found the start of the long tunnel that we had ridden through and found that they had placed a park on top of it. We even saw the vent tubes on top.
Subway was our dinner for the evening before getting IN one for the ride home.
After arriving at our stop we shopped our local streets for gifts and souvenirs. We picked up some snacks, cereal, milk, and ice cream at a store before heading back to our apt.
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