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Published: September 8th 2009
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View of Montmarte
My view of Montmarte from Les Printemps. Since my train wouldn’t leave until later this afternoon, I had some additional time to tour Paris. I set out with my small pack for overnight and went to the former site of the Bastille, which is no longer there. After that, I went to the nearby Place des Voges, a courtyard surrounded by large French homes. Next was a walk around the Latin Quarter, home of a number of Paris’s universities.
On my way up to the train station, I decided to try the rooftop at Les Printemps again. Since the store was open today, access to the rooftop was attainable after going up nine escalators. The views at the top were well worth the stop. In some regards, this probably gives better views than the Eiffel Tower since Les Printemps is more central. It clearly doesn’t have the benefits from the height that the Eiffel Tower offers, as it doesn’t even match the altitude of the Eiffel Tower’s second floor. Nevertheless, it’s a great alternative for the budget traveler or for those who don’t want to wait in line.
I caught my train to Bayeux, Normandy without a problem. And I finally got to use that unlimited
View of Eiffel Tower
My view of the Eiffel Tower from Les Printemps. travel train pass I bought a few weeks ago.
The problem arose almost two hours into the 2+ hour trip. We stopped. I figured it would just be a short delay. Announcements were made in French over the speaker system. We stayed stopped. I pulled out
Into the Wild, which I started reading today.
After about an hour, a worker wearing an orange vest came around and started addressing individual sections on the train. In French. I got nothing out of it. A few minutes later, on her way out, I asked her if she spoke English. “A little,” she said. I asked her what the message was. She started to explain and mentioned something about “crush”. The gentleman in front of me interjected in broken English. What I took away is that the train in front of us ran over someone and now the police are investigating. There is a two hour delay.
We were over an hour into the delay. I wondered if that meant that we have two hours more or just another 45 minutes. I didn’t bother asking. I’m glad I packed this book.
The estimate was a good one. Around two hours after we stopped, the train headed off into the darkness.
Twenty minutes later, I stepped off the train in Bayeux, hoping that I would still have a room. The place I planned to stay is in a set of apartments above a touring company’s shop. I was originally supposed to arrive around 7:00 when the company was still open. At 9:00 I had no clue whether there would be anyone there.
The place was right across from the train station so I got there quickly. I turned the doorknob and it opened - a good sign. I peaked around a corner and into a commercial kitchen. An older French woman was there. I asked if she spoke English. She brought me the man I spoke with before so now I am in my own private room. I can’t complain about that.
I have the TV on in the background. Maybe I’ll learn some French. At least they have James Bond here.
Tomorrow I tour Normandy all day.
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