Advertisement
Published: April 29th 2011
Edit Blog Post
The City of Lights. Paris truly lives up to its moniker. Unable to get tickets on the early train out of Bordeaux, we were stuck on a train arriving in Paris at 8:35 pm. After hastily checking in and unpacking at our apartment, we strolled the streets in the 8th arrondisment. Now past 11:30 on a Friday night, the city was bustling with traffic. The young and the old crowded into cafes and pubs. Vibrant lights warded away the darkness down each street and in each plaza. On the main boulevard near our apartment, we chose one of the many crepe vendors for a late dinner. Salty, cheesy, and piping hot, our taste buds relished in our first Parisian dining experience.
Let’s back track for a minute. After Roland graciously dropped us off at the train station, we traveled to Bordeaux where we were stranded for a few hours. Unwilling to waste any time, Lauren and I checked our bags and headed into the center of town. The city was a strange melting pot of people and scenery. We spent the day wandering through the shops (I picked up a pair of Euro board shorts for Greece, check back
in for the pictures), checking out the cathedral, and people watching.
Fast forward to Paris day two. One of my favorite cities in the world, Paris boasts exquisite eating, renowned museums, beautiful parks, chic boulevards, and some of the most famous landmarks. For our accommodations, we chose a quaint apartment in the Montmarte area of Paris. Well decorated and complete with all amenities, it was nice to be self catering again. With our kitchen set up, Lauren cooked delicious omelets for breakfast to power us through a busy day. Our first stop was the Eiffel Tower. Paris was in the middle of a beautiful spring heat wave and the skies were blue with white fluffy clouds. En route, we stopped to pick up fresh beignets. Unfortunately, my favorite boulangerie was closed on Sundays! Luckily, we found a tasty substitute. In the afternoon, we caught up with my friends Omar and Suzie. With our local tour guides, we rode Velibs (bikes rented for one Euro) all around the center of Paris. Sights along the way included Place St. Michel, Notre Dame, the Louvre, Tulierie Gardens, Place de la Concorde, the Champs Elysses, and Arc de Triomph.
Paris day three
was a power sightseeing day. We started the day up on the hill at Montmarte and Sacre Couer. In the alleys of Montmarte, local artists gather to peddle their wares. Charming and bohemian, the area was a highlight for Lauren and me. The great white church, Sacre Couer, sits proudly on the highest hill in Paris, overlooking all of Paris. From Montmarte, we headed to the Louvre. For those of you who have not been to the Louvre, navigating the three wings and four floors is almost as much fun as enjoying the art itself. The museum contains some of the world’s most recognizable pieces- Mona Lisa and Venus di Milo, just to name a few. Unfortunately, the Louvre closed before we were able to make a complete tour (and by complete, I mean a descent percentage because the Louvre is so massive and complicated that I doubt a complete tour could be made in a month!).
From the Louvre, we headed back to the apartment for a delicious chicken and pasta dinner (and maybe a beer or two). Refueled, we headed out to Trocadero for some night photos of the Eiffel Tower. Trocadero is a large platform used
primarily to view the tower far above ground level. The view of the glowing tower against the night was stunning. Our night took an interesting turn and we headed home early. Details on the incident will be available upon our return!
With several items still on the itinerary before our time in Paris ended, we headed out to the Eiffel Tower yet again- this time to climb the many stairs. We made a quick stop to pick up my beignets on the way. Airy, fresh, sugar coated, and apple filled, these are no ordinary beignets. These are the Rolls Royce of beignets. The crème de la crème. To me, they are as Parian as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. With plenty of energy, we headed up the steps. Once again, we were lucky to have a beautiful day to climb up. Stair by stair, we made our way to the second viewing platform (only after a horrendous weight and ten extra Euro can you take the elevator to the top). The panoramic view of Paris from the tower was breathtaking. Nearly every monument in the city can be spotted. After descending the Eiffel Tower we took the metro
to Musee D’Orsay- home of the impressionist and post-impressionist works. Once again, poor museum timing did not allow for sufficient time and we were forced to skip one of Paris’ finest.
Disappointed but with so much to do, we headed to Place Bastille. Three years prior, I photographed the Bastille while “happy” from Happy hour. The result was my favorite photo I have ever taken. As picturesque as I remembered, we took photos that may challenge the incumbency. From Bastille, it was a short walk to Place des Vosges- a beautiful park/courtyard enclosed by arched buildings. Just as we made our way to the center, SPLAT!!! I was blasted on the shoulder by what I can only describe as the most disgusting bird dookie I have ever seen. I’m pretty sure my face in the photo sums it up. After a much needed change and dinner at the apartment, we made our way into the streets for our last Parisian night. We spent our last night up at Sacre Couer overlooking the expansive lighted cityscape. A rather unique assemblage around us convinced us that an early night before our train to London was a good idea. Due to our
tight budget, our train from Paris to London departed at the painfully early time of 6:25. In a familiar ritual, we packed up our things sad to leave our current location, but very excited for the next!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.068s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 8; qc: 47; dbt: 0.0439s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Mom and Dad Syl
non-member comment
Hi Jake and Lauren...we've been spoiled with all the pictures and miss those from Paris! You've definitely got our curiousity up with your "tale for home" story!!!! Take care and enjoy each and every moment...hope for you that it goes slow but we do look forward to seeeing you!