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Published: September 17th 2006
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Room in Paris
Very quaint and roomy by Parisian hotel standards I am told After a relatively pain free tube trip, I arrive at Waterloo the station that the Eurostar departs from. I grab a coffee and a magazine and go the toilets and freshen up before beginning check in. My stuff gets scanned, passport stamped and I board the train. I have the great fortune of being seated next to a Parisian man who advices me of things to see and do. He tells me that the train we are on is travelling at 300km per hour and as we pass a highway I see how slowly the traffic appears to be moving compared to us!
When we reach Gare Du Nord I need to find an ATM to get some Euro in order to be able to get a taxi to my hotel. Now this is no mean feat! I wander around for about 15 minutes, it is very humid and proceed to get quite frustrated. I go to a tourist information place and try out my "parlei vou englais" and get told that is is near the Bureau de Change. Going there, I still cannot find it! After aimless wandering for another 10 minutes I find a machine actually on the
Recognise this?
The Louvre of course side of the change bureau! With Euro in hand I join the throng for a taxi and am soon on the way to my hotel.
I am staying at the Hotel Favart in the Opera district. My room is quaint and quite roomy. I get there late in the afternoon and after travelling all night and day don't have the energy for much more than McDonalds (sad I know!) and a night watching French television.
I arise early the next morning to begin exploring. Breakfast of cafe au lait and croissants are provided so feeling very Parisisian I decide to make my way to the Louvre while it was still early and beat the crowds. I had bought a map the previous day and while I can read a map I had no idea which way was North, east etc. I head off in what I think is the right direction for a good while but when I don't see the streets I know I need to be on, I turn around and head back the way I came and in the opposite direction. When I see I am on Rue De Septembre I know I am heading in the right direction. The back streets I walk down are filled with quaint little shops and I discover a number of great shops including Paris's oldest chocolate shop, when I drop in and get a bottle of Evian and a pain au chocolat for brunch. When I walk across the street and see the sign for the Louvre I feel very proud of myself and exicted to be where I was!
After taking the obligatory photos, I enter the Louvre and of course firstly make my way to the Mona Lisa. It was certainly a sight to behold. After looking at it for all of say, one minute, I head off to explore the rest of the museum. I am not a great art appreciater, but even I was captivated at some the painting and artefacts.
Upon leaving the Louvre I decide to walk to the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. I can see them both from where I am. The walk to the Champs de Elysees takes me through lovely parks and wonderful fountains and statues. The architecture in Paris is superb with all buildings having intricate touches. I soon realise that what looks close in Paris is actually not close at all and my feet are sore by the time I make it too the Arc De Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. I certainly cannot face doing all those steps, so I take the easy way out and join the queue at the pillar that has lifts going all the way up. I go all the way to the top and enjoy the beautiful view overlooking Paris. It is a sunny day and you can see for miles. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe the things I am doing! Certainly great memories. I meet an Aussie couple on my way down who advise that I get the jump on jump off tourist bus and although it is quite expensive it travels a great tourist route so get on it do a few stops that afternoon. I jump off in opera and decide to do the entire route the next day (ticket lasts for two days).
The following morning I get on the bus at the Opera House and sit on the stop past the Trocadero to get to my next visiting place - The Notre Dame. When I get there I decide to brave my first French cafe. I really did not want to appear foolish and of course had the customary snooty French waiter! Having ordered successfully I enjoyed my coffee and ham a cheese crepe. When I went to pay I paid a different man and left a couple of Euro tip. Mwah! he says "I love you!". He is a good looker and I find myself blushing and giggling like a schoolgirl and walk out of there with a smile on my face. There are certainly some gorgeous French men!
I join a queue outside the Notre Dame to go up to the top. Oh what a mistake! After my meal, the endless curving staircases made me feel quite ill. The stonework was amazing as was the view at the top but I felt out of breath and could not wait to get to the bottom. Once I get down I jump on the bus and visit the Musee D'orsay, another famed museum. I find a great little shop called Exci on my way home that does salads etc you can take away so grab something there for dinner as I still feel a bit delicate.
Leaving Paris the following morning, I knew that I had only made the slightest dent in what Paris has to offer but I had seen the beaty of her and know that I will certainly have to come here again! From the way people dress to the general vibe of the city, Paris has so much to offer and I can see why people rave over it
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