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Published: November 12th 2007
There She Is in All Her Glory
I really liked the Eiffel Tower!5-30-07
Man I slept great on that roll out bed. There were not kids running up and down the hall. Isabelle said I could probably join them for breakfast and not be charged for the meal as I would be her guest. I could not pass this up. They had a big buffet kind of like I envision being on the cruise boats. I had not had a breakfast like this since I left Batchtown. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and had a hard time not acting like a beggar off the street. I loved the eggs and had a couple plates full. In addition to the eggs that I thought were fabulous I had some bacon, sausage and felt obligated to eat some fruit, but only after I was full of the good stuff. I could feel my arteries closing as I ate, but it was something I was willing to let happen at that moment. It is truly hard to find a good American style breakfast in Europe. Yea us Americans are fat, and this morning I felt like showing Europe just why. I was a total pig. Actually I remember the last time I
Champs Elysees
One of my favorite pictures. Champs Elysees is this famed Paris Street. was home I had my annual blood test and I had already been on the road and without employment for 3 months. I had eaten several high cholesterol meals and really not exercising much, but I was not stressed. At the doctors office I told the doctor I suspect the cholesterol would be high as I had not exercised for a long time. My blood pressure at that visit was the lowest that it had ever been in the office and it turned out my cholesterol levels were all very good as well. I can not emphasize enough the effects of stress. As I have said before if something effects your health or your families health then worry about it, otherwise do not worry about it. Stress kills, that is one thing I am sure of. It is amazing my body seems to work great when I do not worry, but when I worry nothing works as well. It's the old fight or flight adrenaline response. Go with the flow whenever possible. You will end up going with the flow many more days. Life is a long event therefore try not to live it in a day, but cherish each
View from Eiffel Tower
I took the steps to the second platform on the Eiffel Tower and this is the view. You can take an elevator to this point too, but that is no fun! day and make lemonade whenever lemons are presented. My life motto is……. damn I can not think of it right now. It is something about “Death” and then ends in “So Live for It.” It is actually quite a good saying I just wish I could think of it. I had it written on a piece of paper on my bulletin board at work. It escapes me right now. I knew I should have never quit my job! No not once since I quit, have I regretted having quit. This is the greatest thing I have ever done. It feels very very very right! I have learned loads about the world and realize there are lots of things that I have to learn yet. The more you learn the more you realize how dumb you actually are. I think most highly educated people feel less informed about the world than the people with less education. That would be a good survey to take. Ask a professor how smart he is with regards to knowing about the world and how it works and then ask a person who just finished high school the same question. The results intrigue me. I will
have to google it maybe that survey has already taken place.
After breakfast I thanked them for everything and told them if they didn't mind maybe I would come back to hang out with them another day. They said sure and I told them I would be back the next day and will meet them at the beach in the same location. I couldn't afford to spend more than one day as I wanted to have Paris, Versailles and Chartres done before D-Day on June 6. I had to keep on keeping on as my buddy Joe Dirt puts it. Life's a garden dig it.
I left for Frejus where I was going to head to a hostel in the countryside and get some typing done. Also I needed to do laundry. I walked to the train station and had to wait about an hour for a train. As we traveled south of Nice along the Mediterranean Sea I marveled at the beautiful water and the red rock. There must be a lot of iron in the rock If Beth Eilerman was here I would tease her about the potential of the rock spontaneously combustion because of our
Frejus Beaches
This is a picture of a beach south of Cannes. argument we had in the desert near Las Vegas last year.
There are lots of beaches as well. Upon arriving at Frejus I walked to the beach looking for tourist information and of course always vigilant for a place selling sunglasses. I should have bought them in Cortina in the Dolomites of northern Italy. I was surprised how much beach there is here. The whole French Riviera even this far south is all tourism. I found a tourism center and got a map with a hostel location shown and got directions to the laundry mat. The cost at the laundry mat was very expensive so I opted not to do laundry. Most hostels have laundering facilities.
I walked to the bus station and got on a bus that dumped me off pretty close to the Hostel. The hostel is near a City park and in the country side. I really liked the location. I arrived at the hostel around 3:00 and a sign said closed until 5:30. I had some time to kill so I decided rather than jump the fence and take my chances of getting in early, or maybe going to jail, I decided to walk
back to the park I passed on the way here and type for a while.
I found a picnic table and began typing. After being there about a half hour some young kids on their bikes who I estimated to be about 15 walked up to me and ask me something in French I told them “no” followed by “Englesa”. They would know from that that I spoke English only. As the kids walked away and over to this informational board, I heard the one say “No Englesa” and they laughed. I knew they where making fun of me. I for some reason was not in a very patient mood and not in the mood for national diplomacy so I decided to have a little fun with them. They kept glancing over towards me so I got up with a very stern look on my face and never took my eyes off them. I knew for sure they were making fun of me earlier and were I come from it is not nice to make fun of people. As I walked towards them they started backing away towards there bikes. They would glance away just for a second and
then look back at me only to see me with a stern look on my face and always looking right at them. I walked slowly towards them and they hurriedly jumped on their bikes and peddled off looking back several times. I reached the sign and pretended to look at the park layout. I know they saw me looking at the sign so I suspect they were a little confused as to whether I had gotten up to look at the sign or if I was really mad at them. I felt a little bad as the American - French relationship had definitely taken a hit, but I just felt impatient with these punk kids. Hopefully they went home to do some studying as it is usually the dumb kids that act this way.
The time really flew by as I sat there typing and before I knew it, it was 5:30 and time to head for the hostel. I approached the hostel as I usually do just hoping like heck they had room and they did. The person working there seemed a little goofy at first, but the more I got to know him the more I liked
him. Actually I liked him a lot. He had a wash machine, but no dryer. The wash machine was only 3€ and he provided the detergent. He said I would have to hang the close up on the line and that they should be dry by morning. I sure hoped they would be. I had to wait for the person using the machine to finish his load and when it was finished he just took this person’s clothes and through them in the basket. I threw my clothes in and he set up the cycle and tossed in the soap for me. He said it would take about 1 hour and 15 minutes which is about standard for these European washing machines. Also these machines allowed for packing of the clothes in the bin, which is cool as the bin is quite small. I like American machines a lot better.
I ask the worker about food and he said I would have to walk to the casino which means supermarket. I decided to go for the food now, while the clothes were laundering. It was about a 1/2 mile walk, which back home is considered a long ways, but
it is not too far here. I know it is farther than walking from my parents home to their grocery store which I had never done then as it always seemed too far. It is all about perspective people and what you get used to.
At the grocery store I was amazed at the wine prices. You can get a bottle of wine for less than 2€. Sure this is not world class wine, but it is less than 2€. I couldn't resist and bought a bottle. Soda is more expensive here than wine. Actually soda is quite expensive in Europe. That is hitting me hard as I drink Light Coke here, which is the same thing as Diet Coke. The caffeine gives me a nice lift, when I need one but if I drink too much of it I kind of get depressed.
I got some chicken, potatoes a can of beer and headed back to the hostel. At the hostel I began eating. A few other people were fixing some supper. These two ladies with Nigeria and Spanish backgrounds were fixing supper. I talked to two ladies from Brazil. One lady is writing a book not
sure what about and the other lady is just here learning French. Must be nice to move to a country to learn a language. There were also two German guys at the hostel. They said in the country of Germany you have to do community service or join the military for a few months. Working at this hostel for a few months fulfills there civil service duty and that's why they are there. I was planning to type for awhile, but decided instead to have a bottle of wine and talk to these two ladies from Brazil. I always feel I am better served talking to people than writing in my journal as I can always type in my journal. The problem is however I easily get a couple days behind in my journal. Anyway I did virtually no typing that night, but after talking to them for awhile the Germans sat down and wanted to play cards. There was six of us playing and the first game they wanted to play was spoons. Who would have thought. I actually won, but most of the players did not have a clue how to play and it was funny watching them
with their deer in the headlights look, when they were supposed to be grabbing their spoons. The German guy would talk to the girls from Spain in Spanish, me in English and his buddy in German. It was pretty amazing. I am so motivated to learn a foreign language, when I get back to the states.
After that game we played another card game that was very lengthy and pretty cool even though I did not really know how to play. I won that game too, but really did not know what I was doing and just received and followed directions on what to do. It was funny watching the Spanish women arguing with each other. They were very passionate. I played one more game with them and lost. I decided to not play anymore, because I wanted to head out to see the full moon. It was beautiful and it was great staying in the countryside. I noticed several tents near the hostel and learned that several of the people that were long termers in the hostel were sleeping there. The one lady that came here to learn French said she sleeps out there, because it is quiet.
Train Sleeper
I call the top bunk. You actually get a little more headroom there. I slept great on these trains. She said she recently stayed in the dorm and couldn't sleep due to a snorer. They pay the same price as the people in the dorms. I have had a string of good luck with regards to sleeping since leaving the Cinque Terre. Lets hope that continues.
I went back into the building and decided to call it a night. I really liked this place and was thinking another night here would be nice, but I had promised the Belgium lady I would be back to hang out with them tomorrow. I am not one to break promises so I decided to definitely go back there. Good night after another good day!
5-31-07
I slept great last night and got up around 7:30 to get moving. I had to get my laundry rounded up and take a shower as well as get some breakfast and get back to Cannes around 12:00. I had a lot to do and knew I would be rushed to make it back to Cannes by 12:00.
I first went to check the laundry and as expected the laundry was not dry. I went ahead and took it all off anyway and
Arc De Triomphe
The inspiration for the St. Louis Arch? spread it out in my room, which was warmer than outside. The outside temperature had gotten cooler over night. I took a shower and put on some wet clothes. At least they were clean I thought. I then went and had some breakfast and typed for awhile. I really did not get much typing done and the purpose was to come here and do that. Oh well, I had fun just talking to these folks and enjoyed being out of the crazy city.
Around 10 I realized I better get going so I rolled 3 of the shirts up that were still wet and put the socks in a bag the best I could and left the bg open so it would somewhat dry in my bag. I thought I would thoroughly dry them on the beach. Yes maybe I could put up a clothesline on the beach in Cannes. I suspect they may have an ordinance against that kind of thing. Regardless I got checked out of the hostel and was on my way. I got to the bus stop and there were about 5 buses that could take me to the train station from there and assumed
one would be there soon. After waiting about 15 minutes I decided to look at the schedule. Holy Crap Batman the next bus was about 45 minutes away. I could not wait that long as I would never make it to Cannes on time. I decided to walk to the station. Why not, I have been walking everywhere else. It couldn't be that far. Fortunately, it wasn't that bad and in about 40 minutes I was there. I had another 20 minute wait and was on my way. I knew it would be around 12:30 when I got to Cannes. It had been spitting rain pretty much all morning and I knew it was not going to be a good beach day. I am not a big fan of the beach and am not the type that could spend every day of a vacation at the beach like some people do, but do enjoy it occasionally. When arriving sure enough it was raining even harder. I walked to the beach where we were to meet at a pretty hurried pace. I figure they might wait until 1, but after that I suspected they would no longer be there. On my
way there I was half running and came across them at a stand. They were buying post cards. Isabelle buys the post cards and lets Lucas draw on them and then she mails them to family. Maybe I should have let Lucas draw on some of mine so people will not be critical of me not signing them. I have cards from London still that I have not sent. Shouldn't the blog be enough. I have a demanding family. I think maybe they think I am just laying around all the time. Actually most of my time is very busy.
From there we went and took a tour bus ride in the rain. It was ok, but the conditions were not that great. After that we got some lunch. I am not sure where the day went, but it was around 4 by now and everyone was wet and cold and tired. We spent a lot of time trying to find a cab and finally we were successful and went back to the hotel. I was invited to crash on a cot in their room and decided to do just that. I figured it would save me around 17€
Notre Dame Cathedral
I have become a little bit of a Cathedral Snob. This one was just ok for me. I liked Siena, St. Peters and the one in Sevil better. and I would get to stay in a 4 star hotel. I felt like a king. I did some typing on the balcony outside their room. We ordered room service and ate a pizza. It was pretty good and we decided to call it a night pretty early. It was a long wet day and really not that productive or eventful for that matter. The rain really made things difficult in a resort area that is mainly designed around fun in the sun. Ok lights out.
6-1-07
I got up around 8 after another good night of sleeping. I went with them to find some breakfast. Isabelle was looking for some shoes and Lucas was riding his bike which seemed a little dangerous to me. Around 1 I told Isabelle that I really needed to keep moving. I had not planned to stay in Cannes for the entire morning but I had. I felt like I needed to keep moving so we went back to the motel and said our goodbyes and thanked her for her hospitality and headed to the train station. I didn't see a train going to the French Alps area and I new Nice was
a main train station so I just jumped on the next train to Nice. I am not good at waiting around I am discovering. My secretaries, when I was employed, always told me I was impatient. I know I wasn't as impatient as they accused me of being, but maybe I do have some impatient qualities. Anyway that is a long ways in the rear view mirror these days. I made it to the Nice train station and went to talk to the ticket sales representative to see how to get into the French Alps yet today. It was already 2:30 in the afternoon so my options were limited. There was a train to Paris at 5:30 and again at 8:45, but there were no trains into the French Alps this late in the day. There was one train going to a large canyon that is compared to the Grand Canyon. It is amazing how many people in Europe know about the Grand Canyon. It is also amazing how many people know of Route 66. I have seen lots of people carrying bags that said Route 66 on them. Also in Florence the Brazilian guy said he plans to drive
Route 66 in the near future. I don't get it, but I am going to send some pictures to a couple alderman in Mount Olive. At least they were alderman still in December. I am going to miss working with those people, but I will meet other fun people.
Since the guy point blank told me I can not make it into the French Alps by train today, but said there is another train station in Nice that I can take to go to France's version of the Grand Canyon and I would be there by 8:00 tonight. I said ok I would do that. As I walked to this other station I kept thinking how nice the hostel would be out in the middle of nowhere, but then thought man I really need to keep moving. I kept thinking I should just bite the bullet and head to Paris on the night train. I was having a hard time finding this small station. I finally decided ok I am going to Paris. I headed back to the Nice train station and got my ticket for the night train. Even with my Eurail Pass it was 17 €. It
Gargoyle Fun
Don't gargoyles add a lot more fun to gutter drains? was just like the cost of a hostel. As I left the line I heard someone yell at me. It was a lady who looked real familiar, but I just couldn't peg her. She said her name is Kira and I still didn't have her completely pegged and I told her my name as well. She was next up in line and I told her I would wait for her to get her ticket.
I sat on the bench and finally remembered. She was the lady I summited the mountain with in Mennagio at Lake Como. She is an extremely nice lady actually and had run away at the site of the salamander on the trail we hiked in Italy. She had thought the salamander was a toy and I went to get closer to it and it moved and she had took off running down the trail. After she had gotten her tickets I had the picture of the salamander cued up and I showed it to her asking her if she remembered it. She smiled and said she had and that she recently seen another.
Kira was in Nice with a tour group. She was at
the train station buying tickets for the group. She was going to the same general location as I, so we talked for awhile. She is a very nice and positive young lady and I really enjoyed talking to her even though at times she can be very direct, which I contribute a little to the language barrier. She is a nice lady who is doing something she loves to do.
I jumped on the internet at the internet café and then went to a restaurant adjacent to the train station for supper and to do some typing. They had a buffet there kind of like you see in America. I am sure the idea came from America. It is definitely easy to over eat at such a place and I did just that. I sat around there and typed for awhile. Man there are some strange looking people at this café. One guy is just eating very slow and deliberately. Too slow and deliberately. He looks Mexican and looks like he is extremely slowly mentally processing things for some reason. Another guy across the room seems to know this guy and is smoking a cigarette over there. I think
they may be seated separately because he smokes and the other guy doesn't. I saw another guy come in get his supper and pull a bottle of wine out of his luggage. Bon Appetite I guess. The food is not very good, but filling and cheap so I can't complain. Five American kids are seated near me only one of which is a lady. They were talking about the Italian language and how in the morning you say Buon Giorno then in the afternoon you say Bueonos Sarah. They said the French have the same sort of thing. None of them spoke a foreign language I don't think. They were being rather loud, but not obnoxious.
I finished my meal and then grabbed a seat over by a window. After typing for a few minutes I saw a man sit down that looked like the man I met on a train the other day in Genoa, Italy. Sure enough it was and I went over to talk to him. He is the man from Holland that lives in Nice. He had told me he had gotten a room near the train station for 20 € before, when he was
Moulin Rouge
I actually wanted to go to a show here but it was really expensive. It was around $80. I only pay that kind of prices for Boss tickets. in a bind once. I learned he was a pianist his whole life and now writes plays. He said he has written 17 now in his life. He said it comes very naturally for him. He is the busy body type and seemed to be the high energy type. A lot of Dutch seem to be this way. Always engaged and always thinking. We talked for a long time and he enjoyed my company. I mentioned leaving one time as I figured he was getting tired of me and he said no that he enjoyed talking to me. He said he does not like the French people that much and is considering moving somewhere in Southern Italy. He is the type that I think would move on a whim although most things he does I do not believe or whimsical, but instead are well thought out.
I look out this Hostel window here in Chartres where I typing this and see this huge glorious church all lit up. Wow what a site.
After supper back in Nice, I headed to the train station. I got on my train and saw the bed number 75 mentioned on the side
Where's the Eiffel Tower?
It is not too hard to find this place. of the car and jumped on. I went to that car and was amazed at the site. Three beds piled on top of each other on each side with about 3 feet of head room over each bed. The top bunk probably had about 4 feet of head room. I headed for my spot on the top bunk and got comfortable. I really was excited about this train ride. My first night train. I typed for awhile and then got a little sore while typing laying on my stomach in this confined space. I tried to type while sitting up, which was hard to do with the low clearance, but I managed although the typing was slow and laborious. After a couple stops another young kid entered my sleeping area. He said I was in his bed, but said that was fine that he would take another one just as long as our car was not full. I guess all the cars are numbered with the same bed numbers, but with altering car numbers. A little later the ticket checker stopped by and said I indeed was in the wrong car and said the train was full and that I
would have to move on. I needed to head about 3 cars in the direction that we were moving. In my sleeping quarters there was only one other lady and she said the conductor said that is all that would be in the car. This was a perfect circumstance. I am in here with only one other person and she is a lady. Women typically do not snore and have good hygiene. Everything was in my favor for a good nights sleep. The bed however was only about 6 feet and even if I laid at a slight angle I still had to be bent to fit. Oh well I was still confident that this was going to be a good nights sleep. I shut my eyes thinking wow tomorrow I will be in Paris. Is this trip a dream or is it really happening?
6-2-07
My first over night train ride and man did I sleep well. I woke up once about 4:50 and thought wow did I actually sleep that long? I quickly went back to sleep and awoke again a little before 7. This was too good to be true. The train was scheduled to arrive
Ok Wise Guy!
I was using my timer on my camera and this guy jumped into the photo, while I had my back turned. Every one laughed at me, when to my surprise I saw him in the photo. I laughed too! at 7:45. Around 7:30 we were near the train station and I got up and organized things. I asked the lady how she slept and she said not very well. I thought you should go on the road for 2 months staying predominantly in hostels and see how you sleep on the train after that. Sometimes I think you adapt to sleeping in those less than ideal situations and other times you sleep simply out of peer exhaustion. I suspect however if there had been a snorer in our sleeping compartment I too would have had a rough night. I think in the US if I told a guy I spent the night in a train car with a woman, they would immediately think I tried to put the moves on the lady and their head would go in the gutter. Over hear I view it more as one big family. It is more like sleeping in the same compartment with your sister although that never stopped Joe Dirt. If you have seen the movie, one of the best of all time, you would understand. In hostels for example often the bathrooms are unisex. I remember how the unisex bathroom
on Ally McBeal worked and how that was a big deal on the show. Well the hostels often have unisex bathrooms and often unisex showers as well. Each shower area is sectioned off and you can stay out of site the whole time. The only one I have seen not like that however was in Mennagio. As I wrote before, it is more like showering with your sister in the room if you’re a boy and vice versa if the reader is female. Plus try putting the moves on someone that does not speak your language. A smile only takes things so far.
I got off the train and thought wow am I actually in Paris? This night train thing is pretty cool. I saw a McDonalds nearby so I decided to head that way. McDonalds are extremely popular at train stations. I went there and saw, where they had wifi. Good I thought this will save me money on internet access as I check my emails with my phone. Wifi is not very prevalent in Europe and the internet cost are variable ususally around 4€ for an hour sometimes more sometimes less. Anyway you look at it, internet
The Winged Victor
This is one of the more popular items to see in the Louvre Musuem. The Mona Lisa is here as well, but you can not take photos of that. access is not cheap. Also a lot of people do not have computers at their home. I just assumed most people would have. We have it good in the US. I know I have said that many times, but I fear people do not appreciate that enough.
I was the only person at the McDonalds and the sign said it did not open until 8:00. It was neat being in a City so early. Normally I am not leaving City's any earlier than 10:00, but this time I arrived before 8:00. Very nice.
I saw some movement inside, but the door was not being unlocked. Other people had gathered. About 8:15 finally the door was opened. No one seemed to really care that they had been waiting. I think they were use to this kind of thing. I guess it is what you are use to. I ordered a meal deal which included: hot chocalate, an egg mcmuffin bacon and egg sandwich, about 3 croissants and orange juice for about 5.50 € . I really thought it was a reasonable value.
After breakfast I decided to try and find the hostel as I did not want to
carry my backpack around all day. I made it to the nearby subway station and figured out what I needed to get on and where to transfer to another line to get to the hostel. As I have said before trains and subways are easy, while buses are hard. I made it to the hostel ok and it was near the metro stop and easy to get to . I arrived at the hostel at 10 am , which is a nice change from my normal 10pm arrivals, which is, in all honesty, a little nerve racking as I have had two experiences now, where I was turned away because they were full. The one time in Livorno, Italy I ended up making lemonade having met the nice Italian family. The other time I just walked my Keister off and turned lemons into more lemons. Actually at one point in that walk I could tell I was getting a little stressed about the situation and even more so tired. I was really tensed and found I was shifting my backpack around more and more, which seemed to make the pack feel lighter, even thought the sensation was only temporary. A
Losing Track of Time.
I had lossed track of time until these folks got me back on track. lot of life's good feelings are very temporary like the feeling of having a couple beers in your belly, or doing something really well. For me the times I have failed have always lingered much longer. I have spent my life focusing on failures to keep my drive. I remember in fastpitch softball if I didn't play as well as I thought I should have, I would go lift weights after the game thinking I needed to get better. I also remember not being played when I first started playing fastpitch and would lift after the games as well thinking I need to become so awesome the coach would have to play me. I do not know that I ever became awesome, but I did improve and became an integral part of the team. I remember failing one time however and carried that failure with me for at least 8 years before I ever felt like I was completely over getting out one time in the Class A ASA slow pitch softball tourney. I put a lot of stress on myself. Well even though they say objects in the mirrors are closer than they may appear, my past failures or
More Route 66 Stuff
Route 66 is a bigger deal for foreigners than it is for Americans. You see it all over Europe. not even visible at this point. Everything is about going forward for me. Like this train I am currently on, I am going forward at about a 100 mph, which makes looking back hard to do. Everyone has things in their rear view mirrors, and don't let yourself think they don't. And the ones that portray not having objects in their rearview mirrors need to be looked at the closest. Those people that try to portray a perfect life scare me the most. The rearview of their car says objects in the mirror or a helluva a lot clser than they appear! Protect me from the Good People is what I say. I long for the days of sex in the white house over the self riteous, god fearing, war mongering guy we have now. The sex in my view is between Bill and his wife, whereas young men and women being killed on a daily basis is a helluva a lot worse. We impeached Bill for having sex in the White House but do not talk about impeaching George for going to war for reasons that were not true. He is the commander in chief, but says congress wanted
Louvre Musuem Line
This was a free day at the Louvre Musuem thus my presence, as well as all these folks. I estimate the line to be a 1/4 mile in length. to go to war as well. I don't believe the information that George got was the very same information that Congress got. Take away the oil and you do not have a war in Iraq that is the bottom line. Maybe it is time to move on and get off my disgust with Bush and his war. I am glad I am not following the news and all the deaths on a daily basis any more. The fact that this Iraq war didn't have to happen really puts me in a bad mood.
They had room at the Paris hostel and had a place for me to store my bag for the day. The hostel seemed ok, but nothing exceptional. I decided to head to the Arch. Not the St. Louis Arch, but the Arc De Triomph. Rick Steves says in his book, Europe through the Back Door that the Tour De France ends here. That all of France's Past Victory parades started here. He also says this is one of the few places in Europe where the car entering the circle has the right of away. The cars in the circle have to yield to the oncoming cars.
He also said any accidents that happen there are paid 50/50 by both drivers insurance companies. The day I was there the traffic was not too crazy, but was interesting to watch none the less. I was near what appears to be the southwest leg of the arch, but having come to know a few French maps, namely the horrible one in Nice, I do not trust any of these maps. I do not even see a north arrow on this map. This is such a big deal with the kind of work I use to do, that I find myself looking for the arrow and the scale. The scale was horrible on the Nice map. I was taught if it's not to scale you write such on the map. They represented a scale on the map as if it was golden.
I saw a group of kids one with a physical disablement trying to plot a way to cross these 6 or 8 lanes of traffic to get to the arch. After several minutes of watching the traffic, the kid with the physical disablement took a stand said I am not crossing this street. It was funny to
King's Church
This is where the Kings were buried. The most famous being Napolean. see young kids intimidated by something like this. Finally a security guard caught on to the scheme and pointed across the street where there is the tunnel access. Light bulbs went off in all there heads. I too originally thought the same thing, but as I looked the situation over I knew the people under the arch could not have all crossed these multiple lanes of traffic. I knew there had to be another access, but I did not see the tunnel until the security guard pointed it out. I followed the kids to the tunnel and went to the center of the chaos under the arch. I felt like I was in the eye of a hurricane. All these crazy rampaging cars were all around me, but yet under the arch there was a sense of calm. The calmness is partially generated due to the tomb of the memorial to the fallen soldiers. On the arches there are several generals names and those that died in battle were underlined. I did not know this, but at one time France was a real military force in the world. I also learned that Napolean was a military stud. I hate glorifing
Napolean's Tomb
It amazes me that if your good at killing people they bury you in a place like this, but if your good at saving lifes you get a spot in the cemetery across town. I don't get it. anything having to do with war, because the name of the game is to kill people. But I will give credit where credit is due. I had always heard Napolean was a little man that blundered severely at Waterloo. I did not know he won numerous battles. He was a big time hero in France. On the monument he has a quote where it says when he falls in battle he wants his ashes spread across France amongst the dear people he loved so much. I am paraphrasing a little as I do not remember the exact translation, but that is very close. I was touched by the quote. I like quotes but for the life of me can not think of the one I created. Let's see it goes. Yes I remember now. "You are going to die, so live for it." That is my phrase and motto that I have never heard anyone else say or write. That is my claim to fame. Now I just need several thousand people say they like it to get some sort of celebrity status. Maybe Dennis Miller will interview me like he did Joe Dirte (don't church it up son). Drop
everything and go rent the movie. I will give you a $100 if after the movie you can honestly say that that is a stupid movie and it did not touch you in the least. I cry everytime I see it, at the time Joe walks out of the studio and his celebrity status is realized. My life has no similaritys to Joe's however. My parents never left me at the Grand Canyon, while I was in a trash can looking for a skoal can for my dad. Actually my life has been very easy. I have been very blessed with what I have. I wish everyone had what I had as I think the world might be a better place.
I read in the Rick Steve's book that the German's hung a Nazi Flag on the arch for a period of time when they were in Paris. The French however was able to drive them out via the leadership of some Gaulle guy. I am thinking too, if it wasn't for the bravery and ethic of my grandfather's generation I would not have to worry about speaking French as it would be Sprechen Vie Deutsch for the French
peoples.
As I write this I wonder at times if I should be saying the things that I say as I know this material is being put on my blog for public consumption but I figure if people do not like what I have to say, then they do not have to read it. It has been an awesome journey and I have learned so much. Some of the preconceived notions that I had about Europe have been wrong and I will be returning to the US more proud of our country than when I left. If you look at what our country has done and the opportunities it gives people from all over the world we have a lot to be proud of. I am thinking about Bruce's song, Born in the USA right now. Actually that song is in protest of the Vietnam War. Lee Iaccoa asked to buy the rights to that song for his business, but Bruce passed on the millions to show by example his disagreements with corporate America. Most Americans think that song is about national pride but really it was a song of protest.
It is kind of fun just writing
The Soldier's Church
Just adjacent to Napolean's Church, sharing a common wall is the Soldier's church. Towards the ceiling are flags from their opponents, which they got when they won a battle. whatever is on your mind. Maybe this journal is a realization that I am all over the place with my mind. Is everyone all over the place with their mind? I see things and want to write about them. For example I just got on the train to Normandy and my battery is low on my phone so I had to charge it in the trains toilet area. After walking from the toilet the train jolted me and I quickly was being hurled towards this lady in a wheel chair. She was startled and jumped. I got my left foot over near her chair to stop my progression towards her. I laughed a little at her being startled and about shitting herself. Ok maybe I should stop with the Joe Dirt quotes. Maybe I do not know how to be serious. The question was recently asked of me, can you be serious? I was thinking wow that is a reversal in character for me. I was always such a serious person. Life is so much more enjoyable when most things are not taken seriously. Your health is better too.
After spending some time at the arch I walked down
Lots of Musuems in Paris
The buildings to the left and right outside the gate are musuems. the Champs-Elysees Walk. It was pretty cool and there were lots of people. There were some very big stores along the walk and even a Mercedes-Benz dealership. Sephora perfume is another big store and it was amazing all the perfumes that you could try. I still believe if men like women’s perfumes and women like cologne, why don't women just put on cologne and men wear perfume. Towards the end of the walk there is an obelisk given to France by some Egyptian King or something and a couple fountains. It seems like traffic flow would be much better if they didn't have these big objects in the center of the road. Why not put them off to the side of the road and people can look at them when they drive by. I guess that would not have the same pomp and pageantry effect, but I think traffic flow would be much improved. Maybe the new French Prime Minister is reading my blog and will put some of my ideas into action.
I continued on past the road obstruction or obelisk to a garden call the Tuileries Garden, which isn't much in my mind that works on a
668 Steps
That's how many steps it is to second the platform of the Eiffel Tower. This is by no means at the top of the Eiffel Tower. grand scale these days and walked to the Louvre musuem. This is a pretty famous musuem and surprisingly the entrance is a glass pyramid. I was confused about what all those old buildings around it are. It turns out the old buildings around it are the musuem and you enter below grade in this glass pyramid. It really through me for a loop. I did not plan on going to it anyway so I walked on.
My next stop was Notre-Dame. I was wanting to see the gargoyles. I made it to the church and as you might imagine a few thousand other people made it their at the same time. The line into the church was long, but fast moving. I suspect I made it inside within 20 minutes. I really have been lucky with lines on this trip. Some of the reason is because I go at odd times and the other reason is it still is not the heart of the toursit season which is June, July and August. We are knock, knock, knocking on the toursit season door however, as June is just a speed bump away. Not sure what that means, but from the
Another View from Eiffel
See the new buildings off in the distance? I like the contrast between the old and the new. context of the sentence the reader knows it is coming around the mountain when she comes is coming around the mountain when she comes. Enough already. Actually the direct reference to the reader reminds me of the Austin Powers movie when he is talking to the guy on the mountain highway. Watch the movie and then the previous sentence will make since. That is your homework assignment for the night. Get off the computer and go watch the First 2 Austin Powers movies. You will be thanking me that you did. That assumes the Joe Dirt movie has been previously watched as that is your first assignment.
I went in the Notre Dame Cathedral and thought it was pretty cool, but I have seen St. Peter's Basilica. It is big that is for sure. The thing I like most about Notre Dame is the gargoyles on the exterior. I would have liked to get a nice picture of the gargoyles, but I was just too far away. I could have climbed a tower and maybe had gotten a nice view of the gargoyles, but I just wasn't in the mood to spend money for that.
I snapped a
The Arch
I zoomed in as far as I could with my camera to get a picture of the Arch shown in earlier pictures. few photos and decided to continue on. I crossed the Seine River and walked towards the Eiffel Tower. I walked past numerous shops on this side of the Seine. It was quite interesting and more homey than the corporate world on the other side. I stopped at a Casino, which is grocery store in France and got a liter of milk and a snickers. I enjoy drinking milk like this as it is filling and quenchs your thirst as well. I walked past the War Museuem and church where Napolean is buried. Their is a nice bridge there as well. I had been seeing the Eiffel Tower numerous times from a distance when walking through Paris, but now that I was getting close it seemed like I was not seeing it as frequently. I knew it was close to the Seine so as long as I stayed close to the Seine I couldn't miss it. Yes I am talking about the Eiffel tower as if it can be missed. The buildings in the vicinity of the Eiffel tower, at least on the east side of it, are about 8 stories high just high enough to block your view of things
Wedding Pictures
Of course if your married in Paris you have to get a picture with the Eiffel Tower in the background. I count 5 limos in this picture. This is the round area on the quad in the earlier picture. in the distance. Finally I did walk around one corner and there she was. This is an amazing structure and one of the coolest things I have seen on this trip. I was floored by it's size. I just stood there and looked at it aghast with my mouth slightly opened and some slobber running down the side of my face. Ok too much detail. No more information about uncontrolled body functions. No in all seriousness, maybe I can't be serious, this is a monumental structure. I was floored and ask myself why does someone build such a thing? For tourism? Try to sell that project to the City Council. Are things like this still being built. Well the cantilevered platform was recently built at the Grand Canyon. It is amazing how many people know about this structure as I have heard several Europeans talk about it. They speak often of the Grand Canyon as well as Yosemite National Park. I have only flew over the Grand Canyon one time, so I do not have an opinion on it formulated yet. Oh, but I will have in a few months.
After walking around the massive legs of the structure
Elevator Option
If 668 steps is too much for you, you can access the platforms of the Eiffel Tower this way too. I like the driver. I decided to walk along the park to the southeast. This is just a big grassy area where people congregate for picnics etc. with an awesome backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. Pretty nice place for a picnic. After walking to the end of the park, which took about 20 minutes I knew I had to come back to this place at night. It was already about 7 and figure it was not worth going all the way back to the hostel so I decided instead to go for supper. I had been feeling a little fatigued the last couple of days and felt a cold coming on.
I debated to just eat there are go somewhere else knowing the cost at the Eiffel Tower would be pricey. I decided to walk around and try to find something. I found a McDonalds and decided to eat there since that would also allow me to check my email and it is cheap as well.
I messed around there for awhile and then around 9:00 decided to head for the Eiffel Tower Park. I figured it should be getting dark soon. I can't remember it ever being this light back home
at 9:00. That didn't make since to me as the latitude is similar here as the middle of the states or is it? I sat down by myself, among several thousand other people. It was now 9:30 and still quite bright out. I had been going all day and really was quite tired and wanted to take the pictures and get back to the hostel to rest. Around 9:45 you could start to really see the beauty and the lights were now turned on. At 10 lights were turned on intermittently all over the tower, which made the tower shimmer. It reminded me of a fireworks display without the bangs. Went it first started doing this a lot of oos and awes were heard. I too was probably in that group, but I do not remember making the noise only thinking it. I took a couple pictures of this light display, but it still was not that dark and the sky was overcast even. At 10:10 the shimmering lights went off. I thought well the shows over. The lights that remained on lighting up the tower however was still brilliant and maybe more pretty in it's simplicity. I sat there
Pretty as a Picture
Can something that is a picture be as pretty as a picture? for awhile longer and for one of the few times on this trip I thought it would be nice to have one to share this moment with and maybe share some wine with as well. This tower is great!
My tiredness had seemingly vanished and I was enjoying the moment. I took several pictures with the timer so I could get in the picture as well. I set the timer one time, and got in position and the folks around me seemed interested all of the sudden with what I was doing. As I went back to the camera, which was only 5 ft. away I saw people laughing and I was a little confused by their laughter. They had not laughed before. When I looked at the picture I saw why they were laughing. A guy sitting in the group near me, to my back when I was positioning myself for the picture, had gotten up and stood behind me with his thumb up. I did not hear a thing and he had gotten me good. My first reaction was not laughter, but a little fooled. But then I did laugh. He had done a great job of
doing that and if you can't laugh at yourself you are going to have a long life. Laughing at myself is something I have just recently learned to do. Life is more fun as a result.
I talked to the lady near me who was by herself. She said she is from Romania and I put her at about 25. I asked her if she is a gymnast, my standard Romanian question, knowing of their storied program. She said no and that she is a poet and lives just a few minutes from here. How would you like to hear your daughter say, “well mom I want to be a poet.” She said she had been in the north of France for the weekend, but came back early as tomorrow was the first Sunday of the month at which time a lot of the musuems are free. I thought well that being the case maybe I would go to a musuem or two tomorrow. I ask her if the Louvre was free and she said it was. I decided I would go and check that one out for sure. I ask her what other musuems she likes and she said there are so many of them in Paris. She pointed to the end of the park where we were sitting at the opposite end from the Eiffel Tower and said the Army musuem is interesting. I thought ok those were the two I would try and tackle tomorrow. You can not go to Paris and not check out some musuems. She got a phone call and said she needed to get going. I too thought it was time to head back as well. I made it to the metro stop and back to the hostel about an hour after getting up off the grass. I was thinking maybe I should do that again tomorrow night. It indeed was a good time. I sat down in the foyer area of the hostel and typed for awhile and through back a couple candy bars. I was needing some caffeine to keep me going. I was determined to get some typing done before nighty nighty. I got quite of bit done until some loud Americans came in and decided to talk about relationship issues and felt the conversation needed to be broadcast to the people around them. I quickly grew weary of this and they seemed to be hunkered down for a long conversation. I called it a night. Wow another busy tiring day. I felt like I achieved a lot. The Eiffel tower was beautiful. I liked Paris, but without the Eiffel Tower I would have not been all that impressed. For me the Eiffel Tower did it. The next day I knew at some point I was going to climb as high as I could up the Eiffel Tower utilizing the steps. I hoped you could go all the way to the top, but I suspected I would not be able to do that. I knew you could get to the second platform for sure, as you could see people climbing that high. There were two other people staying in the hostel room one of which was already in bed the other not who was from Brazil. It is around midnight and time to hit the hay. Hey Hay is for horses!
6-3-07
I knew the famous Louvre Musuem opened around 9 so I was determined to get there around 8:00 as I knew the lines will be long as this was a free day as it was the first Sunday of the month. I got on the train and within about 20 minutes of hitting the subway was standing at the Louvre Musuem. This is exceptional time considering I also had one transfer. Everything just went well and I hit the trains perfectly. You got to love it when a plan comes together as George Peppard use to say on the A-Team. And the reader responds "Whatcha Talking about Fool" as Mr T. use to say. I lived for that show as well as a few others growing up. The Dukes of Hazzard was another one I use to love to watch on Friday nights. One of my fondest memories is watching the Dukes of Hazzard on a Friday night with my grandfather who was battling cancer at the time. Those days life was simple. Who knew life would one day get more complex. Well I guess the adults knew. It seems we never appreciate life when we live it. We spend a lot of times thinking about the good old days. I remember Jim White a late-night broadcaster use to say, "These are the good old days." I use to think that saying was pretty hokey, but I now believe he is right. Some day we will say yea back in 2007 those were the good old days. For me that might be true. It is very hard living in the moment. I have become increasingly better at that. I however live my life thinking from the perspective of my death bed. I think when I am laying in my death bed will this crisis really matter. Some decisions in life really do matter. Wise is the person who knows the difference, and even more wise is the person who can live that belief. I have grown to get a better handle on the difference I feel.
At the Louvre Musuem there were about 50 people ahead of me, but the people were still pouring in. I felt like I did okay and was happy with my position in line. I saw an Asian guy ahead of me holding a bag that said Route 66. What do people see in that road. I was thinking I need to send Mount Olive a copy of the Route 66 stuff I have ran across and tell them their Asian marketing of the highway running past their City is really paying off as well as their South American and European advertising programs. The guy from Brazil said he was going to drive the entire road who I gave my email address should he want to stop in St. Louis for a night. I also saw a young French girl on a train with a bag that had a Route 66 emblem on it. I asked her if I could take a picture of it and she seemed embarrassed about that. I told her I live near that road. Not sure if she knew enough English to understand what I had said. I asked her to model the bag for me, but she seemed embarrassed and did not want to be anywhere close to that bag when I took a picture. Everybody always thinks the grass is always greener on the other side of the street. I guess it is human nature. As soon as I arrived in France I saw pizza joints advertising Napoli pizza.
Just before the museum opened at 9:00, the line was substantial. I guess the line to be around 10 times as long as when I arrived. It probably stretched a relaxed single file of 800 ft. As the time approached the workers got everyone to become more compact and the line reduced substantially probably about 2/3 the original length. The 3 buildings around the musuem, which are the actual museum are 3 stories tall and have detailed sculpted art on the buildings. These buildings were originally for kings to live, but somewhere along the line where converted to this world class museum. The line moved quickly when the gates were opened and I thought I could have slept another 30 minutes and only lost about 10 minutes of line time. Their is something about being the early bird though that I like. It just feels good to get up early in the morning. I feel organized or something, which I know I am not. Is it a little white lie to yourself really a sin. Are sins really sins? The catholic church paints a pretty clear picture as to what is a sin and what is not. I feel a sin, or as I like to define it, is just something that God would not feel is right. If God knows all things then God knows what is in your heart and shouldn't he have the final say in what is bad and what is good? He knows what you were thinking when you committed the act. I think religion is a good thing, but feel ultimately your life is between you and God. I believe man has this unbelievable ability to rationalize their actions. If you think about something long enough, you can figure out an angle that makes you feel better for an action.
As I entered the glass pyramid it was cool, but nothing awesome for me. I immediately walked to the information desk and picked up a flier in English and asked a person at the help desk what she recommended doing if she only had an hour. She said to go to see the wing of the musuem containing the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victor and circled that area on the map. I just followed the people to Da Vinci's Mona Lisa as well as the signs. It seemed everyone was going there and I thought I better too before the crowds grow. After about a 10 minute walk I finally saw the babe. She was behind some glass for preservation and there was not a speck of dust anywhere close to her. She looked marvelous. I wondered if they put some of the other paintings behind glass with nice lighting if those paintings would appear that beautiful as well. I suspect they would to a degree. I walked past the Winged Victor sculpture on my way there and really did not get much from that. I just do not know enough about art to truly appreciate these works. I walked through the Italian painting area and thought they did not appear much different from the paintings I saw in Italy. I guess that would stand to reason now wouldn't it? I also saw the Roman sculptures again looking a lot like the stuff I saw in Rome. On the map I had tried to just see the items the brochure recommended. I looked long and hard for the painting showing a boy with a wooden foot. I think this was done by a French or Spanish painter. This is something I think I would like. Unfortunately, after significant searching I learned that the painting had been moved to a special area of the middle musuem. You would think they would have put a sign up or something as they highlight this painting and then it is not there. What's up with that?
I planned to be out of this massive museum within an hour having seen as many of the big items as possible. I know people will laugh at me for the wistful travel through this museum, but I say to them a guy has to have a reason to come back. I saw where there was a portion of this museum where they had Holland and Netherlands Paintings that I wanted to see. I hoped they had some Van Gogh stuff. Not because I like Van Gogh, but because I recently had been to the Van Gogh Musuem and was wondering how these would compare. To get to that building I had to walk through another museum, with which I saw some Egyptian stuff which interest me, but for some reason it just doesn't seem as nice as the Italian works now that I have seen their stuff.
I finally made it to the Holland and Netherlands area and I liked those paintings the best as they showed a lot of outdoor scenery. I guess I will always like nature best. I had spent about 2 1/2 hours in this massive museum and decided I better move on. My next stop was the Eiffel Tower I wanted to check out the line to climb the steps and if too long I would go the War Museum. The line at the Eiffel Tower was indeed long so I decided to get something to eat and then head to the war museum. I looked around and the cheapest place I could find offered a pizza for 6€. I thought that sounded good so I took a seat. I sat inside as I was ready to get out of the wind and sun and just chill for a few minutes. The cheapest soda on the menu was 4.50 € and I thought what am I going to do and went ahead and ordered it. This was turning into an expensive lunch. I was getting tired of the cost of Paris. The pizza that they brought out only filled a coffee saucer and the glass was maybe 10 ounces of soda. What are you going to do so I drank the expensive soda and ate the pizza. Paid my bill and went on my way. It was nice to sit down and the pizza and coke were good, I just would have liked a little more for the money.
I started walking to the War Museum and ran across a stand that sold food. It seems like I always find good valued food after I eat. This was good valued food in Paris, but most other places it would be considered pricey. I grabbed a 3€ bag of popcorn, which I thought again was plenty of money for this relatively small bag, but decided to go for it. It had lots of unpoped kernels, but was edible. I laid down in the grass on the Southeast side of the Eiffel tower and soaked up the view until finishing the popcorn.
After killing the popcorn I headed for the war museum. It wasn't where I thought it was so I walked around the building and came to a sign that indicated it's direction. It was in a building that I had seen yesterday and wondered at that time what the heck is that building. Now I know. A lot of the museums were free the first Sunday of the month, but not this one. It was 12 euros, which did not please me, but it is like 4,000 miles from home so it is not like I will be here again anytime soon. I went into the King’s Church, which has a common wall to the soldiers church. They thought the soldiers should have a church as well so the church was built adjacent to the Kings Church. I went in and visited Napolean’s coffin, which is recessed into the floor in a big dome area. You can walk down stairs and walk around his coffin. I know people always talk about how small in stature Napolean was and he has such a big casket. Napolean’s casket consist of about 6 variable sized coffins encapsulating his mortal remains, which include wood and lead boxes. It was quite impressive seeing such a big casket for such a small man. Around his casket are several statues of Napolean honoring his life. It is quite impressive. On the floor above this recessed area, which is the main floor of the church, are several other tombs of folks important to France’s history. The altar has a canopy above it similar to the one in St. Peter's Basilica, but in my opinion not nearly as nice. The audio guide said this canopy is inspired by the one in St. Peter's Basillica. This place exceeded my expectations. Famous victories of Napolean were inscribed into the marble around his coffin. This guy was a much more famous guy than I thought. He was a real hero in France and evidently a great military mind. I had only known about his Waterloo. As Europeans tend to only talk about the negative things in America, maybe we Americans try to focus on the negative things about other countries as well. I don't know. Does it make me a wimp to say I don't know? Should I be more positive and say something like damn straight, meaning definitely, at least I think in saying damn straight a person means something definite. You hear politicians talking about things as if they know for sure they are right. People scare me who are so sure of their self. Are they really sure of theirself or are they just guessing. I often tend to cover my gluteus maxima by saying things in uncertain terms. Even things I am 99% sure about I will say, I think, just in case I am wrong. By saying you think, it opens up the door for the potential of a person being wrong. You get farther in this world however by saying things in exact terms and positive terms. Although you can come across as being sure even by using words like "I think" or "I believe" even if you are not in how you say something and body language is important as well. In work my boss always referred to them as weasel words. He used them all the time and was very skilled at it.
I continued on to the soldiers museum. It is bigger and holds more people, but is not elaborate in decoration. The French churches are often big and have some neat architectural designs, but in my opinion (weasel word) do not have the art decoration inside like the Italian churches. This church however had the flags from the defeated armies hanging from the ceilings. For me anything that celebrates the killing of lots of people seems bad to me. In my mind no one really wins in war. I guess maybe rulers may win, but the people who are fighting in the skirmish do not win. I guess I am not a big fan of leaders. I am a fan of the common man. Just call me Blue Collar. I once was told that I am a Democratic working with Republicans. Me being a proponent of the common man may hurt me in the monetary world of today, but I say so be it. We will all be dead in a few years. Money will not much matter then will it?
I didn't stay long in the soldiers church, but decided to head towards the buildings comprising the war museums. Several sections of the museum were closed. I went into one part that had exhibits showing World War I and II stuff. It was pretty cool but it just doesn't seem like I am patient enough to spend long periods of time in museums. I did enjoy it, but didn't read everything on the displays.
From there I went to the maps portion of the museum. In this portion of the museum they had large scale models of what I assume to be areas where they have military bases. Not sure but the models which were 3 dimensional were very interesting and detailed. The models were in glass cases and the room was dark except for the lighting on the models. The room was also very cool which I assume is necessary to preserve the models. I didn't recognize many of the places except Mont St. Michel. I didn't realize it, but I assume that must be a former military base as well as many other things. I am excited to see Mont St. Michel as the guy I met in Clearwater Beach Florida really spoke highly of the place. He was the type of guy that was quite the salesman and you could have fun talking to him about anything. I would soon find out if my enthusiasm for the place would rival his. Mont St. Michel is one of the smallest displays, but interest me the most.
After exiting this portion of the war museum I walked out into the court yard and snapped a couple pictures. There wasn't much else to see. I enjoyed my time there and was glad I went even with the expense. From there I decided it was time to head back to the Eiffel Tower. I wondered for a second, which direction it was and then looked up and knew exactly where to go. This thing was so big that as long as your in a relatively open area you will know where it is by sight. The thing is colossal. Once I got there I saw the line was not too bad. It was now about 4:00 in the afternoon and I guess all the early birds had left. I saw a sign up ahead of me that said from this point a 30 minute wait. I suspect I was 15 minutes behind that sign. I really have not had to wait for anything on this trip with the exception of the occasional train. I usually would have a meal if I missed a train or had an hour or so wait. Often I would catch up on some journaling as well. The time always seemed to fly by. I have heard people say that they felt like they were always waiting. Not me. I suspect if they were journaling to the level I am they would not notice the waiting either. I don't think anybody is journaling to my level. I just think in the future it will be fun reading this again. I suspect a lot of my views may change but it will be nice reviewing my past thoughts. I think most people just fly through life really never taking the time for reflection. I had never even thought about doing such a thing, but I realize on this trip that it is very cool and something I recommend everyone to do. Take a day or week or month and just get away and write about your life and how you feel and what you see and where you want to go. You have to plan as I always say. Plans never work out exactly but without a plan how can you ever get anywhere. If you want to go shopping you have to have a plant even though that plan is quite a mundane plan it is still a plan. The small things we plan for it is the big things we do not. Don't you think your life is something worth planning for. Some people get so caught up with their spouse their families etc. They forget about their self. Although admirable I believe each person is a being their self and it is good to have a plan for your self. I recently met an attornrey from Holland that was traveling to Santiago, Spain on a pilgrimage. I asked him if it was a religious pilgrimage and he said no. He said he recently retired and was trying to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. I estimate him to be in his early 60's. I was amazed by two things first of all he had biked all the way from Holland and is going all the way to Santiago. That is a long ways. Secondly I was amazed that he was taking the time away from his family just to try to figure out where he was headed individually. Most people do not think about that sort of thing. Speaking of Holland we just entered Holland and the first thing I see are people out riding their bikes. I make it sound like they are out leisurely riding their bikes. No they are going to work or leaving work or out getting their groceries. These folks are just living their lives with bikes like we do with our cars. I now realize how much I miss this about Holland. I love their desire to ride bikes on a daily basis. I also heard a Belgium person say recently how business saavy Holland people are. I didn't even think about that. I always thought they were out riding their bikes to their gardens wearing wooden shoes and smoking pot. Their business saavy. Wow what do I know. As I come back to Holland I can feel my excitement grow. I almost feel like I miss it a little. I wonder if I will have a similar feeling when I go back to other places like the Dolomite region of Italy for example. I obviously will not be retracing my steps very frequently, but my feelings and emotions are curious to me as I almost feel like I am going back to a home away from home. Will I get this feeling about all of Europe. Are these symptoms of getting a travel bug?
Another observation I have made is when I see younger people traveling and I tell them I am traveling for a year I hear them saying wow that is awesome I wish I could travel that long and are disappointed they are only traveling for a couple weeks or a couple months. People older than me often say man I wish I had done that when I was your age. They say I am doing it right. I say man I wish I would have done this when I was younger. It seems no one is ever happy where they are at. Like the country song goes, " if I knew now what I didn't know then." Their is unfortunately a rearview mirror in life which too many people spend too much time looking in. Depending on the event a tragic event like a war, or a death or a broken relationship occupies too much of our time. We need to learn from those events, but continue on full speed ahead thinking you will live to be 150 but live each day like it is your last. That would be a good matra, "Live like you will live forever and as if it is your last day." Are those mutually exclusive ways to live? No I believe you can do both. Wow what started out to be a trip to see the world is turning into a trip to see myself. I never realized I had to go all the way to Europe to see myself. I hope maybe some people that read this may have some things in common with me and maybe they will be able to see theirself a little better through me and without a flight to Europe. That is what I hope for the reader!
The line at the Eiffel Tower moved pretty quickely and before long I was scaling the Eiffel Tower one step at a time and for only 3 €. Granted I do not get to go all the way to the top, but what can you see at the top that can not be seen at the second platform. Don't answer that! I started out counting the steps as I climbed then after a couple hundred steps I realized numbers on the side of the steps that corresponded within a couple numbers to my count. I then put two and two together and got a number close to four and decided those numbers were the step numbers. I suspect they got tired of answering that question when people asked so they put the numbers on the steps. The numbers were off by about two according to my count, but I decided to just go with their numbers for convenience. What is a step or two amongst friends. I continued on and finally reached platform 1. The view was amazing and all I wanted to do is take pictures, but I knew the view would only improve the higher I went. This isn't always the truth however, more of something does not necessarily mean something is better. I know with regards to money this is true. Once basic needs of shelter and food or met happiness only increases slightly with more money. For you math peolpe it is an exponential curve. After a point it takes a great deal of money to see any change in happiness. Are you following that? The same is true about learning. If your learning to ski for example, by changing just a few small things you can greatly improve your skiing but after your have reached a certain level to get any better you really have to practice a great deal. Learning is an exponential curve just like the happiness versus money curve. I personally would rather do many things than do one thing really, really well. I like diversity. There is really nothing in my life that I find I am so passionate about that I want to just do that thing. I guess the cliché jack of all trades master of none is me. Is it such a bad thing to be that way. I am comfortable with saying that is how I am. If you disagree with me, and you or not family or friend then I really do not give a rats ass what you think. Well actually I do care about what you think as the whole world I want to be a friend to, but I know pragmatically that will not be the case. I say that just to emphasize the fact that we can not please everyone all the time regardless how much we try and the key is not to worry about what other people may think. Don't go around offending people but don't lose sleep over it either.
As I reach the second platform I realize that in this instance I believe the view to be a little better than the first platform but not a lot. I really do not think the very top would be better however because the height differentiation between the buildings will result in a relatively flat one dimensional view of Paris. So I am not disappointed at all having not made it to the top. I am happy where I am at. This in my opinion Most of all be happy wherever you are at whether that is the second platform or the top. It is very easy to preach and much harder to practice that. When you preach you raise your own standards as well. I am a hypocrite at times.
As your walking the steps of the Eiffel tower about every other platform they have a sign that stated an interesting fact about the Eiffel Tower. One fact was that the Lindbergh boys while making that first flight across the Atlantic used the lights from the Eiffel tower to help guide their flight. They also had a race up the steps to the second platform and the fastest racer won a bike. My ascension time I suspect would not have placed me anywhere close to the top finishers of that race as I was just lazily enjoying the view.
Having reached the second platform I noticed the top step saying 668. This was a lot of steps but I suspect it was maybe a 1/3 as many as I had went down that one day on the Amalfi Coast. That day when I reached the last stop I almost collapsed as I my calves were just spent. I feel like I have above average, endurance but those steps tried me.
I talked to a man from the US that after recognizing my concrete canoe shirt, said he was involved in that competition as well. We talked for awhile and he said he is an engineer living in London. He was working on designing infrastructure for the olympic games somewhere. I forget where, but I suspect wherever the next Olympics games are being held. He said he was wanting to travel as much as he could while in London as he is not going to be there but a few months. I told him I thought he had a real good gig with regards to being able to travel like this.
As this train continues to motor through Holland it just gives me a good feeling seeing all these bikes. They are all old, junky one geared bikes, but people do not seem to mind. They are just doing there thing. All of them have great posture, riding tall in the saddle. The dutch are quite tall and they ride their bikes with flat backs which seems to make them appear even taller. The only bad thing in my opinion is that they smoke life fiends. They like their cigarettes but all still appear to look like the Marlboro man and his wife. Has anyone ever seen the Marlboro Man's wife. I don't think I have now that I think about it.
After quite a long time on the second platform on the Eiffel Tower I decided to head down. When I got to the first platform I was a little confused as to where to go to get to the steps going the rest of the way down. It appeared they had closed the steps. I found some steps and started down not sure if they were the same. I think they were. I saw a person close the gate behind me and he followed me down. I am quite certain other than the worker I was going to be the last person down those steps that day. I am glad I did not have to wait for the elevator as the line was long for it. People can ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower with the elevator until around 11 at night but after around 6 the steps are closed and people must take the more expensive elevator.
I made it the bottom and decided to head back to the hostel. It would have been nice to stay around for the lights again but I didn't want to do it by myself and really just wanted to go back and relax at the hostel. I made it back with really no problems and got checked in. I asked a guy how to get to the McDonalds as I wanted to use their internet and get a relatively cheap meal. Actually I would have liked to eat somewhere else but didn't feel right going in and using their wifi without eating their. I ordered my meal and began eating my food only to realize this McDonalds did not have internet. Shit I ate here just to use their wifi and then no wifi. Oh well I can think of about a billion other worse things in life. Their was another internet point nearby so I went there. It was really cheap but the room was like a sauna. I sweat in there for over an hour but got several much needed emails sent. I went back to the hostel and spent about an hour or so typing and then went to bed. Another full day in the books and again I was going to sleep even if an elephant was snoring in my room. I am very fortunate I do not sore. I was staying with a young man from Mexico. He was a very nice polite man and I enjoyed talking to him. He had lived in New York for awhile but was going back to Mexico soon. I slept great that night. Tomorrow I am heading to Chartres because Versailles is closed. My roomate had told me about this. This saved me some time and it was good thing I talked to him. I should probably plan better than I do, but everything seems to work out pretty well and because time is on my side if I screw up and miss a day here or there it doesn’t much matter and the stress level stays down with that mindset as well. Nighty, Nighty. Oprah Bick.
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Kate
non-member comment
Vive La France!
Very nice entry! And a great picture of Le Tour Eiffel in all her glory! Bon voyage!