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Published: July 30th 2006
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penny for your thoughts
A reason to wax your eyebrows. To be perfectly honest, Paris is not one of my more favorite places. Last time I was there, it was so dirty. But I must say, Paris has done some work. It was very clean and we had a great time seeing all there is to see in the City of Lights. What can I say about Paris? For those that have been, you know. You know how difficult it can be to get around on one of the most confusing metros I've ever been on. You know how difficult people can be if you dont 'parlay France'. You know how scortching hot it gets in the summertime. And most of all, if you've been there, you know how ridiculously crowded it gets during the tourist season. Our accomidations were well outside of the city center area in a hostel that enforced a lockout rule at 2am. Fairly common in a lot of places. As are the seperated dorms for men and women.
After we had our fill of the metropolis that is this old city, we headed south via, you guessed it, train. Caught a train that was traveling by night. I like those since it gives you accomidation
Notre Dame
Yes this is where they shot the actual cartoon movie. for one night and gets you where you need to be the next morning. Or so you would think.
The train did not go all that fast but that was ok. I don't mind so much once I am asleep. My main concern was that there is nowhere to sit and relax, which is necessary on long train rides. No club car and no lounge car. So we were forced to sit in the corridor of our carriage with space enough just to cross your legs. So we sat there drinking sangria from Pamplona, that Dave had bought us as a parting gift, (Cheers Dave) and chips we had bought to munch on for the trip. It wasn't too bad except for the occassional person passing by, that required us to stand for them to pass.
So eventually I went looking for somewhere to hang out. And found it too. A group of people that I was talking to before the train left, were a few cars down and hanging out in their corridor drinking a plentitude of wine that they had brought from Paris. We joined them and spent a good part of the night speaking of
pyramids
No it's not Egypt, Im at the Louvre you ninny. travels and how bad some of our french was. Others were from France and didn't understand us as much as we didn't understand them. But it didn't matter, we had wine and corny jokes to tell. But the real party started when a guy showed up speaking both languages and could translate followed by a guy with a guitar. That was it. He starting playing popular american music that we all knew SOME words to. Singing along there in the train corridor, toasting the night away to each other, Im suprised we all didn't get kicked off the train. The whole lot of us.
Finally retired to my own bunk and got a bit of sleep. Was tired when I got up in the morning and not liking too much the sounds of train travel. Oh well. That was o.k. too. You don't mind things like that when your heading someplace with a beach.
Not just any beach; but a beach on the French Riviera. Cannes to be exact. Yes, that famous annual mecha for film festival seekers. Stayed there for a few days and just had the best time. It is expensive there. It is definately a
Arch de Triumph
I was suprised that no-one was there telling people not to stand in the middle of the road. Because it's dangerous... And fun. place to be seen. Lots of high priced cars, homes, yatchs, and lifestyles. And wouldn't you know it, but the day before we left there was a festival. And the culmination of the festival was going to be a huge fireworks display out over the harbor. That was great for me since I had not been able to make it home for July 4th (America's Independance Day), to see any fireworks. So I was excited to see this and smell the sulfer in the air.
The last night there we made our way through the huge crowds lining the beach, to the end of the harbor where it was darker and we would be able to see the show better. Well, they turned out the lights along the beach anyway to aid in the spectacle of it all. From our vantage point on a grassy patch behind the walkway, seperating beach and empty boat slips, we could see the entire coastline as well as the hoards of boats all anchored just off shore in anticipation of nightfall. The fireworks started about 10:30pm and went on for some time. The booms from the fireworks and glowing light of their explosions
Paris Nights
Did you guys know that the French copied the tower that they have in Vegas? was outstanding. It all was corriagraphed to music and shone over our heads like a parade of light. I thuroughly enjoyed it. Afterwards we went home and packed, as to be sure to catch our train to Venice in the morning.
I cant imagine what this town must be like during the film festival that it hosts. Not much to look at in size, but there is plenty to do here with its nice sandy beaches and warm Mediteranean waters. Most of the peoples daily activities include shopping of some sort. Lots of places to do that.
I did find a bar that actually had happy hour though. All you have to do in sit down and order a drink and your waiter brings you a plate with hot wings (not so hot), chips (crisps) and dip, along with a few other assortment of finger foods. It is not a lot of food, but any food that is complimentary with my beer is a hard thing to find in Europe. Believe me, I have looked.
Also, I was eager to see a movie here, in enlish or not. I just wanted to go and sit in one
pyramid view
This is my 'artsy fartsy' shot for Nik and Fab. of the many theatres that freckle this town. Just to sit in a seat that great movie makers may have sat in during the festival would have made my day. Maybe evey find some famous chewing gum under a seat. Who knows? Unfortunately I did not get the chance. Time, as it were, was not on my side.
We bid farewell to Cannes and the nice family that owned the place which we stayed. They were most helpful and accommidating. Made our way east to Milan to catch a connecting train out of Milan. Of course got there late and missed our connecting train, so had to wait an hour for the next one. Par for the course, I say. On to Venice, the home of Carnival.
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ay mijo . .. .
when can i bring u sopa?