A Week in Paris

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Panorama A painting by Cezanne. Isn't it gorgeous?

Day 23-29 Make a cuppa everyone. This is a big blog. Well, lots of photos with notes.

So I'm here in Paris enjoying the sights and sounds, the music, the atmosphere. Ah, Paris! It is beautiful everywhere I look. I am using the useful knowledge I learned from Jane about pronunciation of the sounds and have been able to communicate in stores and even asking for stamps at the post office. I watch the people and listen to their speech to help me with the sounds.

The first morning I arrive by Eurostar to the Paris Gare du Nord train station. I'm very tired with very little sleep last night for fear of missing my 5.30am train. I take my time and find a map, check the Metro Line to meet my CS Host who just happens to work at Maison de Victor Hugo. Cool! I buy a bottle of water and a ticket for the Metro. I then look outside and was overwhelmed by a French scene so typical of what we see in movies etc. Excitement replaced the weariness, and I spread my arms out and cried 'Wow' out loud. 'I'm in Paris!' Nobody cared but I must have looked funny on the security cameras.

Paris Metro and my map are very easy to navigate and I soon find the Place des Vosges where my host works. I have my large pack on my back and my smaller one balancing on the front and I ask the man at the door for Inga, my host. I learn later that he said to her, there is an English turtle here for you.

I leave my pack at the museum and have a look around the area. Place des Vosges is a popular circular building with a large park in the centre. Many people are there throughout the day and there is also free wifi in the park. Pretty cool, I reckon. I went in search of the Picasso Museum nearby and as with many tourists wandering up and down this one street we finally find it and it's closed for 2 years for renovation. I enjoy a cappuccino on the Place de la Bastille and I enter a Patisserie to order, in French, the Pain aux raisins. Yummy! The French food is delicious. Everything is made to perfection. Home cooked food is made with ease and what appears on the table is like magic. My host has looked after me well.

I've done all the touristy things one can do in Paris but there are plenty more. So I will list them here: Maison de Victor Hugo, Place des Vosges, Place de la Bastille, Musee de Trocadero, Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Cimitiere de Pere Fachaise, Notra Dame, Montmartre, Le Louvre, Musee de l'orangerie (the best painting exhibit), Moulin Rouge (Day time), Catacombes and the Les Halles shopping district, Eiffel Tower and Le Louvre at night just for the pics and the light show. I've walked the streets in many areas and have taken countless train and metro trips. Whew! I'm ready for a break. 3 days by the beach in Biarritz ought to do it.

One thing that I've discovered I don't like is visiting a museum in one country that is full of artifacts taken from another. It doesn't interest me to see those exhibits. I would like to see the history of the country I'm in. I felt like that at the British Museum and now at the Louvre. Mostly for the Rome, Egypt and Greece exhibits. I would prefer to see these things while I'm in those countries. That's what makes it more authentic, don't you think?

As for the alleged snobby attitude of the French, I have to say I never came across it. Everyone has been friendly, greeting me with bonjours (without being prompted), smiles and nods. I attempt my limited French in as many situations as possible, and they have been, dare I say it, jovial at all times. I ask in French if they speak English, they smile and say a little. And everyone knows a little English and are happy to use it. Maybe it's the Spring that makes them feel happier. It has been a tough winter.

What is it about the French woman that they can still make smoking a cigarette look graceful and chic?

The food and coffee are superb. I haven't met a meal or a coffee I didn't like. Even the nachos in the hostel (St Christophers in Crim'ee) is excellent. Correction! I was talked into trying some different cheeses one night in my hosts home. I tasted the smallest piece of one and was horrified. My shoes smell better than the aftertaste. Blech! they all laughed of course.

Everywhere you look in Paris is a painting or drawing waiting to happen. No wonder it is easy inspiration for all the artists who come here.

Recent pick up lines. A man takes my hand and observes my palm. He says that my clothing line shows that I'm wearing too much and should take them off. Another in a museum says, you are very beautiful. I will have your number, oui? Non.

So only a few more sleeps before I start walking. I'm looking forward to it. It's seems a little unreal that the time has come. So I'll take it one day at a time and start slow. I don't know what the internet access is like along the way so where I can, I'll keep you up to date with the ...er...walk.

Next stop Biarritz.

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Photos

Something's wrong with the Eiffel Tower!
Having a bit of fun with my camera

Fresh market
Boulevard Beaumarchais

Typical sounds of the accordion
Boulevard Beaumarchais

Yummy tomatoes
I bought 3 to eat straight away.

Place de Bastille
The site where the Bastille prison stood until the 'Storming of the Bastille' and its subsequent physical destruction between 14 July 1789 and 14 July 1790 during the French Revolution. Underneath in the subway are some remains of the foundations.

DSC01207
The Cafe on Bastille roundabout

Make note China...
...this is how you queue.

Another cathedral
Goodness knows where. I was wandering the streets waiting for my couchsurfing host to finish work.

Giant pigeon scares villagers!
Across to the Cite Ile.

Obvious
Place des Vosges

Comments

[Mike]

Picture perfect Paris
These are some very nice photos, I love Paris and always begin to smile when reminded of my time spent there. I liked your text and loved your picts. thanks for sharing. Mike

[The Dangling Carrot]

Thanks Mike
for reading my blogs. My first travels to UK/Europe were over 2 years ago yet still feel like yesterday. I regularly travel through my photos and remember such a great adventure I had then and am still having now. Life is one big adventure. Lynne