Well, I write this from London but I spent most of the day exploring Paris.
David and I went exploring again today so that I could leave my stuff in the apartment without having to pay for an extra day.
Our first stop from Notre Dame. We opted against doing the tour as our time was limited and there was a line and a fee. You can enter the main cathedral for free however. We went in and stood in awe of the marvelous architecture. The stained glass is reason enough to visit, but the detailing of the walls and the stations is second to none I've seen. We donated 2 euro and lit a candle. Then we took pictures of it and wrote a prayer for the travelers and our families in the prayer book. I suppose I am a little sad I missed the famed gargoyles but, hey, it gives me an excuse to come back right??
Our next stop was the Louvre. Originally I had planned to spend a whole day here but we had about 3 hours so we chose the things we definitely wanted to see. Our list was: the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the crown jewels, and Napoleon's Apartments. We also saw the medieval exhibit and the Egyptian art on accident. Everything was just as it should have been. Big, beautiful, and impressive. We explored as much of the building as we had time for and then got pictures with the pyramid outside.
We headed back to Montmartre and ate a quick lunch at a street cafe. Then I grabbed my bags and headed off for Paris Nord to catch the Eurostar to London. The trip was entirely uneventful and I am just happy to be in London, checked into my hostel and having taken a proper shower.
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
I need to marry a king who will build me a hamlet...
Today me and David went to Versailles. We bought the tickets to tour all of the building on the grounds which was totally worth it.
We started out taking a train to the town of Versailles which was relaxing and a nice way to start the day. Then we found a patessirie and bought pain au chocolat (croissants with chocolate on the inside) and I got a Croque-Monsieur which is kind of like grilled ham and cheese sandwich. After a good breakfast we headed to the palace.
Well, the French kings of old certainly knew how to live. The building was as huge and ornate as one could possibly imagine. It is said that there is not one room in the place that has not been redecorated and it shows. Every wall is detailed, furniture strategically placed, and every room lined up to maximize exhaulting the king. Sweet.
We then took the mini-train to the domain of Marie-Antoinette. She may be the biggest bitch in the history of the world, but I still wouldn't mind being her. She had her own little mini-palace where she could have parties and hang out with her friends. But that wasn't enough. King Louis built her her own hamlet where she could pretend to be anything. A farmer, a mill-worker, a quaint village person, or the ruler of her own little city. Must be niceeeeeeeeee...right up until they chop your head off...
From there we went to the Grand Trianon which was basically just an extension of the palace but is situated right on the Grand Canal. We hung out in the gardens for a while as it was a gorgeous day today. Then we hopped back on the mini-train and went to the head of the Grand Canal. Apparently King Louis used to stage battles on the canal and had full sized battle ships floating on it. It's been suggested he was a megalomaniac...
Then we decided to walk through the beautiful gardens back to the palace. We were starving at this point and everything in the palace was insanely expensive so we went back to the town of Versailles in search of some food.
Apparently we chose the worst time ever to get hungry as most cafes we closed. We ended up eating at a sort of Greek fast food place. It was good and very filling. So we went back to the train station and headed back to Paris. David got a good laugh out of the awesome sunburn I got today. Very impressive.
We headed straight back to the apartment and David took a nap while I settled into reading a new book I bought yesterday (I have gone through 5 books already). Max came in later and we decided to go to a pub to watch the Scotland-France soccer match tonight.
We left a couple hours later with all three of us still dragging our feet. We walked around Sacre Couer and down to the streets below. We ended up stopping at the same restaurant that Scott and I had eaten at and each order some food and HUGE beers to get us through the game. Poor France, they totally outplayed Scotland but lost 1-0. The Scots mobbed the street and we decided to join them.
Max wanted to walk down to Pigalle and I whole-heartedly agreed as I wanted a picture of the Moulin Rouge. Along the way we had to stop in the center of France's sex industry and check out the biggest store in Pigalle. Impressive, but nothing out of the ordinary from any other. Except for the 60 porn viewing booths. We didn't try but we saw some awesomely shady characters going in. Eww, but funny.
We ended the night wish some delicious ice cream, hopped on the metro and went back to the apartment for bed. Tomorrow's my last day so I have to be well rested!
We started out taking a train to the town of Versailles which was relaxing and a nice way to start the day. Then we found a patessirie and bought pain au chocolat (croissants with chocolate on the inside) and I got a Croque-Monsieur which is kind of like grilled ham and cheese sandwich. After a good breakfast we headed to the palace.
Well, the French kings of old certainly knew how to live. The building was as huge and ornate as one could possibly imagine. It is said that there is not one room in the place that has not been redecorated and it shows. Every wall is detailed, furniture strategically placed, and every room lined up to maximize exhaulting the king. Sweet.
We then took the mini-train to the domain of Marie-Antoinette. She may be the biggest bitch in the history of the world, but I still wouldn't mind being her. She had her own little mini-palace where she could have parties and hang out with her friends. But that wasn't enough. King Louis built her her own hamlet where she could pretend to be anything. A farmer, a mill-worker, a quaint village person, or the ruler of her own little city. Must be niceeeeeeeeee...right up until they chop your head off...
From there we went to the Grand Trianon which was basically just an extension of the palace but is situated right on the Grand Canal. We hung out in the gardens for a while as it was a gorgeous day today. Then we hopped back on the mini-train and went to the head of the Grand Canal. Apparently King Louis used to stage battles on the canal and had full sized battle ships floating on it. It's been suggested he was a megalomaniac...
Then we decided to walk through the beautiful gardens back to the palace. We were starving at this point and everything in the palace was insanely expensive so we went back to the town of Versailles in search of some food.
Apparently we chose the worst time ever to get hungry as most cafes we closed. We ended up eating at a sort of Greek fast food place. It was good and very filling. So we went back to the train station and headed back to Paris. David got a good laugh out of the awesome sunburn I got today. Very impressive.
We headed straight back to the apartment and David took a nap while I settled into reading a new book I bought yesterday (I have gone through 5 books already). Max came in later and we decided to go to a pub to watch the Scotland-France soccer match tonight.
We left a couple hours later with all three of us still dragging our feet. We walked around Sacre Couer and down to the streets below. We ended up stopping at the same restaurant that Scott and I had eaten at and each order some food and HUGE beers to get us through the game. Poor France, they totally outplayed Scotland but lost 1-0. The Scots mobbed the street and we decided to join them.
Max wanted to walk down to Pigalle and I whole-heartedly agreed as I wanted a picture of the Moulin Rouge. Along the way we had to stop in the center of France's sex industry and check out the biggest store in Pigalle. Impressive, but nothing out of the ordinary from any other. Except for the 60 porn viewing booths. We didn't try but we saw some awesomely shady characters going in. Eww, but funny.
We ended the night wish some delicious ice cream, hopped on the metro and went back to the apartment for bed. Tomorrow's my last day so I have to be well rested!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Walking around Paris and drinking cheap wine
Well I am completely beat.
It was time to be a tourist and I certainly managed to log some hours in. I took the metro to the Assemblee Nationale and just started walking. I saw l'Assemblee Nationale (duh), Les Invalides (where Napoleon and his son are buried...courtesy of Hitler), Le Champs-Elysees, the French equivalent to 5th Avenue, Le Grand Palais, Le Petit Palais, the outside of the Musee d'Orsay and, of course, la Tour Eiffel!
Basically, I just walked and walked and walked, following street signs and occasionally glancing at a map to try and see the most. I did climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower (722 steps SUCKED and I felt a touch of vertigo...basically I clutched the railing the whole way up and down...next time I am taking the elevator) and the view was awesome. My pictures totally do not do it justice. I could see Montparnasse, le Sacre Couer, le Musee de Louvre along with everything else I had seen along the way. Very cool. I even stopped to get something to eat and drink on the 1st floor.
Then I walked out into the famous garden in front of the tower. I was suddenly surrounded by men in kilts. Eek, what was going on. So I went and joined the Scottish pep rally. Turns out, Scotland is playing France tomorrow evening in soccer. I'll have to keep that in mind.
I went in search of a wine store as we were told that there is a great place to go drink wine and view the city at night. I found some local stuff for 3 euro and bought a couple bottles for later.
After some more walking I hopped back on the metro, exhausted. I got back to my apartment in Montmartre (the same neighborhood as le Sacre Couer and the Moulin Rouge) and let myself in for a quick nap. On the way I saw Nina who was checking out. Scott left this afternoon so it looked like I was in for a major overhaul of roomies! A couple minutes later one of my other roommates came in. His name is Max and he is from Los Angeles. We agreed to have a wine party that night and I took a nap while he went out for a run. While he was gone a new guy checked in (David from Memphis) and he wanted in on the wine party too. Awesome.
When Max got back the three of us decided to go try the pizza place down the street. When you walk in they give you a complimentary glass of sangria and unlimited water (unlimited is a foreign concept in most of France, boo) so we were excited. I got the pizza Apocalypse which consisted of the kitchen throwing everything back there on a pizza. Then they crack an egg on top. Suprisingly delicious, though I couldn't finish it. We all also had wine with our plates. The combination of a full day of walking outside, drinking wine, and not enough sleep got the best of us so we decided to go drink back at the apartment.
Our other roommates are Rubens (from Spain) and Carlo (from Italy). So my room is me and four guys. Haha, at least no one else is trying to hog the one mirror that is in the apartment. We drank all the wine and will probably all sleep verrrrrrrrrrrry soundly!
It was time to be a tourist and I certainly managed to log some hours in. I took the metro to the Assemblee Nationale and just started walking. I saw l'Assemblee Nationale (duh), Les Invalides (where Napoleon and his son are buried...courtesy of Hitler), Le Champs-Elysees, the French equivalent to 5th Avenue, Le Grand Palais, Le Petit Palais, the outside of the Musee d'Orsay and, of course, la Tour Eiffel!
Basically, I just walked and walked and walked, following street signs and occasionally glancing at a map to try and see the most. I did climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower (722 steps SUCKED and I felt a touch of vertigo...basically I clutched the railing the whole way up and down...next time I am taking the elevator) and the view was awesome. My pictures totally do not do it justice. I could see Montparnasse, le Sacre Couer, le Musee de Louvre along with everything else I had seen along the way. Very cool. I even stopped to get something to eat and drink on the 1st floor.
Then I walked out into the famous garden in front of the tower. I was suddenly surrounded by men in kilts. Eek, what was going on. So I went and joined the Scottish pep rally. Turns out, Scotland is playing France tomorrow evening in soccer. I'll have to keep that in mind.
I went in search of a wine store as we were told that there is a great place to go drink wine and view the city at night. I found some local stuff for 3 euro and bought a couple bottles for later.
After some more walking I hopped back on the metro, exhausted. I got back to my apartment in Montmartre (the same neighborhood as le Sacre Couer and the Moulin Rouge) and let myself in for a quick nap. On the way I saw Nina who was checking out. Scott left this afternoon so it looked like I was in for a major overhaul of roomies! A couple minutes later one of my other roommates came in. His name is Max and he is from Los Angeles. We agreed to have a wine party that night and I took a nap while he went out for a run. While he was gone a new guy checked in (David from Memphis) and he wanted in on the wine party too. Awesome.
When Max got back the three of us decided to go try the pizza place down the street. When you walk in they give you a complimentary glass of sangria and unlimited water (unlimited is a foreign concept in most of France, boo) so we were excited. I got the pizza Apocalypse which consisted of the kitchen throwing everything back there on a pizza. Then they crack an egg on top. Suprisingly delicious, though I couldn't finish it. We all also had wine with our plates. The combination of a full day of walking outside, drinking wine, and not enough sleep got the best of us so we decided to go drink back at the apartment.
Our other roommates are Rubens (from Spain) and Carlo (from Italy). So my room is me and four guys. Haha, at least no one else is trying to hog the one mirror that is in the apartment. We drank all the wine and will probably all sleep verrrrrrrrrrrry soundly!
Paris, oo la la!
Well after a long day of traveling I got here safe and sound!
I got to Dublin Airport at 7:30 am and didn't get to my hostel until 5:30 pm. But it was worth it in the end.
Our hostel is a sweet apartment in the middle of Montmartre (near the Moulin Rouge). There are 6 of us in it. Me, my roommate Scott (from New Zealand), Rubens (a boy from Spain), Nina (from Slovenia) and 2 others we haven't met yet. Nina has orientation today but I am going to Versailles with her tomorrow. Scott and I went exploring last night since we were the last to arrive and no one else is around. All we really saw was Sacré Couer but it has an unbeatable view of the city. Then we went and got dinner. We both got snails as appetizers. They were DELICIOUS!!!! Very impressed. We also stopped in a bunch of bars and I got to use my French since this isn't a very English speqking neighborhood. Turns out, I remember quite a bit! Good thing, the people are much nicer once you start speaking French.
Anyway, this computer is quite difficult to type on because the keyboard is entirely different and I need to head over to the center of town to climb the Eiffel Tower.
à demain!
I got to Dublin Airport at 7:30 am and didn't get to my hostel until 5:30 pm. But it was worth it in the end.
Our hostel is a sweet apartment in the middle of Montmartre (near the Moulin Rouge). There are 6 of us in it. Me, my roommate Scott (from New Zealand), Rubens (a boy from Spain), Nina (from Slovenia) and 2 others we haven't met yet. Nina has orientation today but I am going to Versailles with her tomorrow. Scott and I went exploring last night since we were the last to arrive and no one else is around. All we really saw was Sacré Couer but it has an unbeatable view of the city. Then we went and got dinner. We both got snails as appetizers. They were DELICIOUS!!!! Very impressed. We also stopped in a bunch of bars and I got to use my French since this isn't a very English speqking neighborhood. Turns out, I remember quite a bit! Good thing, the people are much nicer once you start speaking French.
Anyway, this computer is quite difficult to type on because the keyboard is entirely different and I need to head over to the center of town to climb the Eiffel Tower.
à demain!
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