ok, why would anyone want to live in Paris? Sure it's home to 19th Century masterpieces, works from the Renaissance, Gothic cathedrals from over 1000 years ago, fashion galore, cheap street markets, a subway system that gives out free tickets, and THE friendliest people that thankyou simply for thanking them for nothing, but have you seeeen how many patisseries there are? I mean are you joking. How on earth can anyone pass by one of these shops. My excuse for walking down the street gorging on a cake of some description was "Hell i have to sample all the local delicacies.." Trouble is when you get up to half a dozen pain au chocolat, "sampling" doesn't quite seem to be a genuine excuse anymore, and just have to face the fact that I was fatty boom mate.
Anywhoo! I won't bore you with paris itself as I'm sure most of you have seen it already but here is a snippet of a much needed 3day escapade from london....
Arriving Friday at the crack of dawn flatmate Jamie and I were thrust into the subway system. My first encounter with a Parisian was him offering me a joint. Ahh ok dude I'm in the line for a subway ticket, helloooo there are hundreds of people around but the stinky tube bum has to come up to me doesn't he? Not thinking i'd need 'get nicked' in french, all i could proceed to say was Sorry No mister thankyou very much. Rightio!
So 5 Euros later we have our day train bus pass, they wouldn't sell us a weekly i think she said they only sell them on monday, well either that or get stuffed you foreigner?!? Anyway it turned out to be the best thing as the tickets have no date/time stamp so the following day i'm showing the bus driver an example of what I want to buy but he just nods and turns away. Ooo la laaa hang onto your friday day pass and forget buying another one guys! And at the subway you just show the attendant and say it ain't working and they GIVE you a complimentary pass to get through, mwahahahaaa.
Hotel was on the River Seine in Saint Germain, fab location right near everything. Had to laugh though after checking in we ventured to one of the local cafes. Rule number one - foreign menu you stick with the continental breakfast, but jamie being american orders pancakes, big appetite, so is it not the funniest thing ever when this piddely tiny little purple? excuse for a "pancake" thing rocks up on a massive plate for her and I have 5 plates in front of me at half the price - bread, jams, pastry, coffee and juice. woo hoo.
Most of Friday a tour of the city down Champs Elysses, the old Arc de Triomphe, past the Eiffel Tower, over to Notre Dame and the Bastille, yadda ya. Lovely sunny day.
Had dinner in quaint restaurant in St Germain, settled for Italian....early night, been up since 430.
Saturday wandered on up to Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise to see jim morrisons tombstone, the grounds quite breathtaking and to think that a million graves lie there, just amazing. Back via the Bastille and past the apartment he died, yikes. Strolled down rue de rivoli and found myself magnetised into a patisserie for a brioche and ahh another croissant that i divulged no problems at all at the bus stop. And hell no one knows me there so its not like I have any shame with crumbs all over my face/clothes. Back on an Open tour bus sitting up the top wizzing around the Pantheon, and the old military hospice and napoleons tomb Hotel des Invalides (def my favourite landmark). Jamie hopped off here to go check out the eiffel tower whilst I stayed on the bus, turned around after a while and realised I was the only loser sitting at the top, like what a way to indicate you are seriously o n your own - at the top of an open tour bus, nice one. Went over to Hotel de Ville for shopping, walked past bright lights and action, found out next day the french academy awards..ohh whatever!
Sat night hit the town locally in a trendy bar again in St Germain. I read in the Paris Top 10 that it's the place to "see and be seen" so i said jamie this is us lets go ;-)
Met an american couple, born in India, lived in Australia, ended up being hilarious night hanging at the bar, the juiciest bartender guy ever, i'll be sure to send the photos phwoarr.
And how easy is it to say whatever you want in a different language. I mean I would never say "Hello you're beautiful thankyou very much" to a bartender in english. Well maybe after a few cocktails but not before the first one.. He was mixing me a drink called Absolutea ("absolutee"), and boy was i absolutee out of it by nights end....
woke up the next day with many business cards in my bag. what the?
Sunday rolling out of bed straight to maccas by myself and then managed to crawl across to the Louvre, pay my 8 Euro, and power walk through this humungous museum to the mona lisa hollering 'Is that it? are you freakin joking! Woop dee doo.' I wanted to see Napoleon's Apartments and the Sacred Scribes etc but considering I was sweating and about to absolutee regurgitate I figured Jamie would have covered a few photos - good enough for me. Found out later she stayed there 4 hours, sheesh!
That afternoon took me back to Champs Elysses for a cafe creme and much more shopping. Walked down to Pont de l'Alma the tunnel Princess Di was killed, very easy to see why. They all drive like on a racetrack and basically red and green traffic or pedestrian signals mean stuff all. Across to Eiffel Tower, paid to go to the top but once the lift started ascending realised officially scared of heights so bowled everyone over to get out a third of the way up. Still an excellent view, but looking up to the top tier all i can say is As If! Hailed a taxi back to St Germain and strolled around for hours. Back to the hotel and spoke to the concierge for ages, got him to order me pizza hut whilst i waited in the lobby bar watching a very interesting talk show. Paid pizza boy and off i went to my room (mind you best pizz a i have everrr eaten), so yep i glance in the bedroom mirror and what do i see on my lips! Dried chocolate from like ahhh when?? classy! The pitfalls of no travel partner for the day..... argh.
Went back down to the lobby bar with jamie to watch more tele and chat to the old man concierge, he was our translator for the tv, and some old filmaker dude was on the show who lives next door. I felt slack that we were in staying amongst such illustrious personalities and history but not much of an idea.
Anyway, i'll be back for sure....
doh! more pastry crumbs in my hair and arrived back this morning so....au revior! Hope alls well love to all xx
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