Paris June 27, 2011
Travel - synonymous with overcoming adversity, or maybe prepare for the worst and expect the best and keep a smile on your face. That kind of sums it up so far.
This trip has had its adversity. Our flight to Paris was accompanied by two lovely children that were not feeling well and consequently their mother who is Italian with a commanding voice trying to tell her sick children to “Basta” the whole flight while going back and forth to the bathroom and pulling on the top of the seat ahead of her just to make sure that if her yelling was not keeping me awake that jostling my seat would. Meanwhile Haley giving me death stares not to say anything . I did go as far as looking for some Benadryl to give the kids to knock them out so the mother would quit yelling, but alas no drugs to be found. Should remember that for the next trip, emergency supply.
We arrived in Paris at 7 in the morning and Kirks flight followed. Got to the train station and were so disoriented that it was hard to tell what time it was. It felt like it was late but the sun was up and shining with no sign of setting so off we went. We found the RER and then transferred to the Metro. Only one minor squishing, after a mad dash to get from the RER to the metro, up and down a series of stairs, I’m bringing up the rear after carrying suitcase and carry on down a flight of stairs at what would usually be out of the question for me and my back managed to get wedged in the Metro door suitcase in but only ½ my body made it and I could not force the rest of my body in. The knight in shining armor “Kirk” gallantly came to my rescue and opened the door so I could complete my not so elegant entrance, to the amusement of the train car. Yes, as last travel trip to Europe, I was there for the entertainment of all and we were starting out in fine style, no kisses yet but I am sure I will rectify that soon. There has not been many men in uniform which I kind of tended toward while in Torino.
We did our required circles after we got off the Metro in finding the hotel which was real close to the metro platform if we just went the other direction, say la vie, but on the tour we found a wonderful open air market with delicious fruits, cherries to die for, practiced my all four words of French and Jennifer translated and I got my crescent. The shop keeper welcomed me to Paris with a big smile as I looked dumbfounded at Jennifer for I had no idea what he was saying, waiting for the translation. Smiles always work in this situation.
Found our hotel and went to check in, we all piled into the lobby with more luggage than anyone really needed but had to have, and we took up our share of the lobby, everything is smaller in Europe even lobbies. I was standing next to Jennifer who was speaking rapidly in French and you could tell there was a problem. We did not have a reservation for this date, it was July 25th not June 25th. Oh boy, the adventure begins. The hotel manager said yes we could try across the street, he had one room for one night but could we step out of the way so he could take care of the next customer, He actually did not say that but kind of looked over us as if to say this is not my problem. Jennifer feeling a little bad looked at me, I kind of got the jest of it and went off to tell Kirk to call Chris, in the mean time Jennifer went to the internet. Kirk was a little loud on the phone so I told him to step outside, what a great move, a couple walking by us on the street over heard our conversation and told us to go check in at the Port Royal a great hotel up the street. Jennifer and I headed out the door to the hotel, Kirk filled in Chris, he suggested a great idea, Craig’s List Hotels in Paris, which next time we will do, get an apartment for 100 a night with two bedrooms. What a great idea. Jennifer and I found the hotel and yes rooms available, a relief to all. No bathrooms in all the rooms but at this point we had beds, what’s to sweat about. One room had a bathroom with shower. We all shared the shower, no not together, the showers in the halls were 2.50 euros for 5 minutes, this would never do with teenagers. Wonder what kind of bill Gus would have!!!!! Check in was not until 12 and to us it seemed like 5 but it was only 9. All that with no sleep, it just seemed like it should be later.
We left our bags in the check in room and headed out for some food and to meet Chris. We walked up to Luxembourg Gardens past the market again and loads of shopping. We past the Pantheon and had a spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower from the stairs of the Pantheon. Decided it was better to stick to the cross walks, those little scouters are hard to see and are real fast. Also the roads are not always going the way you think, they seem to have a circular system with going four different directions on the same road, could not imagine driving, who knows which lane you should be in. Got to the gardens and found the sailing boat pond and saw a few pirate ships sailing around. Sat in the shade and were instructed that we were to move our chairs away from the pond, unfortunately there was no shade their so we went up on one of the terraces to wait for Chris. These guys in uniform were not the kissing type especially because one was a girl.
Chris and Martni showed up and we went for a walk to find a café. In our state of sleeplessness it was hard to even figure if we were hungry or not. We went into the oldest church in Paris on our way. We found a Irish Pub and had great conversation as always with Chris and an interesting open face chicken, mushroom, avocado salad.
We then proceeded to the Siene close to Notre Dame. Saw the tourist boats and decided we needed to do that at some point. Jennifer and Gwenelle decided that their beds were calling them so headed back to the hotel.
We went on to the Ponf de Notre Dame and took some pictures and headed up to the church. Haley and I found the shopping store we had purchased her hat and Gus’s boxers last time we visited got Gus some boxers with the metro map on it so he would never be lost in Paris. Just take off his pants and look at the map. Kirk and Chris found a café for beer on the busiest traveled intersection of Paris. Corner of Notre Dame and beer café. Enjoyed the people watching, incredible feats were performed. A guy standing on his hands on top of one of the cement barriers for what seemed like the whole time we were drinking. Got another pic of Haley in front of Notre Dame and headed back to Luxembourg gardens for a concert.
The gardens were full and so they let everyone sit on the grass which is a big nono in Paris but it was by mass decision because there was no room anywhere else. Haley and Kirk took to the grass like it was a down bed. Asleep before their heads hit the ground. Chris and I talked on and on, so much to catch up on. It was 6 before the concert was over.
We headed back to the hotel to find Jennifer and Gwenelle. We made plans to catch up with Chris Monday.
Long walk home found Jenifer and Gwenelle. Ate a a real nice restaurant across for the hotel, put our food budget at McDonalds for the rest of the trip but it was good. Mushrooms again, Today I ate more mushrooms than I have in a long while. Boots you would of loved the sauces, I had cod with mushrooms, Kirk had sea bass with ratotille, Haley had another fish, Gweneelle had duck with a sauce that was to die for, Jennifer had the Fish, it was the whole fish head and all and was looking at you as you ate it. All very delicious. Lots of courses and cream puffs with strawberries, crème burele with raspberries and strawberries, sherbet, good eats.
We were all sooooo tired we headed back to the hotel and were never heard from again. Sleepiness took over, we had been up Haley seemed to think 48 hours at least. Everything we could do to take showers and roll into bed.
Oh yea, note to self, internet in Europe, need to have your hotel across the street from a McDonalds, wa la, free internet. Could not of found a better placed hotel. Lucky Us!!!!!
Euros vs dollars, just seems like the euro disappears faster, not sure it is due to the fact they do not have paper one dollar bills, US exchange rate sucks, or everything just costs more here.
Only one blister on foot, not doing to bad for first day in Paris.
Pictures coming, having floor issues. Camera on 4th floor, computer on 1st, need to get themtogether.
