Paris!!!

 

Saturday, February 1:

         The cab picked us up at 6am, headed to Retournac to pick up our first train to head to Paris.  We arrived at Retournac at 9am, with an hour to “waste” before our train to Paris.  Mallory and I decided it would be in our best interest and book travel plans for the upcoming weeks.  First we had to buy our returning train ticket for this weekend.  When we originally bought the ticket to Paris, the weekend was in question as to whether it was a two-day or three-day weekend.  We had two choices, a free train that would take five hours to get to Lyon or a fast train that would take two hours but cost 36-euros.  We agreed upon the fast train, it would give us an additional 5 hours in Paris.  Afterwards we purchased train tickets for next weekend, Strasburg.  The time was running tight, ran to catch our train to Paris!

         Boarded the train, found empty seats and got comfy.  About forty-five minutes later, a woman approaches me, saying something in French of course; I believe she said, “You’re sitting in my seat”.  She pulled up her ticket on her iPad, I woke up Mallory and we moved to our correct seats.  We had no idea the train had assigned seats, as the other trains we’ve taken were free seating.  Got comfortable again, pulling out my iPod and listen to music while playing games on my phone.  Dropped my iPod, reached for it with my foot, stretching my leg out to reach and immediately felt an intense Charlie horse in my calf.  OUCH!  Tried to get readjusted without intensifying the pain.  Grabbed my ear buds and attempted to relax.  After a bit, I watched some friends on my laptop until the train arrived in Paris.  Getting off the train was entertaining.  My leg was completely stiff and I struggled with getting around.  Walked into the station, grabbed some lunch and relaxed.  We were waiting a part of our group arriving an hour after us.  We utilized the extra time wisely and purchased a weekend transportation pass, which allows us to use the metro and busses with one card, making it very easy to get around the city.  After wondering the station looking for our friends, we ran into them, grabbed them a pass and off we went to catch the bus to get us to our hostel.  We got onto the 91-bus, which would take us directly to a bus stop a block from the hostel.  We were staying at Oops! Hostel in Paris.  We wanted to drop off our luggage, but it was too early to check in, plus we were waiting for the remaining two people staying in the room with us.  We sat in the lobby area, linked into Wi-Fi and started figuring out plans for the rest of the day.  The others had arrived at the station, and we told them the directions to arrive at the hostel; 45 minutes later they arrived.  We checked in, paid the balance for tonight, added a second night and paid for that as well, three of us paid for a key (returned when checking out and key is returned), took the elevator up to our room and unloaded our stuff.  Some of us needed to freshen up before going out.

         Eiffel tower was the plan for tonight!  Ahh, I couldn’t contain my excitement.  I’ve been dreaming about France since I was 14 and I couldn’t believe I was actually in Paris on my way to Eiffel tower.  It was recommended to us to take the metro, and to get off at the exit after the exit for the tower, the view would be better.  That person was correct.  We accidentally glanced out the window while on the way to the stop, and saw the tower!  We all gasped with excitement, with trouble containing ourselves.  Getting off at the stop, we would walk around the corner and could see the Eiffel tower in front of us, with the sun setting in the background, immediately the cameras started clicking, pictures constantly getting taken, and the masses of people around us, unbelievable!  Pictures don’t do the tower justice; I still can’t believe I saw it in person, life made!  We arrived and the tower was all lit up and glowing during the light show that occurs every hour.  As we walked down the stairs heading toward the tower, we passed many scalpers selling tower stuff for cheap.  Three of us went in on mini Eiffel towers, a memorable memento.  The tower is between a water fountain and beautiful park setting.  A picturesque scene.  

 
 

         Following the tower, we hopped back on the metro.  Mallory and our friend Jess, wanted to go to a bar crawl, so we went to the area where the crawl would take place.  We found a street filled with restaurants, including Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean, and Korean.   Since we all have such different food agendas, we picked Italian for dinner.  I shared pizza and pasta with Jess, she couldn’t decide what to order, and both interested me, so why not share?   After dinner, Jess and Mallory went to the bar crawl, and Luis, Lindsay, Shelby and I, headed down the street to a gelato shop (the same one we went to in Berlin).  This time I got frozen yogurt, still the shape of a rose, however the rose was much prettier in Berlin.  The yogurt was really yummy.  After dessert, we hopped on the metro and headed home. 

         It had been such a wonderful day.  Tomorrow we were planning to go on a tour of the city.  Paris is such a magical city! 

 Sunday, February 2:

         We got to sleep until 9:30am, which was lovely.  Got up, took a shower, got dressed and ready to go.  We had two options, a free walking tour of the city, which would take three and a half hours, or a two-hour bus tour, which you can hop on and off and explore each site and that costs 20 euros.  The group decided a free tour was better, and I guess I agreed, even though I was still in discomfort, I wanted to see all that Paris has to offer, including the history of the city.  We hopped on the metro and headed to the stop where we’d meet for the tour.  Got into the correct group for the tour, in English…Yes!  We were able to see all the major sites including, Notre Dame, the Latino quarter, Pont Neuf (the New Bridge), the lock bridge, the Louvre, and saw L’Arc de Triomphe Paris in the distance.  After the tour we walked to the Arc, which allowed us to walk through a lovely park and the rich shopping district of Paris, where we saw stores like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Mercedes Benz, Cartier, and many more.  

 

         

 We arrived at the arc, another beautiful site.  Walked completely around, looking at all the sides and then saw a line going into the arc.  It turned out it was free to walk up.  I wasn’t originally going to walk up, but everyone else wanted to, so I went with the group.  The sight at the top was magnificent, absolutely gorgeous, totally worth the trek up the stairs.  Snatched a few pictures before heading back down.  

It was time to go back to the Eiffel Tower!  We had to get some pictures during the day, and everyone wanted to walk up it!  We arrived still during daylight, as the sun was setting, gorgeous!  The Eiffel Tower is always beautiful no matter what.  The group walked up the 700 stairs and back down the 700 stairs, paying 4-euros each (7.50 for the elevator + a 2-hour wait).  I sat and waited for them, I was a gimp this weekend, and didn’t want to risk anything, nor complain the rest of the trip (more than I was already).  Half the crew said it was completely worth it and the others didn’t agree, saying the site to see is the tower and it cant be seen when at the top (well second tier).  The tower was under construction, repairing the first level.  

 

Following the Eiffel Tower, Luis wanted Mexican food for dinner, and our tour guide had suggested a place we should go to, so we wandered over to the area.  A few of our JWU girls met us at the restaurant.  The food was decent, but overpriced.  The menu wasn’t accurately labeled according to the prices and service again wasn’t the best.  After dinner, headed to the “gayborhood” to hit up a bar before the super bowl game.  However when we arrived to the neighborhood, there weren’t any real bars that weren’t all filled with gay men or were just empty.  Disappointing, we split up and Mallory, Jess and I went to a bar to watch the super bowl, the Moose Bar.  The cover charge was 20-euros, which included 2 drinks, a steep charge, but we accepted and entered.  The bar was packed.  We later found out that all of the tables were reserved and there would only be standing room available.  We arrived two-and-a-half hours before the game would begin.  This bar, which was Canadian, was filled with mostly Americans and a few French sprinkled through.  Jess randomly decided to leave, without any warning or notice, leaving the two of us.  We found standing/leaning room against the bar in the back of the place looking at one of the big screen TVs.  After the day I had, including all the walking, the fact that I strained a muscle in my leg and messed up my ankle, standing to watch a football game wasn’t interesting me in the least but convincing Mallory to go would take some work.  After about an hour, she caved, and we left, disgruntled that we paid so much and there wasn’t a place to sit.  We wandered around trying to figure out how to walk home, as the busses and metro had stopped running for the evening.  After about 15 minutes and going around the block and lost, I decided I’d pay for a cab.  The drive would be 5 minutes or less.  We found a cab, Mallory told him the address, and off we went.  Four minutes later, we arrived.  The total came to 6.80-euros.  So in all, the best money I spent all day.  Walking into the hostel, we were going to go up to our room, but I glanced over and what do you know?  The game is playing on the TV in the common room.  So we paid all that money, when we could have watched in for free in our sweats in the hostel.  We sat down, and enjoyed the halftime show, which began with The Band Perry and continued to Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Night complete! 

Monday, February 3:

         This morning was an early wake up, getting ready, pack up and check out, to catch the metro to go to the Louvre.  As students we get free admission, which is a wonderful perk.  I loved seeing the Mona Lisa, but the rest of the museum really wasn’t my kind of enjoyment.  The Louvre has beautiful architecture. After the Louvre, Mallory and I split up from the group, as our train leaves at a different time.  We stopped to eat lunch at the mall connected to the Louvre.  Following lunch we headed to a destination of Mallory’s, Pierre Herme’s Chocolate and Macaroon shoppe.  We each bought some very pricy but yummy chocolates and macaroons.  After the sweet stop, we traveled back to the hostel to pick up our luggage and head to the train station. 

     We arrived at the train station with an hour to spare.  Sat down and waited for the track to be listed.  Fifteen minutes before departure, the track was released; we boarded the train, took our seats and got comfy for the two-hour ride back.  I passed out, as did Mallory.   The end of the line was our stop, Lyon-Perrache.   We picked up our connecting train to take us to Firminy, an hour and fifteen minute ride.  From Firminy, we caught a bus that would take us to Retournac where the cab would pick us up and take us home. 

         We arrived at Retournac at 8pm, having been told that the taxis would be arriving at 9pm, however on the bus we received a message that it was changed to 10pm.  We had to sit at the station, which was closed due to the late hour.  We decided to grab some food at a local bar up the road.  We each ordered pizza, which took some time to arrive.  The food was yummy and the restaurant was warm as opposed to standing outside for two hours.  We paid the check, and headed back outside, it was almost 9:30 and the others would be showing up soon and the taxis.  The taxi came at 10pm, we loaded in, and drove back to our apartment. 

         A good weekend has come to an end!  I will be back to Paris before my 2 months is over!  A gorgeous city with so much to see! <3 <3 >3