GreenMan Rantings from a guy named Devon

10 Day Trip: France (3/3)

We arrived at the Paris Airport around 7 pm (October 9). After an hour and a half of miss compunction and bad english/french, we got directions on how to use the RER, and where the RER left from. Once we figured that out, we found the way to the metro station we needed. From the metro station to the hotel was easy. Notice I said hotel, not hostel. We knew that at the end of our trip we would want to stay somewhere a little better, so we stayed in a budget hotel (30€/person a night). Also, a classmate (and her boyfriend) of Briana and I joined us for the last two nights in our hotel room. So splitting the room 5 way for two nights helped us save money (a total of 85€/person for the three nights).

After freshening up (like we do every time) at the hotel, we went out to look around. We found a bank and got some money out and then got street food. It was late and we had a long day so we headed back to the hotel to make plans for tomorrow and bed. We decided in the morning (October 10) we would get up at a late decent time and spend the day at Versailles. We needed the rest. We got ready and went to the complimentary hotel breakfast. It was a good french breakfast: baguette, fruit cocktail, cheese, hot chocolate/coffee, jam, and meat.

We got on the RER to Versailles at 10:30 am. Just to let your know, being in landscape architecture, Versailles is one of the most studied and looked at works in our field. It is like landscape mecca. Briana and I were like giddy school girls, literally. I had been in the palace when I came with my mom when I was 16, and to save money, we decided to just go to the free gardens. We spent hours in the gardens. From 11 am to about 4 pm, we just zig-zagged all around. For lunch we spent a bit more the usual (10€) and had lunch at one of the cafes on the "Grand Canal." One of the best pizzas I have very had. At the end of the day we got back on the RER and headed back to the hotel. One the entry walls at the hotel, they had information about the museums. We discovered that, to our good fortune, the Louver was free for people under 26 on friday nights from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Being around 5 pm, we decided to go get dinner. We wanted a simple french dinner: bread, cheese, wine, meat. We went walking around the hotel and came across a small wine store. We looked around and got a 5€ rose wine. We walked out of the store and next door happen to be a bread store. We got a large wheat bread loaf for only 2€. We walked out joking how nice it would be if cheese place would be next door, our jaws drooped as we saw the "Fromage" sign above the next store. After getting the cheese we just knew meat would be next door. Sure enough our meal was complete. We went back to the hotel and had our terrific french dinner all from one street. It is the simple things that make trips so rememberable.

We left for the Louver Museum at 7 pm. Oh, I forgot to tell you our hotel was in central paris. It was only a 5 minute walk down one street to Notre Dame, and a 10 minute walk to the Louver Museum. The metro was just down the street which took us to the Eiffel Tower and Arch De Triumph. Anyways, after we got to the Louver we just walked down and right into the expositions, no lines. It was amazing. All we had to show is our drivers license and we just got in free. To make sure we had time, we walked directly to the Mona Lisa, then to the Venus de Milo. No lines, we even had time to take pictures with them. It was such a good tip to know about, and we saw it all for free! After the Louver, we went back to the hotel and prepared for tomorrow.

In the morning (October 11), we had the hotel breakfast again, and headed out on a personal city tour. We first walked down the street to Notre Dame. We wanted to hit all the major tourist places today, so we budgeted our time at each place. We knew that we did not have to to wait in line for two hours to go up/inside. Still, staying outside and imagining all the history that the place has seen is powerful enough. One the way to the Pompidou Center we passed other churches and visited the insides of them. They were not as touristy, but from the same era as Notre Dame.

Once we arrived at the Pompidou Center we walked around the massive "pipe building." From the hotel we knew we could go up to the top floor and have a 360 degree view of paris. But, we forgot that is after 2 pm. Before 2 pm you need reservations. Instead of waiting, we decided to get some more bread, cheese, wine, and meat and have a picnic on the lawn of the Eiffel tower. After getting the groceries, we jumped on the metro and sped to the Eiffel tower.

The Eiffel tower is a ture spectacle. Thousands of people were under it, most waiting in line. We walked to a small spot on a grass field, with a few other people, and had our fantastic lunch with Paris' most iconic building in our background. It was a perfect lunch; no describing the feeling of euphoria. It was bitter for us to realize this was our last night in Paris. We tried to soak up as much of the moment as we could. After staying at the tower for an hour or so, we jumped on the metro again.

We ended up at the Arc de Triomphe. For those that don't know, the Arc de Triomphe is at the center (on an island) of an intersection of 12 roads. The roads come together and make a circle around the Arc de Triomphe island. It is trully amazing to watch the cars swirl around the Arc de Triomphe in a mad frenzy. In paris they do not have painted lane lines so all the cars are in a "free for all." Somehow people make around 4 "lanes," but not everyone follows. It truly is hypnotic to watch. You just know someone is going to get in a reck. But, they didn't.

After the Arc de Triomphe, we headed back to the hotel and got ready to go clubbing. I forgot to mention, Brent now got the traveling bug. It seams that when traveling over seas people get suck after about 5 days. Just a small cold. Must be the lowered immune system from the stress of traveling (That information becomes important in a few). We went walking around Le Marais area. I was trying to find a spasific bar for us all to go to, but I got lost. Briana went into a hotel in the area to ask for directions. After a few minutes I went in because it was taking a long time. I walked in and after a bit of conversation he said my favorite quote from my travels, "This is Paris, you got to tell me what you want." That sums up my travel to Paris. We gave us a few club recommendations. His name was Godfrey, he was very sweet. He was about our age and worked the night shift; it was about 11 pm and he was there until 7 am. He told me I could come back and ask anything if I needed. His recommendations were funny, "You will all have fun at this club," "They [Briana & Brent] will have fun at this club," "You [Devon] will have fun at this club."

We all went to the club where we all would have fun. Brent was not feeling well and Briana was getting tried, so they headed back to the hotel (told you to remember about the travel bug). I stopped back into the hotel for more recommendations. He gave me a some good ones. I told him my cell phone was dyeing and what would happen if i got lost. He said that if I could not find my way back to my hotel to come to this hotel (gave me his business card) and he would call Briana for me. He was like a guardian angle, my Paris guardian angle. Anyways, I went out until 4 am and found my way back to my hotel, all on my own (confidence builder!).

In the morning (October 12), we checked out of our hotel and put out luggage into the luggage storage. Our train back to Germany was in the afternoon. A little background. Briana works for a company that puts on international conferences and it just so happen that the recent conference was in Paris tomorrow, so she was going to stay in Paris and come back after her conference. I was to take Brent to my dorm for one night and then take him to the airport. Well, that morning we noticed that the train was another Thalys train. After breakfast we went to the train station to get reservations. We got on the metro and headed to the north train station. This is when, pardon my french, when the escargot hit the fan. The train was full and they did not have another direct train until Wednesday (October 14). We asked about indirect trains. They had one available in the morning (October 13). Only problem now is we needed a place to stay tonight. Briana's work for the conference had rooms booked in a hotel, so she called and asked her boss for a favor. He agreed to put us up in one of the empty rooms for free (they were already paid for, someone might as well sleep in it; his words). So we got the tickets for the train on the 13th at 6 am (would have been 140€/person).

We left the train station and headed to the old hotel to get our luggage, then to the new hotel. The new hotel was on the edge of Paris on the other side as our old hotel. We took the metro, came above ground, and our jaws dropped as we saw the 33 story largest hotels in Paris tower above us, Hotel Concorde La Fayette. We got checked in and Brent and I went to our room on the 17th floor. We walked in dropped our bags and fell onto the air fluffed beds. It was slightly dark so I got up and walked over to the window and ripped open the drapes to be met by an amazing view over paris and the Eiffel Tower staring me right in the face! Out last night in Paris was in a free 200€ room that looked over Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Wow. Paris is the most romantic city in the world. Also, for the first time, our hotel room had a bidet. I know it is a silly thing to be excited about, but hey, I'm in France!

To make the most of our fortunate events, we got dressed in our nicest, clean, clothing. We went for a simple dinner around the hotel. We then went to the panoramic view bar at the top of the hotel on the 33rd floor. It was breathtaking--Paris at night and the Eiffel tower lit up in all its splendor. We all ordered drinks (for 9€ each) and sat and watched the city. The Eiffel tower even twinkled for us (I filmed a movie I will put up later). After our drinks we went down to our rooms and to bed. Brent and I got up at 5 am (October 13), got on the metro, got to the train station, and on our train to Germany.

Brent then stayed at my dorm for the night and the next day (October 14), we got up and I took him to Cologne HBF so he could get onto his train to the Frankfort Airport. Over all, even with a few wrenches in our plans, our 10 day trip was, in a word, sensational!

Just a small additional note, I spent 550€ ($740) on the 10 day trip. That is including just the 5 days I used on my Eurail Pass, food, hotel/hostels, and a few souvenirs (thats just 365€ on food and hostels/hotels). Way under my budget of $1000.