Monday, May 5, 2008
PARIS
Well me have made it to Paris safely. However at a great cost. To make a long story short. I paid to have an extra suit
case when I booked my tickets on line. What I did not understand, because it is writen poorly is that, you can have and
extra suit case(for a fee) But it does not allow you to bring extra weight????? Then why did I pay this? So our third suit
case cost about 283 US Dollars to bring with us. 1oo.oo more than our tickets. In hind sight I should have rearranged my
luggage and throw clothes out. I would have been cheaper.
Once in Pais we some how bypassed customs. Dont know how but we just walked and claimed out luggage. We took the
Roisey bus to the Opera and then a cab to the apartment. The hallway was SCARY. like hotel carter Scary. But the flat
is self is nice and clean.
We walked around the Garden du tuileries, chris had ice cream. Stopped at a market to buy an eclair and some
breakfast/lunch supplies.
Dinner was at a nice little cafe. Food is VERY expensive here a coke is 4.50€ so 7.50 US dollars. Water is about 50
cents less. WE will be eating in a lot here.
Ok it is Monday morning and we need to get moving to head out.
Oh yeah and the first 2 days of picture took like 40 sec to updload on the web site. you can now enlarge them if you like
PARIS DAY#2
What a fast day. Paris is a beautiful city, and from what we have seen so far very clean. In the Metro there is not a
scrape of garbage. At least at this time of year there is no smell either.
The Day started with us catching the metro to the Picasso museum. We were there for a little over an hour. It was very
interesting, I did not know that he worked in many different mediums. We then walked back toward the river and crossed
on to the Isle St Luis.
We found the cheapest café we could find. We had 2 “chez beregers” and a glass of wine a piece. Only 31€. We then
crossed onto another island and the went through Notre Dame. It was a very interesting church put was over shadowed
by the Vatican.
Next we traveled via metro to the Luvre. We managed to hit most of the major Items I wanted to see. We spent a little
over 2 hours and we really only covered one wing. After trying to find the exit for some time we headed home. We
rested for about an hour and a half.
We then headed to the efiel tower. We took the metro again to help save on some of the walking. The line for tickets
was not too long and moved quickly. We then traveled up the tower by elevator.
After coming down we sat in the park in front of the tower. We waited for the light show to start at 9pm. I guess it was
not dark enough yet because nothing happened. The first show must be a 10.
We left and took the metro toward the flat.
We had vine, chips and ham and cheese baguette.
Paris day #3
Oh my aching feet. We walked quite a bit today. Some of the metro stations are lager than airport terminals. We
hoped the metro in the morning and headed to the land of the dead at the Paris catacombs. We walked down a very
narrow spiral stair case made of stone. 186 steps down. We walked in dimly lit under ground passage ways until we
encountered the land to the dead. Millions of bones pilled high. It was very interesting. We then had to climb only 86
steps out of the crypt. At the top of the winding stairs was the only defibulator I say in Europe.
Next we had a 17€ lunch at chez McDonalds. Then we took a very long metro ride to the Arc De Triomph, Then we
waked down the entire Champ-Elysees. We stopped in a few shops along the way. We had some chocolate and
banana crepes. Once at the bottom we crossed the river and Headed to Les Invalides. This complex is still a working
veterans hospital as well as any army museum and holds Napoleon’s Tomb. The tomb was actually very interesting and
best of all it was cool inside. The weather has continued to be in the mid 80s and sunny.
Right down the street was the Rodin museum. We toured only the garden area which was in full bloom, and saw the
major sculptures like the thinker and the gates of hell.
It was no about 4pm, so we hoped on metro for the last time and Hit the Orsay Museum. We concentrated on, Van
Gogh, Monet and Whistler. We then walked back to the apartment. Rested for about 45 and headed out to see where
we needed to go in the AM to catch the bus to the airport. We also need toilet paper, we had been surging for, for
quite a while.
Found the bus stop in 10 min. no stores with TP though. Madonna was in town and we ran into the crowds out side
where she was performing. Finally found the TP but they did not give us a bag. So we had to go back to the apartment
to but it away. Chris had to use it right away only to find out that it was paper towels and not TP.
We headed out and found a store that had the real deal. They were open late so we went to eat first. I was tired and
my feet hurt so we picked the first place that looked good. Believe it or not we had one of out best and cheapest meals
directly across from the louvre.
We had Vine, and amazing French onion soup. We split an order of escargots( in the shell), quiche lorrain, club sand
which, a side of fries. For dessert Chris had some chocolate lady finger thingy. All this was only 41€!!!!
We picked up our TP and headed home. We packed and of to bed.
WED AM
Up at 5am Paris time.
Roissey bus to Charles deGaul Airport.
Flight to Newark. And here I sit waiting for my fight to Buffalo.
I consider this trip Over L