Maybe it's because I'm groggy and tired (and a bit lonely :( ), but Paris has been incredibly stressful. So I took a 5:25am Eurostar train under the English Channel from London to Paris (Eurostar is soooo fast!) and then bought my EuroRail passes for our future trips to Italy/Switzerland/southern France, which was nice to get out of the way.
After that, I dropped off my bags at a nice hostel, where I am now taking a break, and proceeded to the metro (back at the train station - Gare du Nord), which is crazy and full of locals, which makes you feel like an idiot for not knowing what they're saying. And the metro is wicked expensive too. Worst, just as I am getting off the metro at the Cité stop, I suddenly crash right into a big guy, bashing my head for the second day in a row. Wow...I like to think that I am not oblivious, but this was just plain dumb. Though it's not like I had much time...literally jump off the train and WHAM!
Once I got my day going, it got slightly better, but I was still groggy and grumpy when I went to Cathedral Notre-Dame, which would have been better if I sucked up the money to take a tour. I did, however, spend money on going to Saint-Chapelle church (beautiful, enormous stained-glass windows but half of them were blocked off due to refurbishing...boo) and the Conciergerie (old prison where Marie Antionette lived and now is buried).
However, I made a stupid move - I left most of my euros back at the hostel thinking I wouldn't need them. But turns out because of the expensive metro and fares for Saint-Chapelle/Conciergerie, I had to go back to get more.
But of course on the way back, the metro broke down and we all had to unload the train about 1/3 of the way back up to Montmartre (where my hostel is) - leaving me with 2 or so miles to walk - making me realize my new Converse purchases are not so comfy after all.
So now I'm back, and it is pouring rain, so a break is good. Have to save some energy for later, as I plan to see the Pantheon (in the Latin Quarter), Eiffel Tower, and Les Invalides.
This day probably would have been better if I didn't have jet lag, so I won't write off Paris yet. Though I am excited to get out of the city and into the countryside...
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I loved Paris. However, I was there for 3 days and didn't rush. I spent alot of time at sidewalk cafes enjoying cheese and wine while I people watched which probably what made it more enjoyable. One day we did the red doubledecker buses where you hop on and off at all the major sites. I ran into a coworker from SPX at the Notre Dame Cathedral. He was an American who had been transferred to our German office. He had no idea I was on vacation the same time that he was. Small world.
ReplyDeleteCramming it all in one day is probably stressful. I like to wander and meander and stumble on to things when I'm in a big city (not stumble into people like you).
Jet lag is a killer.
Janel
Don't worry! It'll get better!! We'll have fun at dinner tonight!
ReplyDeleteJanel - no worries, I have two days, not one. Haha makes a world of difference...okay maybe not. But that's what I have so I will take advantage of it. I did some people watching today too! They all seem to be speaking a different language...hmmm...
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