Paris - 2 incredible nights!

P1010191, originally uploaded by davedavid86.

Magnifique! Excitement! It’s been two amazing and hectic days and nights in the most beautiful city in the world. Have been to Jardin du Luxembourg, Hotel des Invalides where Napoleon’s tomb can be found, Petit and Grand Palais, Place de la Concorde, Jardin Tuilleres, the Pantheon which is right around the corner from my hostel in the Latin quarter – the coolest and cheapest place in Paris – the Eiffel Tower 4 times in the last 48 hours (first just to see it for the first time, second to see it for the first time at night, third to see it from the top, fourth to watch the rugby on the Champ du Mars that lies below it, gutted for Les Bleus coz was hoping to see what the Champs Elysees would be like if France won a major tournament like this or the 1998 football World Cup), rushed to the Louvre on Friday night when I heard it was free for youths.

By the way France is the best country for youths, just show you’re under 26 and you get to see the museums and monuments for half the price and also have found some amazing train fares with the 12-25 card – haven’t had to use my Eurail card yet but will probably start it after Barcelona.

I think I may have missed out a few more but there’s been plenty to talk about. Paris is such a different city from London. I could even say in abstract terms that if London was akin to Singapore, Paris would be akin to some place like Kuala Lumpur. While Paris is still a v safe city, but you do get the feeling there is a bit more room for freedom of self expression and to do what you want to do. On the Metro one night, had this guy come in to play the accordion – I mean you wouldn’t get that in London. By the way, the Metro like the Tube has kinda been my saviour as my mode of transport – couldn’t get anywhere without it as Paris is pretty huge, me and my hostelmate from England took over an hour to get from the Eiffel Tower back to our hostel via the River Seine, the tunnel where Princess Diana died, Invalides, Saint-Germain, Luxembourg, Pantheon as part of the celebratory walk and his way of not having to pay another dime for the Metro!

Paris has seen 3 more highlights of my European tour. The first I would have to say in a close fight with the second best highlight would be seeing Mona Lisa. I’ve seen Mona Lisa several thousand times but it still amazes you what a remarkable work of art and even piece of science it was even today. I’ve never seen a painting that could actually look so real yet be so beautiful. Obviously several other million people agree. I think it also came coz I hadn’t planned on going to the Louvre until Saturday as I thought it would take the whole day, until I heard it was free after 6 pm on Friday, rushed to Place Monge station to catch the metro to the Louvre, show I was under 26 and quickly find Mona Lisa. When I found it, it was elation I tell you.

2nd, Seeing Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower. I think the total waiting time really made it worthwile coz I probably won’t do it again. That time FYI was nearly an hour to line up for tickets to catch the elevators, waiting to catch the elevators up and down. The views are obviously sensational. So was this girl I met up there. I thought she was Parisian but she was actually a Londoner living in Paris as you’ll see in the other photo.

3rd the rugby. Anyway gotta go coz got only 2 mins left on the comp. Heading to Versailles today. Tomorrow off to Normandy. Back in Paris next weekend for the World Cup final then off to Barca the next day. Talk more later! Au revoir!