Tu Es Partout
Trip Start
May 08, 2006
1
77
108
Trip End
Mar 07, 2007
Paris,
France
Saturday, November 18, 2006
I got the train to Pari. Fiona (from Sapa, Vietnam) met me at the train station. The kindness of the french. She and her family let me stay at their house in the suburbs 20 minutes by metro into the heart of the city.
The first day in Paris, Fiona and I hit the sights. Saw the arch of triumph, the eiffel tower at night. Then we had a few beers. They went down like water. Almost every night but one i had a few beers. The beer I liked the most was a belgian beer called "Blanche", Blanche actually means Feminine. Trust me to like it. They often put a lemon with it. I like beer with lemon a lot.
Next couple of days were spent with Fiona spoiling me, guiding me around the city, taking me to the Montmarie area where the Moulin Rouge is
a. arch of triumph
. Its a big sex area. I was keen to go to the place across the road with all the neon lights called the sexodrome. But I couldn't get rid of Fiona to go there!We went and saw a Paris photographers exhibiton who had taken a lot of pictures in the 40 s and 50s and had funny pictures of people looking in a store at a naked painting. It was free and one of the highlights of my visit to Paris actually. Dosineau was his name i think.
Fiona helped me get a cheap warm jacket. Its like an army jacket. Its really wqrm and since i have to travel light and its cold. Expect to see me in it every photo.
I became lazy in Paris. Picked up Fionas bad habits. Every night almost I would go and meet another one of her friends and have a few drinks; (there is a beer called maens pills over here - dont know if it is the same as Pills at home but i like it). Everyday wed both wake up around mid day, make it to the city in the arvo; it gets dark at 4:30, then the rest would become night seeing. It was great.
b. Eiffell tower sparkling
One day we headed to a big cemeterary with Fionas friend Jade. Whenever i said Jades name she didnt understand me because the french dont say jade they say juadee. We went to this place because it contained celebrities including Jim Morrison (The doors). Another tick of my list of must do things on the trip.
One day i headed out on my own to go up the eiffell tower and see the louvre. Thanks to Fiona spoiling me I had no idea how to get around her town to the station or to use the metro which was is the most complicated in the world. I got to the tower at 2 30 in the arvo. There was a long queue but not for the stairs. I took the stairs. And got to first level. I got a lift to the second. Then to get to the third you have to pay another 3 euros and wait in line for an elevator. I tried to do the dodgy and wait in line and sneak through. I was made to go buy a ticket and was allowed to cut back in. Somehow time flew by and by the time i got the louvre it was 5 30. I rang fiona and told her i would meet her at the metro with the fountain later on. I did the louvre in less than 2 hours. There was no Queue like in Eurotrip and it was also cheaper because i went in the arvo. I saw Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo and skimmed through the rest. Im so over musuems and paintings I didnt care too much. They are all the same thing. Jesus and Madonna, Jesus back from the dead. A battle, a king, a Queen, a fat naked lady.
I bought posters in Paris, 2 for about 10 bucks. We also went and so Borat one night. It was hillarous. It was in english with french subtitles. It sucked though when Borat talked in Kazakstani because it subtitled it in french instead of english and i missed bits
c. The eiffel tower at night
. They got ruined so i bought them again the next day. It was the principle of the matter.I had bought a sewing kit previoulsy, in order to fix my jeans. I spent around 2 hours trying to sew the hole and got about 1cm done. Fiona did it brilliantly in about 5 min without any previous sewing experience. I think it must be that men just cant use a needle and friend. This is bad as I have to sew my bag right now and am having great difficulties.
I of course went to Mcdonalds in Paris. My god they have good Mcflurries. They have Kit kat caramel ball Mcflurries and they also have a Mclflurry called a Daim Mcflurry which was like caramel and choc bits. You go up and sqy "Bonjour, Can i have a dam mcflurry!! Ce vu plea" Then whisper Tu es partout for extra chocolate. See below...
Fionas family were so friendly. I didnt know or tell them how long I was staying. They never asked when I was leaving. Her mum is Irish and her Dad is french, but sort of Algerian. Her dad made me a home made champagne sort of stuff. He was great, always winking at me whenever he saw me, would always talk about what a good goald scorer he was in soccer. I love parents like that
d. Notredam Cathedral
. Fionas mum babied me. Made me weak. Her brother Neil i didnt know until the last day spoke perfect English with an English accent. When sleeping i slept on a fold out couch thing in fionas room. It was comfortable, great youd think. The only problem was being in fionas room. She talked French in her sleep. That wouldnt be so bad, but she whispered french so it was scary. On a lighter noteI watched resouviour dogs for the first time. Good movie. Also fiona had really bad breath, I had to keep giving her tic tacs. Just stiring you fiona.
The last night was the big night and I stayed an extra day just for this night. Pretty much all of fionas friends i had met where going to a band thing near the moulin rouge. The Nth Ireland Jersey was worn for the occasion. We drunk some stella in the pub. Went into the place where the band was playing. They werent starting for an hour and drinks were expensive, so we went to buy some drinks for 1 euro from the supermarket. I bought some Heinekens and a 8 percent Red Bavaria. It was then i learnt the French way. Young French people have to buy from the supermarket and drink in the street because drinks are too expenisive in the pub. There were lots of people, including homeless, drinking in this street park thing. We went back to this place. There was a huge line. One hour wait. We got to the front and werent let in because they saw our rodies. Or maybe they didnt like Nth Ireland!!
So we, what was left Me, Fiona, Mike (prounounced Mic) and a beautiful french girl called julie headed on the metro to a different pub. They also saw my Nth Ireland top and our rodies and didnt let us in
e. Fiona Learning the jumpshot
. So we went to the Bob Marley dance place next door. The metro in Paris is like the crap rail system in Sydney. Trains stop at 1. So we waited for the metro to start at 6. Got the train back to Fionas. Unfortunatley there are no pīcs of this night because it was a big night out and was not safe to bring my big arsed camera. I slept for a few hours and then said my goodbyes. Got a lift to the station by her mum. Was a sad day.
I tried to get a tourist working visa for britain. But it is 4 weeks processing time so i cant. So now im stuffed. Please help me Shelly and Rae of England or Choc Chip.
I had a blast in Paris. Didnt want to leave actually. If i knew what would happen next i would have stayed longer. I felt like I was taking a break from travelling. Fiona and her fam spoiled me so bad it was a shock to the system travelling again. I dont know my way around paris at all because I was so spoiled. I felt like I became really good friends with Fiona and it sucks that when I eventually make it home I will have a few really good friends that wont be there.
Anyway, I got the metro the the big station and left for Normandy in my military jacket.
P.S.
Tu Es Partout - means in french "you are everything". I cant pronounce it; but its an old song by edith piaf which was in the movie Saving Private Ryan; and i have on my MP3 player: Fiona taught me the name.
Also Fiona became obsessed with the song, Gay Bar. It is her favourite song. She also believes there is such a measurement of water as a centilitre. Maybe in France!!
