Paris - day 1

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Trip Start Jun 24, 2008 Previous
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  Paris, Île-de-France, France
Thursday, July 3, 2008

Paris
 
Our plane was a 777 300, hadn't tried one before, very nice, and the business class seats were amazing. Would have loved to try those. Didn't get the exit row, but the row behind. The plane was very full. Had planned to stay awake for a few hours, but as it was after 11pm by the time we took off, I didn't succeed. Did get some sleep even though it didn't feel like it at the time. It was a long flight. Landed just before 7am. It took for ever to get through immigration, but we figured it was O.K as we wouldn't have to wait for the luggage. Wrong, luggage took even longer. By the time we had finally got our luggage and cleared customs the later was just a walk through, it was after 8am.
It was a little confusing to figure out where to go next. We wanted to take the train to Gare du Nord and then the metro to our hotel

Place Pigalle

.
1st we had to take the airport shuttle to the train station. They were well organised there with English speaking guides to help. They also suggested we buy a pass as we were going to be in Paris for several days. You can buy 1,2,3 or 5 day passes. We got a 3 day pass, but should probably have got 5 day one. The Metro was a little confusing, we had to change once, and there were a lot of stairs to negotiate with our luggage.
We found the hotel without too much trouble. They were very nice, but it was of course much too early for our room to be ready.
We wandered up to Place Pigalle for a much needed coffee. I had a lovely cup, but Peter had asked for milk with his. Apart from the fact that it was long life, he also got charged too much. After the coffee we walked to Sacre Caeur, as always there were lots of people around, it was still quite early so the artists were just setting up. There were some quite lovely works and lots of colour. We managed to walk down on the wrong side, which meant an other uphill walk. As we started down on the correct side, we saw the cable car, and found that our passes could be used there too. It was getting close to midday so we looked for a place for lunch, but before that we needed and ATM. Found one, it accepted by pin O.K. but didn't give me any money. A bit of a worry, so we went into the bank

Place Pigalle

. We tried in there too asking for a lesser amount. Again no money, so we asked the teller, he looked at what I did, I asked for even less money and this time it paid up. We were a little worried, so got the number of the branch and said we would check the account later. When I later check the account it turned out there were no money left. Peter had been drawing money in Singapore.
 
Found a nice little café for lunch, Peter had some club sandwiches and I had a lovely Goat cheese salad. Just as we were finishing a couple from Brisbane who we had chatted to at the airport walked by. It is a small world.
 
We were just around the corner from our hotel, and our room was ready. It's small but nice, on the 5th floor. We crashed for a couple of hours and then headed out on town again. Still finding the metro confusing, mainly because the different lines don't really join up. We went to the Arc de Triomphe and then walked down Camps Elysees. Lots of people and lots of sales. Many stores advertise 50% off. I must have a closer look.
On the Metro especially you do notice many Africans and Muslims.
 
We walked more than planned, I had brought the GPS this time, haven't got a Paris map on it, but using the tracking makes it easier to find your way back, and knowing which direction we are going in. I plan to upload the track to Goggle and see where we did walk.
We found a nice bistro for dinner near Gallery Lafayette. Well it's time for bed and to recharge the batteries for tomorrow.

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Place Pigalle	Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur
Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur
Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur
Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur
Sacre Caeur	Sacre Caeur	Paris Park	Arc de Triomphe
Champs Elysees	What a bargin	Champs Elysees	Keeping it clean
Sacre Coeur

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