Paris
Trip Start
Jun 09, 2008
1
19
Trip End
Jul 04, 2008
Paris,
Île-de-France,
France
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The flight from Nagoya, my home town, to Paris was pretty long, and so Dubai worked like an oasis in the desert, thanks to Emirates Airline. Dubai airport was open 24/7, so a lot of travelers were taking a nap on the floor of the hall
The Arch of Triumph
. I walked around the airport to get information for Dubai, because I had a plan to stop over there on my way back to Japan. Unfortunately, I found only a simple map of U.A.E. in a pamphlet, but no brochures, no city maps and, of course, no tourist information. However I didn't care, because the next time I visit Dubai was about one month later. Anyway, the topic is Paris. At the airport, I found you were able to buy even a train ticket by credit card! I had some euros, which I bought at Nagoya Airport, but I used a credit card for the experience. Taking it into account that Paris is one the most developed cities in Europe, it may have been nothing, but a small surprise for me. On my way to the city center, a friendly French lady told me how to get to the station which was close to my hostel, even though I didn't ask her. But just the little kindness made me happy enough. Paris is an international city, where a few different races are mixed up and I didn't get much less strange stares for Asians than in other European cities. But it was apparent that I was a tourist with a large backpack. The guitarist, all of a sudden, started playing on the train and, like it or not, all the passengers in the cart had to listen to his music. I don't know whether it is commonplance in France, but I was tired and didn't feel like listening. However, the lady gave him a few coins and it was also impressing
The Eiffel Tower
. I chose one of the cheapest hostels in the city, Aloha Hostel, costing 23 EUR (37 USD) per night, and it was just OK. It was within walking distance from the closest subway station. Unfortunately, they didn't accept any credit cards and as always, on TV in the lounge was succor! I stayed in a mixed dorm where I met Anna, a girl from a Colombia. So I tried a few Spanish words I knew to her and made myself understood. It made me a little bit happy again. In Paris, until nine in the evening, it was light outside. So, although I arrived at my hostel around three, I had plenty of time to go sightseeing.
My first destination was the Eiffel Tower. I have seen some high towers around the world, but I don't like going up them, because it is not necessarily possible to get a good panorama. A lot of countries are eager to build the highest tower in the world and so the world record of the highest tower is always changing. At least, however, at the time of the World Expo of Paris, the Eiffel Tower was the highest of the world. At a glance, I liked its brown color. The shape of the tower was similar to Tokyo Tower, but the color was somehow more attractive. So I made up my mind to go up. There were two options: elevators and stairs. I instantly decided to take stairs after I saw a long waiting line to take elevators. The entrance fee was 4 euros. While I was waiting to get a entrance ticket, a Bulgarian asked me why there were a lot of guards around the tower and then I realized them and the precaution for a terrorist attack. Needless to say, I have got a whole view of Paris up there, but the view of the bottom of the tower was also interesting, which was possible to get because of its shape of the tower.
Next, I visited the Arch of Triumph
The Eiffel Tower
. It took me 30 mins to get there on foot from the Eiffel Tower. There were a ceremorny held under the arch with an limited access and visiters waiting for it to finish. I was a little bit irritated, because the big cheeses of the ceremony ligered for a long time even after the ceremony. (I didn't know the aim of the ceremony at that time, but it may be a cermony for D-Day.)The appearance of the arch from a distance was grand, but you may not realize the beautiful inscripts inside of the arch from common pictures in guidebooks, although I couldn't read the inscripts at all.
I didn't know what time it was at the moment, but it was still light outside. So I walked along the Champs Elysees to Place de la Concord. I didn't know why the road was so popular. I just got tired. When I reached my hostel, it was half past nine, the time to go to bed.
In the next morning, after free breakfast of the hostel, I visited Notre Dame Cathedral. I had a chance to go up the tower, but the entracne was not open yet. So I gave it up and departed for Versailles. Versailles was very close to Paris, taking only half an hour by train, but you have to walk for 15 mins to the palace. In addition, you will find a long, long waiting line to get an entry ticket, which proceed very quick, though
Nortre Dame Cathedral
. If you visit its huge garden, you have to walk very much, or to pay some euros to take a park train. Of course, the palace and garden were gorgeous, but in contrast, Marie Anotoinette village was quiet and relaxing. Those who live a lavish life may sometimes feel like staying in a cozy countryside. Anyway, I fully understood why Louis XI and Marrie Antoinette were beheaded. I spent almost one full day there in the vast palace. Because the day was Wednesday, I headed for the Luvre Museum, although I was tired with a long walk in Versailles. You can enter the famous museum for six euros, which means three euro discount on Wednesdays and Fridays. To tell you the truth, I don't like museums and it is unusual to visit them, because everything in the museums were collected from somewhere else and out of place. For example, I saw sphinx from Egypt in the Luvre. If I had seen it near Pyramid in Egypt, it had been worth seeing, but how come I saw it in Paris? Still the Luvre is one of the best museums with some great arts like Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Eventually, I spent a couple of hours there and I supposed it was enough for me.
