Living It Up in Paris

Trip Start Jul 27, 2007
1
12
31
Trip End Oct 22, 2007


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of France  ,
Thursday, August 30, 2007

I arrived into Paris early Tuesday morning and found in the 9 years since I last flew into Paris that somethings hadn't changed, the airport was still a mess and as confusing as all hell. I finally got out of the airport and negotiated my way to the train station. After taking two trains I found my way to Pere LaChaise cemetery which was just around the corner from the hotel I was sharing. After walking around for a few hours I was starting to get nervous but after checking my email I found the address of the apartment and headed there to wait for my traveling companions. They came back around lunchtime and my nerves calmed. My traveling team for the first leg of the French trip were Simon and Heather (my friends from Fernie) and Eileen and Ken (Simon's mother and partner). We spent our first afternoon together in Paris climbing to the top of Montmarte. The walk started at the Moulin Rouge and finished at the cathedral (Scared Heart) on the top of Montmarte. That evening we had dinner in the Latin Quarter of Paris and headed over to the Eiffel tower to see it all lit up and then a river cruise down to the other end of Paris (closer to where we were staying).I was starting to fall asleep on the river cruise as I hadn't slept in 30 hours At Montmarte
At Montmarte
 .
My first full day in Paris started with a tour of the catacombs in the south of the city. I have never seen so many skulls and bones in one place. The trek through the catacombs was over 2km but I found it quite interesting and a little macabre.  We then caught the train over to Notre Dame and walked through the large cathedral. The stained glass windows  are quite amazing and I recommend any visitor to Paris to check it out.
We then went pass the Rodin musuem and Napolian's tomb. Rodin was the bloke who carved the Thinker statue that now sits in the garden at the musuem. I have several photos in that position around France and have made it abit of a theme for this part of the trip.
Simon then led us to a spot to grab a late lunch after standing there for a few minutes I realised that we must have stumbled into the ghetto part of town and was a little relieved when I noticed the cop car across the street from bakery we were in. We quickly got out of there and headed back over toward our apartment. We went for a wander around  Pere LaChaise cemetery to see a few of the more famous  people buried here which included Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison. Also at this time my camera decided to die on me so I have no photos after this (trying to rectify this soon).
After dinner Ken, Eileen and I headed to the Moulin Rouge to catch the show In the Catacombs under Paris
In the Catacombs under Paris
 . If you come to Paris and want to see the show then your best bet is to book tickets at the actual Moulin Rouge a day or so in advance (if possible). The show was quite good and I reckon you should check it out.
Thursday was our last day in Paris before we drove south towards Montpellier.  Simon, Heather and I went for a walk from the apartment down to the Bastille area and wandered through the markets. We caught the train back to the apartment and cleaned up the apartment and packed our bags. Once organised we caught a series of trains over to Orly airport and picked up our rental car. We then head off into the unknown once again and I was given the map.

Hear from you all soon

Mick
Slideshow Print this entry Paris hotels