Paris Trip Day 13

Leave a comment July 12, 2015 Elsa Fridl

The Eiffel Tower is viewed by the world-over as a symbol of France. I have come to view it as also a catalyst for joy.

Sunday. I walked along the Seine River after taking the #30 bus to Trocedero again. I soaked up the energy near the Eiffel Tower and had a take-away sandwich. I love watching people in their excitement being at the Eiffel Tower: they all have such joy on their faces. There are now large stones in front of E.T. that people can stand on and take selfies (what a word!) or regular pictures. I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower again. (!) It never gets boring. It is so awe-inspiring. The views are so gorgeous.

An aerial view of the City of Paris as seen from the Eiffel Tower.

After the Eiffel Tower, I started my journey to the slip of my dinner cruise. I looked and looked and looked and didn’t see what the gentleman from Le Capitaine Fracasse spoke of, a part jutting out from the Seine River, meaning their slip. A French couple saw my distress and offered to help me find the slip. We found it in plenty of time and I waited in line. I struck up a conversation with an American couple. They were here on business and decided to take some vacation time to see Paris. One thing I’ve noticed: Paris brings out the joy in people, because the tourists I speak to all seem to be in great moods, even serene. The line started to get lonnngggggggg; glad I got there early. When I was asked where I wanted to sit I said that I wanted to sit near a window, and I was told it would be an extra 10 euros for a better view. I said no thanks, as I reflected on Rick Steves’ description of the dinner cruise in which he said to “get there early for good seating;” there was no mention of paying more for a good seat. Then I was seated by myself in full view of a rowdy party, and patrons were using my table as a shortcut to get to their table. I nearly left. After all, a dinner cruise isn’t just about the food: the atmosphere is part of what you pay for. First I moved my table next to the table next to me, and a server smiled in recognition of how I was keeping patrons from brushing past me. (Since he saw my distress, why didn’t he seat me somewhere else?) Then I asked if I could sit farther in the back since there was so much space available. (The ship was at most half-full.) I sat next to a French couple who didn’t take their eyes off of each other. I could not believe that this petite woman ate EVERYTHING presented to her, as thin as she was. She ate basically what I did: a tray of 3 appetizers, (including Foie des Grais, which I didn’t eat), fish with potatoes in a light sauce, a tray of 3 desserts, including a puff pastry that was out of this world, and wine and espresso. Culinary heaven.

A Capitaine Fracasse dinner cruise is an elegant way to experience the views along the Seine River.

A dinner cruise is an elegant way to experience the views along the Seine River.

When I disembarked and started to walk, I felt so alive! I happened to exclaim to no one in particular what a beautiful night it was. The response of a French couple who got off the same dinner cruise: “Of course, you’re in Paris!”

I got back to the hostel and found I had a new roommate. I floated off to sleep.

Salut.

Paris Trip Day 12

Leave a comment July 11, 2015 Elsa Fridl

The Eiffel Tower seen from the Seine River.
Newlyweds near the Eiffel Tower. I saw many couples like this one during my month in Paris.
A Christmas decoration outside the Galeries Lafayette.
A breathtaking view of Christmas decorations inside the Galeries Lafayette.
The Arc de Triomphe.
Retired French soldiers (mostly!) near the Arc de Triomphe.
The energy of Paris at night is something to experience.

The Eiffel Tower seen from the Seine River.

Newlyweds near the Eiffel Tower. I saw many couples like this one during my month in Paris.

A Christmas decoration outside the Galeries Lafayette.

A breathtaking view of Christmas decorations inside the Galeries Lafayette.

Retired French soldiers (mostly!) near the Arc de Triomphe.

The energy of Paris at night is something to experience. This was taken on the Champs-Elysees.

Saturday. What is it about Paris in winter that makes me so lazy in the A.M.? The sun even acts like it wants to stay hidden under the covers (of clouds). I will say the anti-histamine knocked me out pretty good. I felt a little “other worldly” when I first got up, though I got up earlier than yesterday. I ate breakfast. My appetite was back. I went to the grocery store and the dry cleaner. I tried to go to the Post (Office), but it closed at Noon. Then I took a bus (#30) to Trocedero to see the Eiffel Tower. I took a few pictures, including a couple of a pair of newlyweds, and then had an espresso and glace chocolat (chocolate ice cream). Then I walked to Champs-Elysees, and along the way, I took some beautiful pictures of Christmas windows and other Christmas decorations. The French do everything with beauty and style. The decorations are a feast for the eyes.

At the top of Champs-Elysees I took a few photos of the Arc de Triomphe. I walked some more, took a few pictures of some French soldiers (retired) and headed into the Metro. I ate, worked out, took a bath, and now am settling in for the night.

I forgot to say that when I came back to the hostel yesterday 2 women had arrived from Pakistan. I had a conversation with one of them and she told me how much she loves makeup. She said that when she recently went shopping with her husband she told him she wanted another eye shadow. “But you have one just like it,” was his response. “But I want that one!” she said. It was such a riot to hear her talk. I think the only people who don’t think human beings are the same world over are people who don’t travel. I nearly fell off my bunk from laughing. They leave tomorrow for Italy. They are both sweet, but one is so…..messy. Why leave dirty tissue on the bed?

Salut.

Paris Trip Day 11

Leave a comment July 10, 2015 Elsa Fridl

A rainy day in Paris is better than a sunny day anywhere else.

Friday. I feel awful. My head is stuffed. My eyes are watering like crazy. I have to stay in I feel so sick. Thank goodness the hostel has a great coffee machine. Even though I enjoy a good cup of cappuccino, the machine’s cappuccino is pretty good, especially for 1 euro. As I’ve said, a bad day in Paris beats a good day anywhere else, any time.

Later. As sick as I was, I managed to go to Gare du Nord to find out how to get to London when I go in December. I seemed to be getting the run around…no one could tell me how to take a ferry to Calais like I did the last time I visited Paris. Finally, I got the information I needed. Then, my debit card wouldn’t work, so I had to pay cash for a 1-way ticket to Calais. Hard to believe that Wells Fargo froze my account! Even after I gave them a travel itinerary before I left the States! And the Wells Fargo representative even told me she could see my travel itinerary in my account online! And she took her own sweet time making me verify each and every transaction, as slow as growing grass.

I don’t take anti-histamines much anymore, but I had no choice today, so I got an anti-histamine from a Pharmacie. I am so glad pharmacists in France are about as knowledgeable as doctors in the U.S. when it comes to medicines. I am wiped out.

Salut.

Paris Trip Day 10

Gallery Leave a comment July 9, 2015 Elsa Fridl

: Cats keep the dead company at Pere La Chaise…or is it the other way around?

: A statue of Vivant Denon, the first director of the Louvre.

: Gravesite of Edith Piaf, one of France’s most famous singers, and the subject of the movie “La vie en rose.”

: Jim Morrison’s grave is one of the most visited in the world.

: A cobblestone walkway at Pere La Chaise.

: Oscar Wilde’s gravesite. The glass is to prevent visitors from kissing it.

: The grave of Frederic Chopin.

Thursday. Est-ce que je pourrais recuperer mon pantalon? May I pick up my pants? I have to go to the drycleaner today to pick up my black pants. Learning one French phrase at a time is better than none.

I got out a bit earlier today. I’m so tired of getting my hands cold maneuvering my camera and phone that I decided to buy a handbag. It’s a bit large: It has a decorative zipper in the front, a zipper in the back for fast-pack items (change after I buy something), a zippered pocket inside, two large compartments, and two open pockets for my phone and other things I want to keep handy. After I bought it, I took it back to the hostel and left for Pere La Chaise Cemetery. I enjoyed taking the Metro to Gambetta Metro stop, since I was very confident in what I was doing.

I followed Rick Steves’ Pere La Chaise Cemetery Tour for 2 hours. I entered at the Porte Gambetta entrance and walked along Avenue des Combattant, past World War memorials, and beneath a courtyard, where there was a darkened area (underground) for graves (called “niches”) and I found Maria Callas’ niche, as well as a few others. I then followed Rick’s directions to find the graves of Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Frederic Chopin, and Colette. Just as Rick said, there were lots of cobblestone paths, and they made me walk a bit slower than I am used to (not a bad thing).

I enjoy visiting sites for the sites themselves, but there is also a bit of a thrill to see sites I’ve seen in movies. One of the stories in Paris je t’aime takes place in Pere La Chaise, with Oscar Wilde and his grave being central to the story.

I had a scary encounter in one of the more vast areas of the cemetery, in the World War memorial section. Two guys came up to me within an inch of my face. I thought for sure they were going to rob me of my purse and/or the camera around my neck. I stood rod straight and told them I didn’t speak French very well. They seemed to enjoy taunting me and poking their fingers in my face. They left, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I need to remember to email Rick Steves when I get home and let him know he might want to provide an emergency number for police. (He included it, #17 for English-speaking police; I just didn’t see it.) It isn’t that I don’t generally feel safe in Paris – I do – but I walk alone much of the time, and this was a frightening experience. Better to be safe than sorry.

I had done enough walking and it was starting to get colder. I had an espresso and got on the Metro. I got back to the hostel and immediately did my laundry in the laundry mat around the corner from the hostel. I later had a salad. I chatted with Nicdadya and she helped me with my phrase for tomorrow. Unfortunately, my nose won’t stop running. I have used all kinds of tissue today, and lots of it!

Salut!

“I was only sleeping…” by Stanze, taken on September 30, 2014, courtesy of Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Edith Piaf gravesite courtesy of Parisbuslady.com.