Sunday 28th November
Checked out from the Best Western Victor Hugo Hotel, brought my final Parisian souviners, had lunch at one of the restaurants in Champs Elysees then headed to the Charles de Gaulle Etoile Metro Station to transfer to Gare du Nord. Caught one of the bullet trains from Paris to Lille, a city in the north of France. It was only a 1 hour train ride, which felt like a 30 minute ride (well duh it's a bullet train, it zoom, zoom, zooms!) The train arrived at Lille-Europe Station...."Viv - Welcome to Lille!" Waited outside for Céline and Seb to pick us up. Whoa, for a girl who is accostumed to warmer temperature, it was like a temperature shock to be in a place which was 2°c and windy...BRRR! When it is cold, it is okay-ish, but when its windy, it is icy cold. I think since I touched down in Paris, I have lost count on how many times I habe said F"_- it's cold!
Céline and her husband qarrived and picked us up and a 30 minute or so drive from the station their parent's place in a small town. Unpacked our gear and settled down in the kitchen chatting for a while and then they left. Rémy and I rested for a while and then got ready to head to Céline and Seb's place for drinks, watching football, chatting with them and then later on their parents arrived to visit before heading back home. Rémy and I stayed a little bit more and then just before midnight went back home.
Le Ch'tis as seen in the French movie Welcome to the Sticks, Céline; Seb and Rémy told me some ch'tisque that I may see or hear during my stay here in the north of France. The movie was based round the area, a little further than Lille, but I guess it covers part of Lille. Making me intrigued about the Ch'tis.
Monday 29th November
A cold Monday and while Rémy went off to uni mid-morning, I had a very lazy Monday morning. It was cold and some snow outside, tucked myself back to bed on facebook (of course) and watching French programmes, even dubbed American soap opera Days of our Lives. Trying to grasps some words or even try to understand, however I only managed to hear verbs I recognised (d'oh!) Towards the evening had lovely dinner and then went to Rémy's sisters place to watch Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. OMG.... I haven't seen so much close up of Cristiano Ronaldo, since the FIFA 2010 World Cup! Had to laugh at Real Madrid's goalkeeper and Captain Iker Casillas because he was so pissed off that his team was losing. So the score was 5 - 0, Barcelona won. During the game things were heating up as some kind of punch up with the players from both team and then on another part, Ronaldo pushing one of the men in the opposing team (Barcelona)....I think he got a yellow card for that. After the game chatted and drank somemore and just before 1am left their place and headed back home.
Tuesday 30th November
Still fighting off my friggen jetlag, stayed at home while Rémy went to class till 5pm. Nothing, just ate, showered, watched télé, facebook then ZZZZzzzzzz... . Oh and inbetween stared outside the window seeing the snow topped fields....ZZZzzzzzz!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Pretty Paris
Saturday 27th November
Our second last day in Pretty Paris. We missed out on our petit dejuner because we got up late. We got ready and just headed straight to Avenue des Champs Elysees, through to the marchés there and had our vin chaud and I had my crepe with sugar while Rémy had his waffle.We looked at some things in the marché de noel before heading out to the Place de la Concorde and through to the Jardin des Tuileries. I could imagine how life could have been in the 1800s; walking through this huge garden just before the Lourve (or is it the Louvre? I still get it muddled up).
The Louvre
An enormous place, where I cannot imagine how King Louis or Napoleon can live in there! Its HUGE!!!! Its as if they have combined the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital together side by side! Now that's huge! The famous glass pyramids at the front of the Louvre (yes another photo opportunity) and then went downstairs to enter the Museum. Rémy and I did not cover all the places inside the Louvre, you have to have at least 2 or 3 days to be dedicated in walking through all the artwork with your trusty walkman - talking you through all the artworks either in Japanese, Spanish, Russian, or Arabic, just to name a few. We only covered a small part and only got to see the world famous Leonardo De Vinci's Mona Lisa. Small, yet a dozen of people stand from afar to catch a glimpse of it. (Yes I was *add sarcasm* so interested!)... . Just like every other tourist, took a photo of it. The paintings of certain people or just paintings of certain events qre magnificent. It is amazing in those days, people have a lot of talent. When it comes to portraits they paintings are real and the colours, shadings oh gosh I sound like a critic! A few paintings are large and I always wonder how artists back then had the patience and dedication to finish a piece of artwork. Some have been painted over 3 years or more. WHOA! Unlike nowadays someone would probably chuck a tantrum!
Even the ceilings are covered with religious themed paintings with golden borders and then the French windows outlooking the many statues, lining up the palace and then overlooking the garden. Wonderful. Well words at times cannnot express how magnificent the Louvre is. After seeing what we wanted to see it was au revoir to the Louvre and headed near the pont neuf for dejuner. The difference with Australian Cafés/restaurant and French is that the staff of the place finds the time to talk to their customers. Rémy had a short conversation with the manager of the restaurant and then asked directions to get to certain places for our next galavanting. With thanks we then headed outise to the little island where the Conciergerie and Notre Dame is.
Notre Dame on the Island
Another famous building where we all know Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. Takes place. Magnificent church with lovely interior and stained-glassed windows, again I had to pinch myself as I still couldn't believe I step foot in the Notre Dame. I also put 2Euros donation so I could light a tea-candle and then Rémy and I sat down on one of the seats. I prayed a little just saying 'thank you etc...' Then took more photos before heading out to another Church - Basilique du Sacré Coeur.
Went to the Métro from Notre Dame to Monmartre. Below the Sacré Coeur it was a tad messy than say the Champ Elysees, guess the older part of Paris (so yes I saw a bit of dirtiness in Paris). Walked through so many souviner stores (yes I am a sucker for those) till Rémy and I saw the Basilique du Sacré Coeur. *Jaw drop*
Basilique du Sacré Coeur
Another beautiful church; built later than the Notre Dame in the 1800s. High on the hill, you see an outlook of parts of Paris and what I say the only skyscraper in Paris (probably not, but I say it is) a tall building from afar (which was probably close to La Defense- the financial section of Paris). Speaking of skyscrapers, if you haven't been to Paris, you don't see many, unlike ifyou were in New York. Walking on more stairs (and I swear that is one of the reason as to why French people are slim - a lot of stairs to walk up and down!) towards the Sacré Coeur, before the entrance, there was a crowd around 4 men dancing - pop n locking, old and new hip hop and breakdancing. Luckily I managed to see some and cheered them on. They were great! Afterwards step foot into the church. No photos allowed inside, but again it was wonderful interior; statues and all. Beautiful. Then we walked outside to Monmartre to see the many cute cobbled streets and stores surrounding the Sacré Coeur, an area where artists displayed and drew pictures and alas! I finally saw an accordian player! Walked down further and headed to Pigalle.
Pigalle
Guess it is like the Valley in Brisbane and King's Cross in Sydney. A mixture of sinner and saint in this area of Paris. The famous windmill of what is the Moulin Rouge - if I had the time I would have loved to see a show and have dinner there... Next time....next time. Walked through the main street and looked at some interesting stores then before heading to the Musée de L'erotisme. Seven levels of everything erotic past and present all over the world. It was very interesting place and I would recommend it to of course people over 18 years of age!
After, we had dinner at French equivalent of MacDonalds 'Quick' and then headed back to our hotel for a last stay.
Until then
A Bientot
V x
Our second last day in Pretty Paris. We missed out on our petit dejuner because we got up late. We got ready and just headed straight to Avenue des Champs Elysees, through to the marchés there and had our vin chaud and I had my crepe with sugar while Rémy had his waffle.We looked at some things in the marché de noel before heading out to the Place de la Concorde and through to the Jardin des Tuileries. I could imagine how life could have been in the 1800s; walking through this huge garden just before the Lourve (or is it the Louvre? I still get it muddled up).
The Louvre
An enormous place, where I cannot imagine how King Louis or Napoleon can live in there! Its HUGE!!!! Its as if they have combined the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital together side by side! Now that's huge! The famous glass pyramids at the front of the Louvre (yes another photo opportunity) and then went downstairs to enter the Museum. Rémy and I did not cover all the places inside the Louvre, you have to have at least 2 or 3 days to be dedicated in walking through all the artwork with your trusty walkman - talking you through all the artworks either in Japanese, Spanish, Russian, or Arabic, just to name a few. We only covered a small part and only got to see the world famous Leonardo De Vinci's Mona Lisa. Small, yet a dozen of people stand from afar to catch a glimpse of it. (Yes I was *add sarcasm* so interested!)... . Just like every other tourist, took a photo of it. The paintings of certain people or just paintings of certain events qre magnificent. It is amazing in those days, people have a lot of talent. When it comes to portraits they paintings are real and the colours, shadings oh gosh I sound like a critic! A few paintings are large and I always wonder how artists back then had the patience and dedication to finish a piece of artwork. Some have been painted over 3 years or more. WHOA! Unlike nowadays someone would probably chuck a tantrum!
Even the ceilings are covered with religious themed paintings with golden borders and then the French windows outlooking the many statues, lining up the palace and then overlooking the garden. Wonderful. Well words at times cannnot express how magnificent the Louvre is. After seeing what we wanted to see it was au revoir to the Louvre and headed near the pont neuf for dejuner. The difference with Australian Cafés/restaurant and French is that the staff of the place finds the time to talk to their customers. Rémy had a short conversation with the manager of the restaurant and then asked directions to get to certain places for our next galavanting. With thanks we then headed outise to the little island where the Conciergerie and Notre Dame is.
Notre Dame on the Island
Another famous building where we all know Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. Takes place. Magnificent church with lovely interior and stained-glassed windows, again I had to pinch myself as I still couldn't believe I step foot in the Notre Dame. I also put 2Euros donation so I could light a tea-candle and then Rémy and I sat down on one of the seats. I prayed a little just saying 'thank you etc...' Then took more photos before heading out to another Church - Basilique du Sacré Coeur.
Went to the Métro from Notre Dame to Monmartre. Below the Sacré Coeur it was a tad messy than say the Champ Elysees, guess the older part of Paris (so yes I saw a bit of dirtiness in Paris). Walked through so many souviner stores (yes I am a sucker for those) till Rémy and I saw the Basilique du Sacré Coeur. *Jaw drop*
Basilique du Sacré Coeur
Another beautiful church; built later than the Notre Dame in the 1800s. High on the hill, you see an outlook of parts of Paris and what I say the only skyscraper in Paris (probably not, but I say it is) a tall building from afar (which was probably close to La Defense- the financial section of Paris). Speaking of skyscrapers, if you haven't been to Paris, you don't see many, unlike ifyou were in New York. Walking on more stairs (and I swear that is one of the reason as to why French people are slim - a lot of stairs to walk up and down!) towards the Sacré Coeur, before the entrance, there was a crowd around 4 men dancing - pop n locking, old and new hip hop and breakdancing. Luckily I managed to see some and cheered them on. They were great! Afterwards step foot into the church. No photos allowed inside, but again it was wonderful interior; statues and all. Beautiful. Then we walked outside to Monmartre to see the many cute cobbled streets and stores surrounding the Sacré Coeur, an area where artists displayed and drew pictures and alas! I finally saw an accordian player! Walked down further and headed to Pigalle.
Pigalle
Guess it is like the Valley in Brisbane and King's Cross in Sydney. A mixture of sinner and saint in this area of Paris. The famous windmill of what is the Moulin Rouge - if I had the time I would have loved to see a show and have dinner there... Next time....next time. Walked through the main street and looked at some interesting stores then before heading to the Musée de L'erotisme. Seven levels of everything erotic past and present all over the world. It was very interesting place and I would recommend it to of course people over 18 years of age!
After, we had dinner at French equivalent of MacDonalds 'Quick' and then headed back to our hotel for a last stay.
Until then
A Bientot
V x
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