If you haven't seen the movie "the Terminal," then you probably won't know what I mean. But for the others, you know what I mean :P. I have arrived at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport early. I will be catching up with Remy and catching the train to Lille. Before I booked my train from Paris - Lille Europe, for some reason I thought Remy was arriving to Paris in the morning as me from his flight from Frankfurt, but when chatting to him, to help me book it, it is actually in the evening he will be arriving. So I have about 9 hours left to chill before meeting up with him. YAY. So happy, I just wanna scream for joy.
I could have the possibility from the airport and go to Paris but not with my luggage with me! There probably is a place at the airport where I can safely leave my luggage and then venture around the place, but best not. I will head over to Paris any other day while I am here. I decided just to stay at the airport and lounge around (not that I really needed to sit on my ass for another 9
hours). I have had my 'petit dejuner' of 'chocolat chaud et pan au chocolat,' without hesistating to the cafe staff of what I wanted to order :P.
Firstly Monday morning 23rd I have made my family envious, yet again that I am departing to France...AGAIN. Dad admitted he was jealous while mums just so sad for me to be leaving her side for 2 whole weeks..missing me like mad..and only just got out of the car at the Brisbane International Airport. She misses me already??? :P Saying our good byes and 'have a fantastic trip' went inside the airport, organising my things before having my big luggage all glad-wrapped up and then heading over to the 'Singapore Airline' Desk to check-in...I was suprised
that my luggage was less than I had thought...meaning MORE SHOPPING!
Felt peckish so had hot chips and bottle of coca cola from Red Rooster before looking around the duty free...I had about 1hour and 30mins left to spare before boarding my flight.
Once in the plane..I got the window seat just looking over the wings of the plane. I somehow always get a seat where I see the wings of the plane all the time. Before or after. I must be magnetised to always sit where I can see the wings
of the plane. An 8hour flight from Brisbane - Singapore. Ate, watched tv series and had a short nap before landing in Singapore. Arrived at about 840pm Singapore time (1040pm Brisbane time) through to transit and then more shops at Changi
airport. I haven't been to this airport since 1988 so it has indeed changed a lot! It was nice, just like Hong Kong and Seoul Incheon.
Boarded my flight for a long haul of 13hours Singapore - Paris. Most of the time tried to sleep as much as I could in an comfortable and uncomfortable way in either a corpse pose, fetal to the normal sitting on chair sleep. There was
space than the regular economy seats, but still a tad small.
However the flight was good. I got to have the good ol' Singapore Sling cocktail. Yum, and then just switching back to coke, water and tea/ coffee. I have to say I had a rather educational flight because I was watching several documentaries from Samurai: The Making of a Legend, Chamapagne (despite not finishing it), Carla Bruni: France's First Lady, Ice Cream and artsy shows like "Food Sculptors" and more food shows.
I feel rather knowledgable now of somewhat random things. For example with ice cream, back in the 19th century, it was very rude for women to eat ice cream on the cone (figure it out) so what they had to do is to bring it home, tip it up-side down and discard the cone and eat it in a bowl and use a spoon. Random fact..and that ice cream..it's history is still unsure - whether the Chinese found it, italians..well I guess you can just wikipedia it up. Carla the French President's wife a singer, model and also had several afflilations with charities esp. with AIDS. I shouldn't compare her to Princess Diana, but she is out there to make a change and to take part with something, which I find is amazing. I could go on and on of what I learnt but it'd just bore you lol. You could also learn the basic
of languages via the small TV which I did for abit :P.
Later I watched "How to Train Your Dragon" and liked it. It was cool.. and I think I will buy it on DVD...I love my cartoons.
I'm such a kid a heart.
...so now its Tuesday and I have and still kicking myself that I am back here in France. Wow! Well I guess I should brush up on my language part..yea I am a tad slack I haven't learnt for a while. Whoops! My bad. Cannot wait to explore this beautiful place with more photos and more memories.
Until then
A bientot.
Showing posts with label France; accommodation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label France; accommodation. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, November 29, 2010
Paris
Not a certain heiress but the city. Paris! It has been one of my many destination dreams to come to Paris. Seen the city in many movies and of course Travel shows and I cannot believe that I have made it to the city of lights! Before moving on cutting long story short, returned to Kléber for the remainder of our stay in Paris, unfortunately still couldn't stay there so they transferred us to the Best Western Victor Hugo Hotel (which I have to admit was better) and with free wi-fi!
Paris, when thinking of Paris its the Eiffel Tower, the Lourve, Moulin Rouge and of course the cliché of rude people, dog poo, people wearing stripes etc... . Okay you may get the odd rudeness (which I have had my share of rudeness), all in all it has been fantastique!
I am in awe of everything here in Paris. The streets, architecture, monuments, food, mulled wine and people. Sometimes I think I have stepped onto a postcard or movie set, but no, it's the real deal. Seeing Paris is amazing. People here are so stylish and even if it doesn't match, they find a way to match it! Crazy hats that look like fluro green road kill, still looks stylish.
L'Arc de Triomphe is a huge monument built during Napoleon era (and not going any further to anymore history, look up on wikipedia ha!). It is in the middle of a very busy roundabout and to get to the middle is underground to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You have to be fou to cross the road to the middle. It looks nice during the evening with the lights on and the lights along the Avenue des Champs Elysees.
Eiffel Tower according to my Lonely Planet Paris book (thank gosh for lonely planet books) over 250 million have ascended the tower to date. I got goosebumps when I saw the tower from crossing a bridge, over the River Seine. Walking through the beautiful streets/Rues in Invalides Rémy and I were getting closer and closer to the Tower. Finally got there and WOW! Two options to get up there - 1: Elevator or 2: The Stairs. We opt to climb the stairs, the reason was that the line was shorter than the elevators. LOL. Paid about 9 something Euros to climb the stairs. Tough work, huffing and puffing to the top, partial top. Six hundred and sixty-nine steps and during that it was getting dark, cloudy and then finally snowed! Beautiful view from the top and even more when it snowed. The rooftops of building covered by the white powder, despite it being cold at the top, it was brilliant! I can tick off my list that I have visited the Eiffel Tower.
Afterwards, more walking then the métro then walked back to our hotel to rest for another day of Parisian adventure.
Until then
à bientot
V
Paris, when thinking of Paris its the Eiffel Tower, the Lourve, Moulin Rouge and of course the cliché of rude people, dog poo, people wearing stripes etc... . Okay you may get the odd rudeness (which I have had my share of rudeness), all in all it has been fantastique!
I am in awe of everything here in Paris. The streets, architecture, monuments, food, mulled wine and people. Sometimes I think I have stepped onto a postcard or movie set, but no, it's the real deal. Seeing Paris is amazing. People here are so stylish and even if it doesn't match, they find a way to match it! Crazy hats that look like fluro green road kill, still looks stylish.
L'Arc de Triomphe is a huge monument built during Napoleon era (and not going any further to anymore history, look up on wikipedia ha!). It is in the middle of a very busy roundabout and to get to the middle is underground to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You have to be fou to cross the road to the middle. It looks nice during the evening with the lights on and the lights along the Avenue des Champs Elysees.
Eiffel Tower according to my Lonely Planet Paris book (thank gosh for lonely planet books) over 250 million have ascended the tower to date. I got goosebumps when I saw the tower from crossing a bridge, over the River Seine. Walking through the beautiful streets/Rues in Invalides Rémy and I were getting closer and closer to the Tower. Finally got there and WOW! Two options to get up there - 1: Elevator or 2: The Stairs. We opt to climb the stairs, the reason was that the line was shorter than the elevators. LOL. Paid about 9 something Euros to climb the stairs. Tough work, huffing and puffing to the top, partial top. Six hundred and sixty-nine steps and during that it was getting dark, cloudy and then finally snowed! Beautiful view from the top and even more when it snowed. The rooftops of building covered by the white powder, despite it being cold at the top, it was brilliant! I can tick off my list that I have visited the Eiffel Tower.
Afterwards, more walking then the métro then walked back to our hotel to rest for another day of Parisian adventure.
Until then
à bientot
V
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Touch down in Paris
The flight from Incheon Seoul to Charles de Gaulle Paris was an 11-hour flight. Ate, slept, listened to music on my iPad-seque screen and watched movies (in between slept while watching Inception, then watched it again since I missed the other part). Once the plane touched down in Paris a mixture of excitement and nervousness crossed my mind. Happy to be here and see Rémy, since 5 months ago, Paris, the food, scenery, the monuments and nervous as I only know "un petit peu français."
Touch down at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Thursday evening of Nov 25th, went through customs (woo hoo got my passport stamped!) and then got my suitcase and then information center about how to get to Paris via A. the taxi, B. Bus or C. Train. I took the cheaper option and took the train. Took about 1 hour to Chatelet Les Halles to change over to next train. Oh gosh, I found myself below the métro lost through the winding maze to the next train.... Yea spot the lost tourist! Finally got on the next train thanks with the help of the train staff member reached Charles de Gaulle Etoile stop. More stairs up to the wonderful Champs Elysees Avenue and L'Arc de Triomphe. I am in awe! AMAZING.
Now, the challange to catch a taxi. Hailed one, unfortunately he finished his shift, tried hailing another one, til a man told me to catch it on the other side of the road. Thanked him kindly then went to the direction he told me to go and caught one to the hotel I booked called Kléber Hotel Champs Elysees Tour Eiffel Paris. Unfortunately was not able to stay there and for their reason "water issues/pipes." They kindly made me un café, while I waited for Rémy to come. The staff member explained it again to Rémy what happened and then they transferred us to another hotel for the night. Went to the other hotel and lets just say it was a down grade to what i stayed at Incheon. Couldn't complain much, at least it we had a place to stay. The view from the window of the room, is wht I expected though, very French - the window balcony, the buildings, streets, trés belle!
Until then,
à bientot
V
Touch down at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Thursday evening of Nov 25th, went through customs (woo hoo got my passport stamped!) and then got my suitcase and then information center about how to get to Paris via A. the taxi, B. Bus or C. Train. I took the cheaper option and took the train. Took about 1 hour to Chatelet Les Halles to change over to next train. Oh gosh, I found myself below the métro lost through the winding maze to the next train.... Yea spot the lost tourist! Finally got on the next train thanks with the help of the train staff member reached Charles de Gaulle Etoile stop. More stairs up to the wonderful Champs Elysees Avenue and L'Arc de Triomphe. I am in awe! AMAZING.
Now, the challange to catch a taxi. Hailed one, unfortunately he finished his shift, tried hailing another one, til a man told me to catch it on the other side of the road. Thanked him kindly then went to the direction he told me to go and caught one to the hotel I booked called Kléber Hotel Champs Elysees Tour Eiffel Paris. Unfortunately was not able to stay there and for their reason "water issues/pipes." They kindly made me un café, while I waited for Rémy to come. The staff member explained it again to Rémy what happened and then they transferred us to another hotel for the night. Went to the other hotel and lets just say it was a down grade to what i stayed at Incheon. Couldn't complain much, at least it we had a place to stay. The view from the window of the room, is wht I expected though, very French - the window balcony, the buildings, streets, trés belle!
Until then,
à bientot
V
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