Day two in Paris, what a city! The weather was less pleasant today, overcast and hazy, but it wasn’t cold and wasn’t raining, so I am not complaining! The city was still full of people, lots of school groups, I think because its around the time students have spring break, so there are lots of travelers.
We started the morning with some eggs and toast, and for me, a few cups of tea. It was nice. After a little discussion on what to do for the day, we decided to see the catacombs below the streets of Paris. It was pretty incredible! 6 million bodies are stacked in neat little rows of bones and skulls, pretty creepy, but very interesting. Trips me out to think about what their lives were like before they were dead, and stacked upon millions of other people. What a cool thing to see, very worth it. And, it was only 4 Euros. Another plus!
After, we got back on the metro and went to Notre Dame, which was also amazing to see! Some history on this site, it is the main catholic cathedral in Paris, and is absolutely breathtaking! The outside is carved with several gargoyles, and other such creatures, and is a true tower to see in the city. Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress [arched exterior supports]. Its gothic style is a site to see! We decided to climb to the top, another fee that was included in my museum pass, so that was lucky! It was very cool from the top, and because it was a bit hazy and overcast, only the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower was visible, but still an awesome view!
After climbing back down all the stairs, and trying to give my legs a minute to stop shaking, we walked across the street to the prison where Marie-Antoinette was held hostage. It was a neat place, but not really what any of us were expecting. This was also included in my pass, so I didn’t pay to get it, which was nice!!
Now it’s back at the apartment, taking a breather before we go out for the night! I am really hoping to see the tower all lit up! Ciao Bella!
Showing posts with label Paris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paris. Show all posts
Friday, April 3, 2009
Versailles- Tre Belle
Today we went to Versailles, and it was so incredible! Here is a bit of history for those of you that are unfamiliar with this historical monument in Paris. It is every kings dream palace, and truly is a beautiful mansion for the royal. Louis XIV and his court lived in this palace, along with his wife, Marie-Antoinette. The rooms, which there are several, are decorated to a tee, with rich colors and decadent fabrics. I was jaw dropped and stunned through the whole place, and although I was there for 6+ hours, I didn’t see everything.
When I woke up this morning, there was a cute dark haired girl at the dinning room table, and I introduced myself. Her name is Danielle, and her boyfriend Tommy went to school with Greg at UCI. They are also in Paris this week, visiting Greg and sight seeing. She asked if I wanted to go to Versailles with them, and I was very excited! I didn’t have a plan for the day, and anything with company sounded perfect, so I got dressed and we headed out.
After a few minutes of walking, we stopped for breakfast. Crepes! I decided on egg and cheese, which also had lettuce and tomato, and it was the perfect breakfast; inexpensive and filling!
After we sat and ate for a bit, we headed to the metro station to catch a ride to Versailles. It is about a 25-minute ride, so we shared a little and read the important info from the Europe Travel God, otherwise known as Rick Steve’s. He sure is helpful, and for those of you wanting to travel someday, I highly suggest his books! They are a lifesaver, and a money saver, and a time saver………
Anyways, we got off the metro at the last stop and wandered up the hill to the gates of Versailles. It is absolutely stunning, with shinny gold fixtures and large, extravagant entrances. I was amazed! I went in to buy my tickets, and decided to buy the museum pass for two days, which means that I can enter almost every museum for the next two days for free. This was a great deal, just around 30 Euros.
So, we started in the Main Palace, ooing and awing at every room, with the lavish draperies, and extravagant furniture and décor. It truly makes you feel as though you’re in the presence of royalty, and I couldn’t stop clicking pictures! It was truly spectacular.
After walking through the palace, we exited to the gardens, which are even more of a sight to see. Everything is trimmed so proper, with exact hedges and trees; it seemed as though no leaf was out of place. We ate a Panini, made with a baguette, which makes it more French rather then Italian, and sat on a bench, watching the people pass. After lunch, we went down to rent bikes so we could ride through the gardens, and even though this is a faster mode of transportation then by foot, we still didn’t cover everything!
We rode up to the top, where the house built especially for the queen still sits, and toured through it. Very beautiful as well.
Out behind the house, there are a set of four or five little French houses, which make up a sweet little villa around the pond. These were the most adorable I have seen, and truly made me feel as though I was part of ancient history in France, and they were so quaint and sweet. In the middle of all the cottages, there was a pond, filled with large catfish and goldfish, ducks and a few swans. Absolutely beautiful, the most perfect place for a picnic with the one you love. I will come back again.
Danielle and Tommy made dinner, chicken Parmesan and pasta, and it was tasty! I complimented her, and although she knows I cook, I told her it was better, because I didn’t have to cook, it was a nice treat!
More adventures to come soon, tomorrow we visit The Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre, and more. Ciao Bella, I miss you all
When I woke up this morning, there was a cute dark haired girl at the dinning room table, and I introduced myself. Her name is Danielle, and her boyfriend Tommy went to school with Greg at UCI. They are also in Paris this week, visiting Greg and sight seeing. She asked if I wanted to go to Versailles with them, and I was very excited! I didn’t have a plan for the day, and anything with company sounded perfect, so I got dressed and we headed out.
After a few minutes of walking, we stopped for breakfast. Crepes! I decided on egg and cheese, which also had lettuce and tomato, and it was the perfect breakfast; inexpensive and filling!
After we sat and ate for a bit, we headed to the metro station to catch a ride to Versailles. It is about a 25-minute ride, so we shared a little and read the important info from the Europe Travel God, otherwise known as Rick Steve’s. He sure is helpful, and for those of you wanting to travel someday, I highly suggest his books! They are a lifesaver, and a money saver, and a time saver………
Anyways, we got off the metro at the last stop and wandered up the hill to the gates of Versailles. It is absolutely stunning, with shinny gold fixtures and large, extravagant entrances. I was amazed! I went in to buy my tickets, and decided to buy the museum pass for two days, which means that I can enter almost every museum for the next two days for free. This was a great deal, just around 30 Euros.
So, we started in the Main Palace, ooing and awing at every room, with the lavish draperies, and extravagant furniture and décor. It truly makes you feel as though you’re in the presence of royalty, and I couldn’t stop clicking pictures! It was truly spectacular.
After walking through the palace, we exited to the gardens, which are even more of a sight to see. Everything is trimmed so proper, with exact hedges and trees; it seemed as though no leaf was out of place. We ate a Panini, made with a baguette, which makes it more French rather then Italian, and sat on a bench, watching the people pass. After lunch, we went down to rent bikes so we could ride through the gardens, and even though this is a faster mode of transportation then by foot, we still didn’t cover everything!
We rode up to the top, where the house built especially for the queen still sits, and toured through it. Very beautiful as well.
Out behind the house, there are a set of four or five little French houses, which make up a sweet little villa around the pond. These were the most adorable I have seen, and truly made me feel as though I was part of ancient history in France, and they were so quaint and sweet. In the middle of all the cottages, there was a pond, filled with large catfish and goldfish, ducks and a few swans. Absolutely beautiful, the most perfect place for a picnic with the one you love. I will come back again.
Danielle and Tommy made dinner, chicken Parmesan and pasta, and it was tasty! I complimented her, and although she knows I cook, I told her it was better, because I didn’t have to cook, it was a nice treat!
More adventures to come soon, tomorrow we visit The Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre, and more. Ciao Bella, I miss you all
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Pisa to Paris
OK, so this was quite an adventure!! My day started off, this being Wednesday, April 1st, to my alarm clock at 5am. This was set so I could get up, make a cup of coffee, and get online to skype with Nick. We were to exchange spring break adventures and catch up. It was very nice, glad that I was able to see him this time and not just talk.
After the conversation, I jumped in the shower to try and wake up for the day. I had class at 9am, Italian, which I really am enjoying, so it was a nice thing to get ready for. After class was over, I ran home, changed clothes, and headed for the gym. I was on a very tight time schedule, so it was a short workout, but something none the less. After the gym, I ran home, showered and went to my second class of the day, Tradition of Italian Food, which is an awesome class! Very tasty, too! :)
I decided to sit in on another class that I am not enrolled in, called food and wine paring, which is a subject I am interested in. The teacher who instructs this class is also my wine appreciation teacher, so it was no problem for him that I sit in on the class. Lucky for me, it was a class paring fortified wines, such as port and sherry, to chocolate! No complaints!!
I left this class early so that I would be able to run home, get my last minute things together and head for the train station. I boarded a bus, called Terra vision, that was to take me to Pisa airport. This is about an hour and fifteen minute ride, so not to bad. I am really into this new book I started, so it went by fast.
When exiting the bus, it was pouring down rain, and I dropped my itinerary in the puddle. No fun, but I have cat like reflexes, OK that's a lie, so it ended up being soaking wet. The man behind the counter laughed at me when I checked in.
I sat down to keep reading, and it was getting close to boarding time, so i gathered my belongings to stand in line. Then the flight was delayed a 1/2 hour, so I sat back down and impatiently waited, really wanting to just get there. I was starving, and there was nothing in the airport to eat, so my patience was running a bit low. I found a vending machine, and ate some corn chips. This was dinner.
It was finally time to board the plane, so I got back up to wait in line, this time for like 20 minutes before we actually started moving outside, across the tar mat, and onto the plane. I was ready to pass out at this time, my energy from 5am was pretty much gone.
On the flight, I sat next to a woman whose name was Natasha, and we spend the tail end of the flight talking. She is a bathing suit designer, so we had something in common right away, since i swim, and she travels to Florence often to work. We got on the subject of work, I talked about catering, and my love for food, she shared that she lives in Paris and has a daughter who is one. Before she had mentioned children, I told her that I had looked into being a nanny abroad sometime in my life, and she offered me a job, like right there on the plane. haha. She wants someone to live with them in Paris, she has a seperate living space in her apartment for a nanny to live, and they also take vacations and travel so also someone to go when the family leaves. It is so unbelievably tempting to tell her I will do it, but I have to many other obligations at the moment, so I need to get some things in order. But it was pretty neat to talk to her!
After the flight landed, I scrambled to find my pack that was under the plane because it was too big to carry on, and went on the search for the bus. Greg gave me great directions to his apartment, but I was so tired, STARVING, and don't speak a lick of french, so it was a bit of a nightmare. If my flight had not been late, it would have been better, cause there was one last bus leaving the airport, which i ran too, then got on the metro, in the wrong direction, got off, had to buy another ticket, etc etc. Then, I roamed Greg's street for way way to long trying to find his apartment, and when I finally got here, I was so tired I could hardly stand!
What an adventure! Glad to be here in Paris, and am looking forward to the weekend!
Au Revoir!
(Ciao Bella)
After the conversation, I jumped in the shower to try and wake up for the day. I had class at 9am, Italian, which I really am enjoying, so it was a nice thing to get ready for. After class was over, I ran home, changed clothes, and headed for the gym. I was on a very tight time schedule, so it was a short workout, but something none the less. After the gym, I ran home, showered and went to my second class of the day, Tradition of Italian Food, which is an awesome class! Very tasty, too! :)
I decided to sit in on another class that I am not enrolled in, called food and wine paring, which is a subject I am interested in. The teacher who instructs this class is also my wine appreciation teacher, so it was no problem for him that I sit in on the class. Lucky for me, it was a class paring fortified wines, such as port and sherry, to chocolate! No complaints!!
I left this class early so that I would be able to run home, get my last minute things together and head for the train station. I boarded a bus, called Terra vision, that was to take me to Pisa airport. This is about an hour and fifteen minute ride, so not to bad. I am really into this new book I started, so it went by fast.
When exiting the bus, it was pouring down rain, and I dropped my itinerary in the puddle. No fun, but I have cat like reflexes, OK that's a lie, so it ended up being soaking wet. The man behind the counter laughed at me when I checked in.
I sat down to keep reading, and it was getting close to boarding time, so i gathered my belongings to stand in line. Then the flight was delayed a 1/2 hour, so I sat back down and impatiently waited, really wanting to just get there. I was starving, and there was nothing in the airport to eat, so my patience was running a bit low. I found a vending machine, and ate some corn chips. This was dinner.
It was finally time to board the plane, so I got back up to wait in line, this time for like 20 minutes before we actually started moving outside, across the tar mat, and onto the plane. I was ready to pass out at this time, my energy from 5am was pretty much gone.
On the flight, I sat next to a woman whose name was Natasha, and we spend the tail end of the flight talking. She is a bathing suit designer, so we had something in common right away, since i swim, and she travels to Florence often to work. We got on the subject of work, I talked about catering, and my love for food, she shared that she lives in Paris and has a daughter who is one. Before she had mentioned children, I told her that I had looked into being a nanny abroad sometime in my life, and she offered me a job, like right there on the plane. haha. She wants someone to live with them in Paris, she has a seperate living space in her apartment for a nanny to live, and they also take vacations and travel so also someone to go when the family leaves. It is so unbelievably tempting to tell her I will do it, but I have to many other obligations at the moment, so I need to get some things in order. But it was pretty neat to talk to her!
After the flight landed, I scrambled to find my pack that was under the plane because it was too big to carry on, and went on the search for the bus. Greg gave me great directions to his apartment, but I was so tired, STARVING, and don't speak a lick of french, so it was a bit of a nightmare. If my flight had not been late, it would have been better, cause there was one last bus leaving the airport, which i ran too, then got on the metro, in the wrong direction, got off, had to buy another ticket, etc etc. Then, I roamed Greg's street for way way to long trying to find his apartment, and when I finally got here, I was so tired I could hardly stand!
What an adventure! Glad to be here in Paris, and am looking forward to the weekend!
Au Revoir!
(Ciao Bella)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
