Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Weekend in Paris...
hello, or Bonjour! Hope you are all fandiddilyastic, I've been a little poorly, but on the mend now, and its a lovely spring day outside so I'm gonna try and write this up real fast like, so I can go out and enjoy it on me day off!
Well, had been looking forward to the trip, worked all that week, then after a few early St Paddys day Guinnesses on Thursday, I was up on Friday for a leisurely pack, caught the bus to Waterloo, quickly though checkin and on the Eurostar to Paris! Took about 3 hours, kinda had nice views on the way but bit dull, and didn't really notice much of a difference on the other side when we popped out of the chunnel.. I did notice how grand and lovely the train station was compared to English ones, although it was slightly marred by a cop with a gun standing at the platform, they are pretty heavy over there! Anyways, Amy, Bonn and Merv were all waiting for me, we were all reunited and said our hellos (they had arrived early and had already had a day exploring), then down into the underground and off to find our hotel. It was right by the station at the end of the line, so on the outskirts but a nice place, a view out to the intersection and McDonalds! As everyone was starving we didn't go far for dinner, down to the local Indian for a curry! Bit weird when in Paris I know, but Amy misses her curries, and it was handy and semi-cheap.
Then, not to waste a second, we headed back into the central city (only after I had issues with the metro doors and lost one of our tickets cos I wasn't fast enough through) and off to find the Eiffel tower. Which, funnily enough, wasn't that hard to find. Went past the line of guys trying to sell us light up miniatures of the thing, then looked up to see the real McCoy, rising up above us, all in lights too and very spectacular. The good thing about going at night was the fact that there was hardly any queue, pretty much straight through. Bit of a wait for the lift then up we went! Left Merv at the second story (cos he couldn't handle the very top) and joined the next queue for the top lift, big of pushing and shoving with an American school group, and we were up! Out onto the caged off balcony and into the freezing wind, but it definitely was a great view! Looked out and spotted some land marks, took some photos (below) and listened to some St Paddys Day partiers singing songs, then headed back down, eventually, and back to the hotel for bed.
Next morning it was up to a clear but chilly day and once we were all sorted, it was back on the tube to the arc de triomphe, where we sat and had a nibbles breakfast! Then we strolled down the Champs-Elysees, saw lots of big shops but it was pretty quiet, picked up a croissant for the journey and meandered down, saw sometemperaryy fencing out which I think was in place for the big student demo that happened that same afternoon, can't believe we missed over a million people on the streets! Anyways, walked through a big park and over the river to the musee d'Orsay - the sight was met with a bit of a sigh - a huge queue waiting to get in! But, we decided to join it, I did a coffee run and about an hour later we were in! Big old train station filled with sculpture on the bottom floor, then art deco and up to the top for the famous names like Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir, all very impressive but Amy, Bonn and I sped round, had to wait a big for Merv to follow! After that we were hungry again and dived into a nearby eatery full of tourists for lunch, I had a crepe, about as French as I got in the food department!
Then we hit the road again and walked along the river, over to see the Lourve, then onto the Island to check out Notre Dame, big and beautiful inside but packed with people, thus noisy, and not really church like! We then trekked back over the river and tried to suss out some shops whilst it was still Saturday, but kinda came upon a dead end. Went into a supermarket for snacks instead (does sound like we were forever hungry) before catching the tube to an art gallery a friend in London recommended, the Palais de Tokyo. It was pretty cool, big installation art and interactive pieces, I liked it! Then, all exhausted, it was back to the hotel for some drinks and a game of cards!
On Sunday we spilt up, Amy went to check out another museum and I went with Merv and Bonn to a big market down the road from the hotel - its meant to be the biggest in the world! But the bit we came across wasn't that amazing, lots of clothes etc and junk, some antique type stuff, and found an indoors section of really flash (and pricey) stuff but nothing really worth looking at, did get some huge strawberry's from the food stalls, then headed into town to meet Amy.
The next thing was probably the weirdest, most unusual thing we did in Paris, went down 300 odd stairs and into an underground tunnel that lead us to a 1.5km network of pathways lined with the bones of over 6 million dead folks! It was a a bit spooky at first but after half and hour of it you kinda got used to it! There were also some tombs and plaques and things about life after death, then it was up and out into daylight again.
It was time to head to the Louvre, line up and get our tickets from the automatic machine, and head on in. Very dauting as it is so much to see, but after some random wandering, the Venus de Milo and some Greek vases, we went and saw the crown jewels, which were in a very over the top room, and very jewely. We all had very sore and well worn feet by then, so we had a quick peak at the ol' Mona Lisa, then called it a day and headed on back outside.
Desperate for food and with not much open, we decided on a kebab shop for a late lunch, but got a huge sit down feed for a good price, and got to watch French Funniest Home Videos!
Quick walk down to the Pompidou, stood and watched the busking outside for a bit, as it as a lovely sunny afternoon, then inside to - you guessed it queue! The building is great (kinda like the QEII swimming pool) with tubes and columns etc on the outside. Thescalatorer goes up on the outside too, showing more and more of the Paris sky line as you travel up.. lovely in the sunset, and at the top we stayed for ages taking photos. Which unfortunately meant I hardly had any time to see the museum before I had to run and catch the train home! Pity cos it looked really amazing, full of new and different stuff.
Oh well, all too soon the weekend had come to an end, left the others to keep exploring and headed back out to the train station and onwards back to London.
Great time all round, want to go back for a longer look.
Everything else going fine back home, spring has finally made an appearance so its getting warmer and flowers are coming out. Work is cool, feeling better after a short flu thing, nice day off work today.. yeah.
Hugs to you guys.. oh and can you believe its coming up to my one year anniversary!! I know!!
Love and smiley happy thoughts
claire xx
Well, had been looking forward to the trip, worked all that week, then after a few early St Paddys day Guinnesses on Thursday, I was up on Friday for a leisurely pack, caught the bus to Waterloo, quickly though checkin and on the Eurostar to Paris! Took about 3 hours, kinda had nice views on the way but bit dull, and didn't really notice much of a difference on the other side when we popped out of the chunnel.. I did notice how grand and lovely the train station was compared to English ones, although it was slightly marred by a cop with a gun standing at the platform, they are pretty heavy over there! Anyways, Amy, Bonn and Merv were all waiting for me, we were all reunited and said our hellos (they had arrived early and had already had a day exploring), then down into the underground and off to find our hotel. It was right by the station at the end of the line, so on the outskirts but a nice place, a view out to the intersection and McDonalds! As everyone was starving we didn't go far for dinner, down to the local Indian for a curry! Bit weird when in Paris I know, but Amy misses her curries, and it was handy and semi-cheap.
Then, not to waste a second, we headed back into the central city (only after I had issues with the metro doors and lost one of our tickets cos I wasn't fast enough through) and off to find the Eiffel tower. Which, funnily enough, wasn't that hard to find. Went past the line of guys trying to sell us light up miniatures of the thing, then looked up to see the real McCoy, rising up above us, all in lights too and very spectacular. The good thing about going at night was the fact that there was hardly any queue, pretty much straight through. Bit of a wait for the lift then up we went! Left Merv at the second story (cos he couldn't handle the very top) and joined the next queue for the top lift, big of pushing and shoving with an American school group, and we were up! Out onto the caged off balcony and into the freezing wind, but it definitely was a great view! Looked out and spotted some land marks, took some photos (below) and listened to some St Paddys Day partiers singing songs, then headed back down, eventually, and back to the hotel for bed.
Next morning it was up to a clear but chilly day and once we were all sorted, it was back on the tube to the arc de triomphe, where we sat and had a nibbles breakfast! Then we strolled down the Champs-Elysees, saw lots of big shops but it was pretty quiet, picked up a croissant for the journey and meandered down, saw sometemperaryy fencing out which I think was in place for the big student demo that happened that same afternoon, can't believe we missed over a million people on the streets! Anyways, walked through a big park and over the river to the musee d'Orsay - the sight was met with a bit of a sigh - a huge queue waiting to get in! But, we decided to join it, I did a coffee run and about an hour later we were in! Big old train station filled with sculpture on the bottom floor, then art deco and up to the top for the famous names like Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir, all very impressive but Amy, Bonn and I sped round, had to wait a big for Merv to follow! After that we were hungry again and dived into a nearby eatery full of tourists for lunch, I had a crepe, about as French as I got in the food department!
Then we hit the road again and walked along the river, over to see the Lourve, then onto the Island to check out Notre Dame, big and beautiful inside but packed with people, thus noisy, and not really church like! We then trekked back over the river and tried to suss out some shops whilst it was still Saturday, but kinda came upon a dead end. Went into a supermarket for snacks instead (does sound like we were forever hungry) before catching the tube to an art gallery a friend in London recommended, the Palais de Tokyo. It was pretty cool, big installation art and interactive pieces, I liked it! Then, all exhausted, it was back to the hotel for some drinks and a game of cards!
On Sunday we spilt up, Amy went to check out another museum and I went with Merv and Bonn to a big market down the road from the hotel - its meant to be the biggest in the world! But the bit we came across wasn't that amazing, lots of clothes etc and junk, some antique type stuff, and found an indoors section of really flash (and pricey) stuff but nothing really worth looking at, did get some huge strawberry's from the food stalls, then headed into town to meet Amy.
The next thing was probably the weirdest, most unusual thing we did in Paris, went down 300 odd stairs and into an underground tunnel that lead us to a 1.5km network of pathways lined with the bones of over 6 million dead folks! It was a a bit spooky at first but after half and hour of it you kinda got used to it! There were also some tombs and plaques and things about life after death, then it was up and out into daylight again.
It was time to head to the Louvre, line up and get our tickets from the automatic machine, and head on in. Very dauting as it is so much to see, but after some random wandering, the Venus de Milo and some Greek vases, we went and saw the crown jewels, which were in a very over the top room, and very jewely. We all had very sore and well worn feet by then, so we had a quick peak at the ol' Mona Lisa, then called it a day and headed on back outside.
Desperate for food and with not much open, we decided on a kebab shop for a late lunch, but got a huge sit down feed for a good price, and got to watch French Funniest Home Videos!
Quick walk down to the Pompidou, stood and watched the busking outside for a bit, as it as a lovely sunny afternoon, then inside to - you guessed it queue! The building is great (kinda like the QEII swimming pool) with tubes and columns etc on the outside. Thescalatorer goes up on the outside too, showing more and more of the Paris sky line as you travel up.. lovely in the sunset, and at the top we stayed for ages taking photos. Which unfortunately meant I hardly had any time to see the museum before I had to run and catch the train home! Pity cos it looked really amazing, full of new and different stuff.
Oh well, all too soon the weekend had come to an end, left the others to keep exploring and headed back out to the train station and onwards back to London.
Great time all round, want to go back for a longer look.
Everything else going fine back home, spring has finally made an appearance so its getting warmer and flowers are coming out. Work is cool, feeling better after a short flu thing, nice day off work today.. yeah.
Hugs to you guys.. oh and can you believe its coming up to my one year anniversary!! I know!!
Love and smiley happy thoughts
claire xx
Paris Pic's
So, here are the photos of it all, picked out the best ones, hope it gives you an idea!
No prizes for guessing this one! It was amazing, and great to do it at night, got one good photo to come out of the view below.. it was a long way down...
Above is the arc de triomphe, not quite so grand but nice looking all the same. From there we walked down the Avenue des Champs-Elysées and took this other photo looking back up at the Arc, but to be honest the street was rather dull and quiet.
These are both from the top floor of the musée d'Orsay, a big art gallery. The building was an old train station and this is looking through the old clock.. thats Amy and Bonn looking out, and a close up of the view..
No prizes for guessing this one! It was amazing, and great to do it at night, got one good photo to come out of the view below.. it was a long way down...
Above is the arc de triomphe, not quite so grand but nice looking all the same. From there we walked down the Avenue des Champs-Elysées and took this other photo looking back up at the Arc, but to be honest the street was rather dull and quiet.
These are both from the top floor of the musée d'Orsay, a big art gallery. The building was an old train station and this is looking through the old clock.. thats Amy and Bonn looking out, and a close up of the view..
Paris Pic's
Gonna have to turn your heads cos can't work out how to flip em.. Me outside Notre Dame, and a beauiful stained glass window from the inside.
Amy and Merv outside the Louvre, this was when we first visited it on Saturday.
Amy and Merv outside the Louvre, this was when we first visited it on Saturday.
Paris Pic's
These were taken at this cool very modern art gallery we went to on Saturday night, the something Tokyo, it was recommended by a friend of mine.. a blurry fat man hanging from the ceiling and a giant floating skeleton.
Amy and Bonn trying out the hamster wheel linking two rooms at the gallery.
I took this one of us waiting for the Tube.. we spent a lot of time here, and trekking between the different train lines.. its a real rabbit warren of tunnels down there.
I really liked the cool Metro signs.. very Paris.
This is from down in the Catacombs, 1.5kms of tunnels underneath Paris that are lined with the bones of over 6 million Parisians. It was a little creepy at first but you got suprisingly used to it! Every-so-often the bones were made into a nice shape, like this heart!
Me and the dead folks.. morbid I know.
Paris Pic's
My only close up of art in the Louvre! Its not the Venus de Milo or the Mona Lisa.. its a cute little greek foot candle holder I found. I liked it anyways.This is a view of the Siene from the other side of the building.. not terribly exciting.
From one of the windows looking out into the main courtyard area.
Forgot to flip this one again, but its the room that has all the crown jewels, you weren't allowed to take photos inside so this is as close as I got. It was an amazing room, full of huge paintings and gold detail. Also lots of shining sparkly jewels!
This is from down in the Foyer of the Louvre, looking up from inside the glass pyramid.
Paris Pic's
OK, so one came out sideways.. and in a funny order but they are views from the top of the Pompidou, modern arts centre (thats it from the outside at the bottom) . Yet again, rather obviously its the Eiffel tower...
Above is the Sacra Coeur, which I didn't get to visit close up
The Wilsons looking out at the view, and left is the building from the outside, there was some street theatre going on which involved a guy stuffing three kids into a cardboard box on the table and then stabbing the box with spikes... all three made it out alive. There were also Mongoliann yodellers and a guy playing Beatles tunes on a guitar in the amphitheatree.
From here I had to rush off to the train station and home.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Photo album
So managed to get some more photos up, some are mine before my camera went to digital heaven, the rest are Jon's, who takes random photos here and there. enjoy.
Me with my chicken head set.. and the real,
cooked variety ready for Pancake tuesday
The feast begins...
Unfortunately none of the pancakes,
prolly cos Jon was too drunk by then...
Me with my chicken head set.. and the real,
cooked variety ready for Pancake tuesday
The feast begins...
Unfortunately none of the pancakes,
prolly cos Jon was too drunk by then...
Photo Album
The Globe theatre, with Tonys Cafe in the middle
for some reason...
The only pic of Waitangi day.. kiwi food items
on display!
classic tourist shot whilst out with amy
(its Buckingham palace by the way)
Photo album
Mmm attractive! At the dress up
Squatters Banquet..
My tattoo for those who ain't seen it
Hannah lookin a little drunk..
Is that Fosters?!
Pregnant Jabba (that is his name) got best costume award!
Dancing on the tables.. and what a dress!
Photo Album
Jesse in the corridor
Tabs (dressed up again)
Bare feet all the way!! This was at the double
birthday party in Janurary
Dan and the buddha
Andy and his purple hair.. and a
funny face.
Photo album
Shots from the kitchen.. the central hub of the squat.
Jon took the one of the firdge cos he thought it looked like a robot..
