France - Paris - Day 1

10-05-2011

A little disappointed with the train as I was expecting something sleek and shiny, it was a little dilapidated on the outside but we slept alright.

On the metro going there was a man with a guitar and a mike singing a French song, so exciting to be in Paris.

Staying at a person's house rather than a hotel. It is very Parisian, there is a narrow door in between shops that opens into a courtyard. A young couple owns it and there are pictures and posters put up , high heels on various racks and a cat that lounges around.

Tried our luck at the Moulin Rouge but the show we would like to go for is sold out. Have read quite mixed reviews about the show but would still like to go watch it. The whole area seems straight from the movie, even the metro sign is done differently.

Browsed around the area for sometime and then made our way to the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur. Passed the Place du Tertre , loads of artists around there, a lot of them offer to do portraits. Around the cathedral there are various forms of entertainment , a man playing a harp , another singing and getting different people from the crowd to come sing with him as well as a bunch of boys hip-hopping.

Then the Eiffel Tower, it is humongous very impressive though not as pretty from up close as I would have expected. Want to go to the top at night so took various pictures and then went on a cruise.

The sightseeing cruise along the river Seine was fun, it was informative as well as scenic. A large number of sights are on the banks of the river.

Later walked along the banks, there is so much traffic yet the trees shield the noise quite well. Pont Alexandere III , was the most decorated of the bridges that we crossed.

The Louvre is shut today but it was nice to wander around in it's grounds without trying to rush in. Looking forward to seeing the inside tomorrow.

Next stop the Place de la Concorde, the Egyptian obelisk and the fountains make it beautiful. It was also the spot for the guillotine during the French Revolution, not so beautiful. From there the Champs Élysées commences, supposedly the most popular walk in Paris, it was lovely to walk it in the evening. It ends at the Arc de Triomphe , which was closed for climbs today, hopefully we will do it tomorrow.

Good day, a busy one tomorrow.

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