Written: 5/28/2010
(Please note that these blogs may not reflect my thoughts at the time of their posting. Instead they tell the story that I would have told at that time.)
If you would have asked me last night if I liked Paris at all, I would have said hell no.
But thank goodness I gave it a second chance, because I'm starting to like this city just a little bit more. I'm not sure if it's one of my favorites yet, but I am definitely sticking around to see more.
It's been quite an adventure so far in Paris. More adventure and intrigue than I have ever seen before.
As you know, I got to Paris via train at approximately nine at night (I'm starting to thank my lucky stars that I didn't end up taking to last train. I wouldn't have gotten to Paris until nearly eleven). We pulled into la Gare de l'est and I headed to find the line 7 on the Metro. I knew that it was the pink line, heading south. But I had forgotten to look up at which stop I was supposed to get off. And therefore I decided to guess (I was actually pretty close, but we'll get to that later).
I waited in line to get my ticket; I decided to go to the counter instead of the machine so I could also get a map of the city transportation systems (that and I was a little wary of these machines).
Remember that I just got into town, so I had my pink polka-dotted carry-on bag and backpack with me (big black one is still in the Frankfurt airport luggage storage, thank goodness).
In France you purchase your ticket, your day card, or whichever/however long your ticket is good for. Then instead of just walking to your subway and getting on like you do in Germany (and if you don't have a ticket when the police come around, then you get caught and have to pay fines), you have to slide your ticket through a reader and then go through a turn-table thing (I can't remember what they're called exactly, but you see them a lot at sports stadiums and such), and then proceed to your metro train.
Well, there are two parts that you have to push your way through. Before it locks up again.
I'm sure all can see where this is going now, can't you?
I slide my ticket in, push my way through the first gate, grab my ticket and then...
I got stuck! The second gate locked before I could get through! I panicked! I freaked out!
And of course, this is the time that I can't remember my French.
How do you say "HELP!" in French? I can remember "to help" is "aider." But a shout of distress, I just can't remember. Instead I just shouted in English and German.
But people didn't come to my rescue. I mean, I thought I had seen a policeman or some other man of security just up the stairs, and what about the woman behind the counter? People just kept passing by to get on their respective subways.
Finally a nice woman came by and slid her multi-day card in. I was free! Finally!
(Since you can't slide you card twice, the woman ended up going under the turn-style thing. Why didn't I think if that? Of course, I just panicked. But I don't think I could have gotten myself and my luggage under anyways.)
And now to the part of guessing.
I knew that my stop would be after the river, so I guessed the main station after the Seine and got off there.
Of course it was raining. That was just my luck last night.
Luckily there was a small cafe/bar just across the street. I sat down, ordered a mojito, and began looking up the information. I finished my mojito- boy was it strong- and left the cafe. I followed the map, and before you know it, I was at the stop I should have gotten off at- I was only one stop off! I continued on my way, and finally I arrived at Young and Happy hostel.
This has to be one of the worst hostels I've stayed in. We'll get to more reasons on that later.
But this one isn't next a sex theater/night club, instead it's on a tiny street lined with cute little shops and restaurants. Though it wasn't that easy for me to find, I think the location is kinda great. It's sorta like the hostel we (Max Kade) stayed in while in Vienna, location wise that is. Kinda tucked out of the way in the residential part of the city.
IT HAS NO ELEVATORS. AND I'M ON THE TOP FLOOR.
Once I got my stuff up the five flights of stairs, I stood looking out the small, quintessential window in the room.
That view made it all worth it, the view of picturesque France.
No, I can't see the Eiffel tower from here, but this view just had a sweet, wonderful feel about it.
By this time it was about 11pm or so, and I thought it was a decent time to try to sleep. Once I got comfortable, got used to the noise outside, and after the other people came in (luckily all these people were in their twenties- I have not seen an older person here yet!), I fell asleep and didn't get up until my alarm went off at eight. I think that had to be the best first night sleep I had ever had.
It did take me some effort to get up however, but I made sure that I made it to breakfast on time. It was similiar to the German breakfasts I've had in hostels, except there was absolutely no meat.
Now here is where I will tell you the worst part about this hostel. The shower.
I've come to expect the push buttons (the water only stays on for a few minutes, then turns off again. Like many faucets in public bathrooms), and I've come to expect the possibility of lukewarm at best. But never do I like a dirty shower room. Not like this. It was nasty. Luckily I had my flip-flops. Who knows what disgusting germs were on that floor.
To say the least, I got in and out as quickly as I could. I was so quick I didn't even give myself time to complain about the fact that there was no temperature adjustment.
I was out of the hostel by quarter to eleven and thought that I would just walk around and find what there is to see. Wrong choice. Though the street I am staying on is quite nice, if I would have taken to the concept the entire day, it would take me years to see all of Paris. So I got out my handy-dandy map and decided to go to the nearest monument or notable place.
Luckily a Frenchman asked me if I was lost, and even though I wasn't really- I just didn't know where I wanted to go- he told me how to get to the "Jardin du Luxembourg," just down the street (you can cross that stereotype off your list- the French are very nice people.... maybe too nice, but more on that later). I started there, and wow... it was gorgeous.
And there it was: my first view of the legendary Eiffel tower. Still a ways away, it was awesome to see it for the first time. I walked around the gardens; there's benches everywhere, and chairs all around. It is a runner's favorite place- there were so many out running in the Jardin!
Next up I headed to the Notre Dame, and took a detour to see the Pantheon. And without even realizing it, I came across the Bibliotheque de Saint-Geneive, which I had studied in my art history class about architecture a couple of semesters ago.
I was so engrossed in the scenery around me, the people on the street, the store fronts, etc., that I almost didn't notice I had reached my destination. Notre Dame. The church of our lady.
Okay, sorry to cut this short, but I just realized the time and that I am getting tired. Not to mention the hand cramp from typing. I promise I will write again and tell you the most interesting part of my first full day in Paris.
No comments:
Post a Comment