Well we woke up after a very good nights sleep and mooched to breakfast which was a basic buffet but all you needed (including sneaky baguettes and cake for lunch time, hoorah for the hidden sandwich bags in my backpack)
Todays mission-the Eiffel Tower and it was indeed a mission. We got the RER/Metro to the Eiffel Tower, got there around 10am and were terrified to note how huuuuge the queues were. So we thought oh well whilst in Rome… then we noticed the two back Pillars (the Champ de Mars side) hadtiny lines, so off we went to investigate. Well turned out this is where you went if you were happy to walk up the tower… We are pretty fit people so we thought hell, we aren’t going to the gym this week, let’s do it!!!! It was 4 euros each to go up the stairs and there is 700 to get to the second floor. To be honest it isn’t a total killer either (except when we started off jogging up them enthusiastically we soon felt “the burn” and quickly abandoned that idea) but it really isn’t that difficult-I think you are too busy ooh and aahing aqt the inside of the structure and it is dog leg stairs a few at a time so not too hideous at all.
e having a rest:
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08139.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The reason I was having a rest, all 700 of them to be precise!
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08140.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08140.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The queue for the lifts! (the snaky bit on the left in the top right hand corner the people who look like they are in a sheep pen are the ones queung to walk up biiiiig difference in waiting time!)
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08136.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
When you get to the second floor there is a lift to the top-we queued for 20 minutes (it said over half an hour wait but it wasn’t) and paid 4,20. MAKE SURE YOU PAY AT THE DESK FIRST we saw no end of people in the line who when you get to the sign above the lift that says “you must have a ticket to ride” having to leave the queue after waiting all that time as they thought you paid there and then. No you buy your ticket from a kiosk in the middle o the second floor. (There are signs that say this all the way up but people did seem to have missed it).
View to the top from second floor:
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08147.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08147.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Well we got on the lift to the top (which is glass) and up we went-I was last in so could see out, which to be quite honest I wasn;t terribly pleased about, The thing goes up and up and up then up more then it is still going up-it seems to go up forever it is staggering. Then your ears pop! I watched the footage back last night as I filmed the whole ascent and we both sat there going oh my god….
HOWEVER when you are at the top it really doesn’t feel that high and it isn’t even remotely scarey. Maybe because you are too high to truly take in the perspective, it was also relatively breezy up there but not once did you feel any movement of the tower. It was well worth a visit (8,20 each in total to get up there) and don’t be put off by fear of heights it really isn’t all that scarey (just don’t look out the lift window!!)
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08160.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08160.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Well once we had photographed all angles and decided to go down it was a 10 minute queue back to the second floor then we got the lift all the way to the bottom for time saving purposes. We had decided that all that climbing deserved us a trip to..
ANGELINAS
This is famous for hot chocolates and cakes and is at 228 Rue de Rivoli (the street is well numbered) nestled in amongst the little restaurants and souvenir shops. If you stand with you back to the Louvre facing the Musee de Louvre Metro stop it is about a 5-10 minute walk to your left and just before the entrance to the Jardins de Tuilieres. Angelinas the place of “L’Africain” Angelinas signature world famous hot chocolate. Even a chocolate lover like me felt sick as a dog after it. It was all in all about 25 euros (L’African was about 9 euros then we had 2 cheesecakes on top of and some water) Now we only went there for the drink but when you see the cakes you will know what I mean. They couldn’t not be sampled. The chocolate is almost like pure melted chocolate, very rich cocoa taste and very thick in a jug. It also comes with a bowl of what we reckon was freshly whipped double cream (it certainly wasn’t out of a can) which you spoon into it! It is very fancy inside don’t be put off they are very welcoming and it is very relaxing. DO have a jug of water if they offer it you’ll need it. The jug of choc was enough for 2 cups each and I do intend to go back there at xmas, it was quite an experience!
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08206.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08206.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08208.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08208.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
To get there we got on the Bir-Hakeim (green line 6) Metro stop (stand facing Seine back to the Eiffel Tower-go LEFT to get to it) this took us to CDG Etoile and from here we took the Yellow line (1) to Musee du Louvre stop. It is worth noting Bllr Hakim to CDG Etoile is one of the few above ground Metro Lines and it CROSSES OVER THE SEINE so it’s pretty and scenic too.
After Angelinas we got on at the Louvre Metro and headed along the Yellow Metro Line (No. 1) to Charles De Gaulle Etoile stop. Here you get off by the Arc De Triomph, we stood here for quite a while watching the suicide mission that is the French driving round the Champs Elysee (we could have stayed there all day it’s hilarious) before mooching down the Champs Elysees. Here of course there was a stop at the Disney store, where I purchased some bits and they nearly didn’t let me have the shareholders discount (they told me it expired Feb 2008….I pointed out the bit above it on the card that said “Depuis” meant since Feb 2008) and I got my 10% off not to be sniffed at!
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08171.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08171.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08187.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08187.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08188.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08188.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08190.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08190.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08184.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08184.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
We walked all the way from the Arc de Triomph to the Place de Concorde (yes that is a serious amount of walking) and carried on through back to the Tuilierres to (I know we should have just walked up it rather than getting the train and coming back down in the first place especially as we wanted to go back to the CDG Etoile stop next-but hey we hadn’t intended to walk that far it just happened!!) although there was some event in the gardens with men dressed in navy gear (Napoleon was at the front) and there was a traditional military band and off they marched which was nice to catch.
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08199.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08199.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Our next destination was MONTMARTRE, so reverse journey back to CDG Etoile on Yellow Line No. 1 to get Blue Line No. 2 to Pigalle (this is the red light district, kind of the SOHO of Paris.) Honestly you have never seen so many adult shops in your life (well I haven’t) but that asides it wasn;t the sleaqzy far corner of Paris it was made out to be it was a normal street with um colourful boutiques on for over 18’s only! We walked down towards Place de Clichy as here is where the world famous Moulin Rouge is located. Outside the Moulin Rouge was one of the little land trains (very touristy we have them here in Torquay and I wouldn’t be seen dead on one but when in Paris…) this was 6 euros each or free if you had the Paris Visite card. It took us on a very bumpy ride to the Sacre Coeur (an unexpected bonus) where we got off and went for a wander.
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08217.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08217.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08223.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08223.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Took photos of the sacre Coeur then wandered round the corner to the PLACE DU TERTRE. Famously home of the artists. Montmartere is more of what I wanted to see of Paris with it’s little back streets and alleys, street cafs and bars and I loved it,
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08227.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08227.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
so we stopped on the Place du Tertre at a little restaurant called Eguenes, watching the bustle and the artists it was perfect, very PArisienne however we felt we needed more, so…. One bottle of rose and a plate of caisses de Grenouilles later (yes that is frogs legs and about 14 euros, wine 22 euros) we felt more touristy than ever. Never tried frogs legs before and have to say they were rather pleasant. Not much meat on them, very deep fried and smothered in garlic butter (heart not happy!) bit is a bit like eating a chicken wing that tastes of Cod. They went down very well and again lovely lovely waiter who spoke good English (I was trying my French on them but it clearly was so awful they found it easier to speak to me in English however by day 4 I was being asked if I was French or English so the accent was clearly getting better!)
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08230.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08230.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
After our froggy legs we wandered back down past the sacre Coeur and back in the direction of the Moulin rouge stopping at le chat noir for deux biere s’il vous plait (at 9 euros a bier we didn’t repeat this!!) with a bit of wine and a bier inside me I headed to the Moulin Rouge to carry out a long standing ambition….. which was to have a photo of me outside the Moulin rouge doing something silly with my leg….
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=DSC00543.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/DSC00543.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Yep I achieved it my days as a dancer were clearly not wasted.
After here we headed to the Champs Elysees for something to eat as we had noted earlier in the day it wasn’t too badly priced (you could eat elsewhere in Paris for way cheaper but it was more about the location this holiday) found a restaurant about halfway down where main meals were about 10 euros and hubby had a main that was about 12,90 for pasta of the day and drink included. It was Café de Roma or similar there is also one at Val D’ Europe.
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08252.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08252.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
After this it was clearly time for bed as tomorrow was checkout and move on to Disneyland!!!!!
Todays mission-the Eiffel Tower and it was indeed a mission. We got the RER/Metro to the Eiffel Tower, got there around 10am and were terrified to note how huuuuge the queues were. So we thought oh well whilst in Rome… then we noticed the two back Pillars (the Champ de Mars side) hadtiny lines, so off we went to investigate. Well turned out this is where you went if you were happy to walk up the tower… We are pretty fit people so we thought hell, we aren’t going to the gym this week, let’s do it!!!! It was 4 euros each to go up the stairs and there is 700 to get to the second floor. To be honest it isn’t a total killer either (except when we started off jogging up them enthusiastically we soon felt “the burn” and quickly abandoned that idea) but it really isn’t that difficult-I think you are too busy ooh and aahing aqt the inside of the structure and it is dog leg stairs a few at a time so not too hideous at all.
e having a rest:
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08139.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The reason I was having a rest, all 700 of them to be precise!
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08140.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08140.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The queue for the lifts! (the snaky bit on the left in the top right hand corner the people who look like they are in a sheep pen are the ones queung to walk up biiiiig difference in waiting time!)
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08136.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
When you get to the second floor there is a lift to the top-we queued for 20 minutes (it said over half an hour wait but it wasn’t) and paid 4,20. MAKE SURE YOU PAY AT THE DESK FIRST we saw no end of people in the line who when you get to the sign above the lift that says “you must have a ticket to ride” having to leave the queue after waiting all that time as they thought you paid there and then. No you buy your ticket from a kiosk in the middle o the second floor. (There are signs that say this all the way up but people did seem to have missed it).
View to the top from second floor:
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08147.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08147.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Well we got on the lift to the top (which is glass) and up we went-I was last in so could see out, which to be quite honest I wasn;t terribly pleased about, The thing goes up and up and up then up more then it is still going up-it seems to go up forever it is staggering. Then your ears pop! I watched the footage back last night as I filmed the whole ascent and we both sat there going oh my god….
HOWEVER when you are at the top it really doesn’t feel that high and it isn’t even remotely scarey. Maybe because you are too high to truly take in the perspective, it was also relatively breezy up there but not once did you feel any movement of the tower. It was well worth a visit (8,20 each in total to get up there) and don’t be put off by fear of heights it really isn’t all that scarey (just don’t look out the lift window!!)
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08160.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08160.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Well once we had photographed all angles and decided to go down it was a 10 minute queue back to the second floor then we got the lift all the way to the bottom for time saving purposes. We had decided that all that climbing deserved us a trip to..
ANGELINAS
This is famous for hot chocolates and cakes and is at 228 Rue de Rivoli (the street is well numbered) nestled in amongst the little restaurants and souvenir shops. If you stand with you back to the Louvre facing the Musee de Louvre Metro stop it is about a 5-10 minute walk to your left and just before the entrance to the Jardins de Tuilieres. Angelinas the place of “L’Africain” Angelinas signature world famous hot chocolate. Even a chocolate lover like me felt sick as a dog after it. It was all in all about 25 euros (L’African was about 9 euros then we had 2 cheesecakes on top of and some water) Now we only went there for the drink but when you see the cakes you will know what I mean. They couldn’t not be sampled. The chocolate is almost like pure melted chocolate, very rich cocoa taste and very thick in a jug. It also comes with a bowl of what we reckon was freshly whipped double cream (it certainly wasn’t out of a can) which you spoon into it! It is very fancy inside don’t be put off they are very welcoming and it is very relaxing. DO have a jug of water if they offer it you’ll need it. The jug of choc was enough for 2 cups each and I do intend to go back there at xmas, it was quite an experience!
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08206.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08206.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08208.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08208.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
To get there we got on the Bir-Hakeim (green line 6) Metro stop (stand facing Seine back to the Eiffel Tower-go LEFT to get to it) this took us to CDG Etoile and from here we took the Yellow line (1) to Musee du Louvre stop. It is worth noting Bllr Hakim to CDG Etoile is one of the few above ground Metro Lines and it CROSSES OVER THE SEINE so it’s pretty and scenic too.
After Angelinas we got on at the Louvre Metro and headed along the Yellow Metro Line (No. 1) to Charles De Gaulle Etoile stop. Here you get off by the Arc De Triomph, we stood here for quite a while watching the suicide mission that is the French driving round the Champs Elysee (we could have stayed there all day it’s hilarious) before mooching down the Champs Elysees. Here of course there was a stop at the Disney store, where I purchased some bits and they nearly didn’t let me have the shareholders discount (they told me it expired Feb 2008….I pointed out the bit above it on the card that said “Depuis” meant since Feb 2008) and I got my 10% off not to be sniffed at!
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08171.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08171.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08188.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08188.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08184.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08184.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
We walked all the way from the Arc de Triomph to the Place de Concorde (yes that is a serious amount of walking) and carried on through back to the Tuilierres to (I know we should have just walked up it rather than getting the train and coming back down in the first place especially as we wanted to go back to the CDG Etoile stop next-but hey we hadn’t intended to walk that far it just happened!!) although there was some event in the gardens with men dressed in navy gear (Napoleon was at the front) and there was a traditional military band and off they marched which was nice to catch.
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08199.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08199.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Our next destination was MONTMARTRE, so reverse journey back to CDG Etoile on Yellow Line No. 1 to get Blue Line No. 2 to Pigalle (this is the red light district, kind of the SOHO of Paris.) Honestly you have never seen so many adult shops in your life (well I haven’t) but that asides it wasn;t the sleaqzy far corner of Paris it was made out to be it was a normal street with um colourful boutiques on for over 18’s only! We walked down towards Place de Clichy as here is where the world famous Moulin Rouge is located. Outside the Moulin Rouge was one of the little land trains (very touristy we have them here in Torquay and I wouldn’t be seen dead on one but when in Paris…) this was 6 euros each or free if you had the Paris Visite card. It took us on a very bumpy ride to the Sacre Coeur (an unexpected bonus) where we got off and went for a wander.
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08217.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08217.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08223.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08223.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Took photos of the sacre Coeur then wandered round the corner to the PLACE DU TERTRE. Famously home of the artists. Montmartere is more of what I wanted to see of Paris with it’s little back streets and alleys, street cafs and bars and I loved it,
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08227.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08227.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
so we stopped on the Place du Tertre at a little restaurant called Eguenes, watching the bustle and the artists it was perfect, very PArisienne however we felt we needed more, so…. One bottle of rose and a plate of caisses de Grenouilles later (yes that is frogs legs and about 14 euros, wine 22 euros) we felt more touristy than ever. Never tried frogs legs before and have to say they were rather pleasant. Not much meat on them, very deep fried and smothered in garlic butter (heart not happy!) bit is a bit like eating a chicken wing that tastes of Cod. They went down very well and again lovely lovely waiter who spoke good English (I was trying my French on them but it clearly was so awful they found it easier to speak to me in English however by day 4 I was being asked if I was French or English so the accent was clearly getting better!)
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08230.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08230.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
After our froggy legs we wandered back down past the sacre Coeur and back in the direction of the Moulin rouge stopping at le chat noir for deux biere s’il vous plait (at 9 euros a bier we didn’t repeat this!!) with a bit of wine and a bier inside me I headed to the Moulin Rouge to carry out a long standing ambition….. which was to have a photo of me outside the Moulin rouge doing something silly with my leg….
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=DSC00543.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/DSC00543.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Yep I achieved it my days as a dancer were clearly not wasted.
After here we headed to the Champs Elysees for something to eat as we had noted earlier in the day it wasn’t too badly priced (you could eat elsewhere in Paris for way cheaper but it was more about the location this holiday) found a restaurant about halfway down where main meals were about 10 euros and hubby had a main that was about 12,90 for pasta of the day and drink included. It was Café de Roma or similar there is also one at Val D’ Europe.
<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/?action=view¤t=Disney08252.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/0rion33/Disney08252.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
After this it was clearly time for bed as tomorrow was checkout and move on to Disneyland!!!!!
