Paris

Wow. We had an amazing time in Paris, had a few hiccups of my own making, but it was still an incredible time. Many people know that i wanted to drive around L'arc de Triomphe, but after driving in Edinburgh i changed my mind. Well yesterday morning our Host Ettiene was kind enough to drive us into Paris in the morning. He didnt just stop there though, he drove past the Arc de triomphe, the embassies, the Ministry of Justice, The Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower to name a few. Then he went to park his car near his friends, and that involved driving around the Arc d'triomphe. Incredible! Cars on there are crazy. If it had lanes it would be at least three wide- but there are no lanes, which means that people simply drive their car whereever there is space, there was no uniformed way of driving. Some drove straight, some diagonally, it was every person for themselves! Great experience though :).

Etienne dropped us near the top of the Champs Elysee. We wandered down towards the centre - the kids laughin at me calling me a tourist because of all i was carrying, and because i wear my small pack on my front to avoid pick pockets. As we walked we found the bike racks where you hire a bike and drop it off when you finish with it at another bike stand. We grabbed a bike each and headed off. At certain times during the day, riding the bike on the road was like driving around the arc de triomphe - you look forward, and hit the pedal, dont look anywhere else and hope for the best! We survived, althought Dom advised me today that she thought it was really frightening.

The first place we cycled to was the Louvre. I made the mistake of talking to a street vendor. He tried to sell me an eiffell tower for 20e. Whe i kept refusing he stuck ten eiffel tower keyrings on it, and asked for 10e - a bargain i thought so i paid and he left me alone. ( I later discovered that i could have got the lot for 4e- oh well. 

The Louvre was amazing. It was huge, and at times seemed like all of Egypt was in it. If you want to see history in Egypt go to the Louvre, somehow the French have an incredible amount of artefacts there. We saw the Mona Lisa, and the Wedding at Cana. Words dont do the Louvre justice, so I wont try, but it was amazing. We took loads of photos, there are just a few below.

After the Louvre we got back on our bikes and headed in the direction of the Catacombs, or so we thought. We were unable to find them no matter how hard we tries, so we gave up and went to the Notre Dame cathedral instead. It was incredible in there. So old and full of tradition. Silence was required of everybody and we hadto take off our hats, a place full of tourists but respected as a holy place- nice. When we came out of the cathedral i decided to text Gerald for his address. It was then that i discovered that i didnt have my phone...arghh. Dominique and I went off in search of an internet cafe. Eventually we found one, and sent off messages on couch surfing. Ettiene had facebooked me and said that he found the phone in his car - but he lived more than 35 mins drive away - and we had left our car at his house.  I sent Gerald a message and advised him that i had lost my phone, but would still like to stay, and said i would check my messages again later for his address. Due to circumstances that later unfolded i never got back to the internet cafe. 

Dom and I decided it was time to cycle to the Eiffel Tower. Our tickets specified 7.30pm and we had arranged to meet Josh and Dillon there at 7pm.We pedalled and pedalled and pedalled, but the tower didnt seem to be getting any closer. By the time it got to 7.20 i realised we werent going to make it on the bikes. We padlocked them to a railing and hailed down the nearest taxi. The driver said we should walk and started yelling at me in French. I said we had to be there in 5 mins. Eventually he agreed to take us - but we had to sit in the back, haha so funny. We got there with a moment to spare, found Josh and Dillon and ran to the ticket entry. It was like runnign the amazing race- crazy! But we got there and got in. We went to the very top of the tower, and drank flutes of French champagne, fanc and expesive but how often do we get to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower! It was awesome - spectacular views, sunset, moon rising - you name it we had it!

After the tower we walked our way back to the chained up bikes, in order to return them to the stands. I quickly discovered that i had lost one of the hire tickets, and we were all worried about what we were going to do with three bikes, and two tickets! Dillon and I spent 30 minutes at the machine entering codes, trying to establish which code it was, but to no avail. In the end we just clicked the bikes into the electronic stands, hoping that they would be recognised, but thinking we might get charged 150e for a missing bike. By then it was after 11pm, i knew it was futile looking for another internet cafe. So with no where to sleep we tried looking for hotels. There was no room at the Inn. Eventually one of the full hotels rang around the others and found us two rooms for the night - as there were four of us we had to pay for two rooms. 400 e but it meant that we werent sleeping on the street, which i may have done it was just me, but it wasnt just me so a hotel it was! About 1am we all managed to climb into bed, and a much needed sleep!

Disney was amazing- the photos speak for themselves. We caught the Metro train and then transferred to a train to Disney. It was a two storey train! Dom and i separated form Josh and Dillon at Disney- and we had the camera which is why the pics are mostly of her. We met up at meal times etc. Disney isnt the place for Adrenalin rides but it was magical.

At 10:15pm at Disney they began a spectacular light show. it was incredible. Like a santa parade, but better and all lit up in the dark. Then they had a show projected onto the castle, and fireworks . It all came to an end just after 11pm. Amazing, just amazing, and no hiccups like the day before. Our couchsurfer host Ettiene kindly picked us up from the park at the end - fantastic weekend. Credit card took a hammering this weekend, but it was the first and hopefully last time that happenned.  (this is brief because i am so tired. Off the past 36 hrs, 27 were spent on our feet in Paris)

Shiah and Jerry you have matching woody outfits coming your way x