Yesterday was the big day. We arrived in Paris via London, via Los Angelos, via Seattle in about 12 hours. The ride over to Europe was just ok. A couple of bad hours wishing you could stretch out but other than that, non eventful... My kind of flight.
We immediately worked on finding the right transportation into the center of Paris from Charles DeGaul Airport. This was not an easy task. With my French speaking abilities being non-existent other than Please-thank you- and excuse me... I was on my own. We finally took a stab at it and got on the bus that I knew went into town, I just didn't know where in town, and the driver didn't know where either... in English that is.
Long story short: We made it. We found our Hostel and we had a place to sleep that was clean and in-expensive. After being here two days, here are my first reflections.
1. Way to expensive. I don't know what French people do, but they pay about double for normal things that I do. So either they are making double the money and live the life I live, they get subsidies from the goverment or they live carefully within their means. All I know is there were Parisians' of all shapes and sizes spending money like crazy.
2. The gypsys around the Eiffel Tower are really a nuisance. Begging for money in all kinds of creative ways. The good thing is the French are cleaning it up and staying on them. As soon as they see the police they run (See picture above). Notice the silly grin on her face as she thought she was fooling the police. They caught her on the other side.
We immediately worked on finding the right transportation into the center of Paris from Charles DeGaul Airport. This was not an easy task. With my French speaking abilities being non-existent other than Please-thank you- and excuse me... I was on my own. We finally took a stab at it and got on the bus that I knew went into town, I just didn't know where in town, and the driver didn't know where either... in English that is.
Long story short: We made it. We found our Hostel and we had a place to sleep that was clean and in-expensive. After being here two days, here are my first reflections.
1. Way to expensive. I don't know what French people do, but they pay about double for normal things that I do. So either they are making double the money and live the life I live, they get subsidies from the goverment or they live carefully within their means. All I know is there were Parisians' of all shapes and sizes spending money like crazy.
2. The gypsys around the Eiffel Tower are really a nuisance. Begging for money in all kinds of creative ways. The good thing is the French are cleaning it up and staying on them. As soon as they see the police they run (See picture above). Notice the silly grin on her face as she thought she was fooling the police. They caught her on the other side.
3. I packed too much! I always do this. My backpack weighs a ton... I mean I'm talking 2000 lbs. Tomorrow I am modifying. I have a new plan and I am buying a new bag.
A couple of pics to look at: A great shot of my traveling partner Stephen Novotny Jr. who is 18.
Tomorrow we go to the Louve and stare at the Mona Lisa. We will see if her eyes really follow you.
A look outside our window in the Hostel we are staying at. BTW... we were in a room for four people and there was one chinese guy in there with us. We kept smelling somthing really stinky. I thought it was my son's feet. After searching high and low we found out it was this chinese guys socks. They were so bad I almost lost my croissants. Anyway... the chinese guy is still probably trying to figure out what happenned to his socks. He can't ask me unless he knows... English.
1 comment:
Steve and Steven,
We are jealous. Wish we were there. Stay away from the stinky cheese.
Your friends,
Mike and Leticia
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