ROMANTIC PARIS - EIFEL TOWER

Day 57

PARIS, FRANCE


After we arrived in Nimes we thought..well why the heck not, let's go to Paris. We'd already psyched ourselves up to go when we thought we were going...

So that night, the night on the train station as soon as we arrived in Nimes, we booked a 3 day ticket to Paris! THE city, approx 600km's away...that we nearly ended up in before we got our reprieve by the conductor with the big smile as he waved us off the day the express train to Paris stopped for little ol us!

It took only 3 hours away on a high speed train.

And after spending time in Nimes seeing the Place Des Arenas (the huge 2005 year old amphitheatre) which was absolutely spectacular..and experience Nimes, the medieval southern French town that we almost missed....we were off to the romantic Paris!

Left Nimes, was initiated into French food, chicken roll with french fries which we got takeway to eat on the train..

THEN. UH oh, more dramas. As only we have! When we got on the 'right train to Paris' we searched for our booked seats. And there was someone in them!! What? Get out! We thought and didn't verbalise. The frenchman defiantly got out his pass...and yep, he had the same seats.

What was wrong?????????

Gulp. We didn't double check the dates. We just assumed that 'tomorrow' was the next day. She must have heard TO MORROW as TWO. TWO DAYS AWAY. We got the wrong date. We were supposed to be leaving that day..but with the language barriers there was a slight communication breakdown............

Right seats, wrong day.

Bit like in Nimes...when we said we wanted wine - vino - WINE! (As we lifted our hands to our mouth with the drinking movement). And the waitress looked at us in horror..."WINE!" "What is WINE?"

Wine? In Paris. What is wine? GOSH.....wine is your honey..your drink...the english word every French waitress should know.....

Anyway....that's another story. We should also know french shouldn't we. Afterall, wine is english, vino is Spanish...what's wrong with us!

We arrived at the Blue Planet Hostel, after searching for somewhere to stay and thinking we didn't really want to be roamning around Paris at night! And believe me, when you make mistakes like us, and accidently go down French train station tunnels and see the homeless set up with tents between pillars you really get a bit nervous...especially when they're peering at you........

We were pretty lucky really, to get the accomodation. It was a twin, toilet and shower in the corridor, and basic...no sheets or towels or anything. But the guy did say we could hire sheets and towels (we had our own).

There was no electricity. The place had internet though, the only consolation. And breakfast was included in the 63 Euro a night (because we had three beds, a bunk and another single!)...Really, the place that Lonely Planet recommends..is a total rip off. Due to the demand, they can ask their price.

All the accomodation recommended by Lonely Planet all of a sudden costs more. I wonder why. Well. Wouldn't you if your hostel was advertised in the Travellers Bible. Mental note. Don't go anywhere recommended by them. Find our own in future. It's cheaper. As we found out when we were booking for our return in a couple of months.

AND, it was a place to sleep, it was the weekend and it's 2 minutes from the railway station. And everywhere else was booked. Hostels don't take bookings. And the next night it all got a bit better. We were shifted to another room with toilet and shower (douch and wc) were included in the room.

The first thing we did in Paris (gosh, still can't believe we were in PARIS!!!!!) was to............see the EIFEL TOWER. Of course!!!!!!!!!

So off we go..maps in hand. A quicky prasy of where we were and how to get there (well, not so quick..long for Greg, quick for me cos i just watched while he navigated!) And....ohlala...we find the place where Moulin Roug was playing. Quick stop. Can we get in? We line up. Hopeful. Found we were in the line that was for a broadcast advertising thing that the people had to register prior for (according to the gorgeous helpful Frenchman in front of us) and so...back to another line....geepers...we act like sheep sometimes!

We found out it was booked for months...so we will book ahead for when we get back here in a couple of months!

So....off to the EIFEL TOWER.

Ohhhhh....we charged along the beautiful streets, soaked ourselves with the atmosphere and ambience of France..Paris...and walked the Champs Elysees...looked at all the monuments..dodged the cars....took in the view of the River Seine......got overwhelmed by everything French..looked beyond the carefully cultivated hedges..and...

THERE IT WAS!! Peaking out....from over the bridge and across the river...and past the ferries on the Seine.

Ohhhhhhh.

The Eifel Tower. The alluring Eifel Tower. The tower that I was to stand on with Elise when she was 15.

I thought so much of her.....(hi Elise my gorgeous, i know you're reading this!) and.......well.......Greg and i just took it in. And took pictures at every step as we moved closer. I got tears. Sounds weird. I mean..why was this so important? I dunno. Just always wanted to see it....since i arrived in the UK when i was 15 and knew France was just 'over there' from England. Just wanted to get here..and it took me a further 30 years (ok not quite) to get to Paris. To see the Tower. To see the Louvre. To breath in French air.

As we approached the tower...and took more pics..looked at the sillohuette on the river.....there it was...lighting up before us. How perfect could this be? Weather just beautiful....and the night equisite.

Then..it started twinkling...at exactly 9pm every light on the tower twinkled. We just loved it.

Fancy seeing the Tower like that. It was so romantic. We kissed. Ohhh......

Then he asked me to marry him.....

And i said yes!

So. We're getting married in Las Vegas...ohhhh

THEN

We got to the Tower. Lined up for 45 mintutes (just like you did Cazza..same sign i reckon..i took a pic so we can compare when we get home!) Booked our ticket for the top tower (of course....!) and we fought the crowds to get in the lift...and away we went. Gustave Eifels amazing tower had us onboard, very excited. We were in awe. It's a manmade wonder of the world alright. Very maginficant. Very worthwhile. And well..magical in a way. We spend until closing time on the tower ... and somehow managed to drum up some energy after our adventurous day and got the stairs down the second level. Didn't climb up cos the stairs had closed after 6pm to the second level (that's our excuse anyway) BUT we did climb down.

Magical night. Lights of Paris staring at us on a perfect, clear night. What a night to be asked for a second time to get married. Oh dear. Who wants to meet us in Vegas for the wedding?

The trip home, around screaming french cars, on trains, fighting people at odd hours, eating dinner from a scary, deserted underground vending machine, scattered with homeless and knowing we just had to move, fast, outta there, and falling into bed at 2.30am was worth it.

We saw the TOWER. FINALLY. And yes Elise..it's something you and David should see together, and yes Cazza i can see why your night there with Keith was romantic..it's a place for lovers. Especially at night.

Our first night in Paris.

Still can't believe it.