battle beast
04-22-2009, 05:46 PM
On our third day in Paris, we took the train to The Arc and transferred to get to Notre Dame Cathedral. It's huge!
Inside were massive stained glass windows, absolutely beautiful. Nothing I have ever seen in my life can compare with the beauty of those windows. Spectacular!
The cathedral itself was amazing to look at... all of the carved walls, the famous Gargoyles, the wooden doors... just amazing. That’s the only word I can say to explain it.
I went into the cathedral and was immediately told "Moisuer, Chapeau" I forgot to take my hat off in church! Oops!!! :oops:
There were [people] outside the Cathedral. "Speak English? Read card!" They'd hold up a card and beg for money. "I am a refugee and I do not work. Give me money!
Uh, no! I work hard for my money, so you get a job! I understand their plight, but how poor are they really when they where Adidas sandals? :confused:
After that we took the train to the Eiffel Tower.
As the army patrolled the grounds with machine guns, these men ( they had thick accents; I mean to racism here) ran up to guest hawking cheesy mini tower replicas and other ****.
They didn't just peddle their wears, they HARRASSED you. There wasn't just one or two of them either; there was about twenty or thirty.
Another few of them ran around hawking umbrellas as it was sprinkling out.
As soon as a tour bus pulled up, EVERYONE ran to hawk stuff on the people in the busses. !!!
When you get to the tower, you have to wait in line to get your tickets. THAT takes a while. You also have to puts you bags through airport-like security. I understand why.
The Eiffel Tower cost €12.00 ($19.36 Can; $15.60 US) to up to the third floor, the top most part of the tower.
The elevator to the second floor was quick, but the elevator to the third floor took a while to wait for.
But each floor was worth the wait. It's so incredible to look out over Paris from the top of the tower... it's breathtaking, really.
On the third floor, you can even have a drink of champagne! :D
You have to wait to get the elevator back to the second floor, too. But no biggy.
As you exit the elevator at the bottom of the tower, those same men stand at the exit harassing you more and more. You just want to kick them ... you know where!
After the tower we went for dinner at French restaurant near our hotel. This place sold Crepes, mostly. I had a Crepe with ham and eggs in the middle.
BE WARNED! In France, they don't cook their eggs very well! Their Idea of fried eggs is very runny and still almost raw. Kinda like a blue rare steak. :ack: But it was still very good, and they use the best fresh cheese!!!
We retired early that night because we were going to go to Disneyland the next day! Woot!
Inside were massive stained glass windows, absolutely beautiful. Nothing I have ever seen in my life can compare with the beauty of those windows. Spectacular!
The cathedral itself was amazing to look at... all of the carved walls, the famous Gargoyles, the wooden doors... just amazing. That’s the only word I can say to explain it.
I went into the cathedral and was immediately told "Moisuer, Chapeau" I forgot to take my hat off in church! Oops!!! :oops:
There were [people] outside the Cathedral. "Speak English? Read card!" They'd hold up a card and beg for money. "I am a refugee and I do not work. Give me money!
Uh, no! I work hard for my money, so you get a job! I understand their plight, but how poor are they really when they where Adidas sandals? :confused:
After that we took the train to the Eiffel Tower.
As the army patrolled the grounds with machine guns, these men ( they had thick accents; I mean to racism here) ran up to guest hawking cheesy mini tower replicas and other ****.
They didn't just peddle their wears, they HARRASSED you. There wasn't just one or two of them either; there was about twenty or thirty.
Another few of them ran around hawking umbrellas as it was sprinkling out.
As soon as a tour bus pulled up, EVERYONE ran to hawk stuff on the people in the busses. !!!
When you get to the tower, you have to wait in line to get your tickets. THAT takes a while. You also have to puts you bags through airport-like security. I understand why.
The Eiffel Tower cost €12.00 ($19.36 Can; $15.60 US) to up to the third floor, the top most part of the tower.
The elevator to the second floor was quick, but the elevator to the third floor took a while to wait for.
But each floor was worth the wait. It's so incredible to look out over Paris from the top of the tower... it's breathtaking, really.
On the third floor, you can even have a drink of champagne! :D
You have to wait to get the elevator back to the second floor, too. But no biggy.
As you exit the elevator at the bottom of the tower, those same men stand at the exit harassing you more and more. You just want to kick them ... you know where!
After the tower we went for dinner at French restaurant near our hotel. This place sold Crepes, mostly. I had a Crepe with ham and eggs in the middle.
BE WARNED! In France, they don't cook their eggs very well! Their Idea of fried eggs is very runny and still almost raw. Kinda like a blue rare steak. :ack: But it was still very good, and they use the best fresh cheese!!!
We retired early that night because we were going to go to Disneyland the next day! Woot!