The Next Paris Trip

I know this is a week late. But I've not got the time to write much lately. So I'm compiling a paragraph..save it as draft...and adding another whenever I have the time.
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The second time I set foot on Paris' soil, just 3 weeks from my first. I took RyanAir, the only budget airline that flies from Venice's Treviso airport to France's Beauvais airport. The cost was about 110 Euro for a return trip inclusive of tax. Took a connecting bus from Mestre to Treviso...an hour's journey due to the peak hour. Reached Treviso by 6:30pm on Friday evening. The sun was about to set now. The season is starting to change...daylight is not that lengthy anymore. My plane doesnt leave till 8:20pm. After I checked in, I spent some time lingering around the waiting area, checking out the only souvenir/chocolate/perfume shop in this small airport.

The boarding call came shortly after my snack. I was hungry. The wasn't any queue to board...just like the previous time. The crowd was just pushing through, as if they don't know the meaning of QUEUE. I made it to the plane without much of a hassle. I too have to keep a close distance to the one in front of me, to prevent these people from cutting in. So much for a civilized country. I've never been onto AirAsia before, this is my first(or rather second) budget plane ride. But RyanAir is all good. Comfortable black leather seats, nice stewardess and plenty of snacks to choose from. I bought a blueberry muffin and soup for my dinner. The flight took 2 hours, which reminds me of my monthly flights to Jakarta not so long ago. I kinda miss those days.

I landed in Beauvais in France. Just about 45mins away from Paris. This too is a small airport. I guess budget airlines are not allowed to stop at those huge international airport. So I had to take a bus into Paris. For a return bus trip it was 26Euro. Not that cheap I'd say. The ride felt like a long one...maybe I'm just tired and can't wait till i check in to my hotel and call it a night.

The next morning I woke up feeling even tired than the night before. Maybe because the hotel's bed wasn't as comfortable as the one I had back in Venice. I spent almost my entire day at Printemps (one of the most frequented shopping complex in Paris...all under one roof).


One block of the 3 blocks of Printemps
When I arrived by the RER its already lunch time. Huge crowds were gathering at the many entrances of this 3-building complex. I picked on of the less crowded ones and quickly made it through the door and head up to the salon, where I made an appointment right after lunch at 2pm for my haircut. Then I'm off to the top floor restaurant for my lunch. I ordered a Roasted Pork Ribs. A sumptuous meal. Though I regretted not able to finish it.

A pretty nifty spot for lunch.

My lunch-Roast Pork Ribs with Sweet Potato Fries


After lunch, it was almost time for my new make-over. So I headed 2 floors down to the salon. I was immediately ushered in...and assigned a stylist. The was even an english speaking stylist that recommended me a new hairstyle. I happily accepted his suggestion but at the same time I actually crossing my fingers. Hoping for a best bet. It felt as if im placing a bet on the gambling table, only this time...its my head im betting on, or rather...my hair. 2 hours later. I turned out alright. It's actually even better than what I've expected. No wonder most of the stylist back home came here for their training. Definitely worth a visit if you're here in Paris.

Summer sale's over now. So I only shop around for a little while and its almost dinner time. I'm gonna have to catch Eiffel tower before it gets dark. I needed the day and night view. So, this is the best time to go.

The queue was pretty long on both sides. Took me about 30mins or so to get my LIFT ticket to the top floor. There's also a WALKING ticket. I'd rather take the lift this time. Getting up is not easy too. The queue to the lift itself is not short either. And you would have to get off, change lift on the 2nd floor to get to the top. And there's another queue right there. This place is jammed packed with people of all nationality. By the time I got all the way to the top floor. It's already dusk. It's a breathtaking view from the top. After I had captured enough pictures, I headed down to the 2nd floor for a snack. I was munching away on my double sausages sandwich when I heard some ruckus from the outside. Looking out of the glass window, I saw people looking up to the sky...they face...pale, lit by the flashing of white lights coming from above. I too, of course rushed out...and what I saw was something truly unforgettable. The tower was 'dancing' before my eyes. The small lights are coming from corners of the tower. Bathing it in pure white light. I was awe-stucked for a while. Stood still, savouring that moment.


One of many the Eiffel Tower pictures I took.

Eiffel Tower after dark.
'Dancing' mode

Home is that far away from this part of the tower


View from above

Sun set view from tower top


By 9:30pm, I'm ready to head down and to my next destination - Hard Rock Cafe, Paris. The queue at the lift to come down was long, now that everyone has admired the night's main event (the dancing lights)...everyone just wanna get down and head home. Well, there wasn't actually a LINE...it was just a huge crowd of people gathered at the lift, waiting for it to come up. There are 2 couples of old folks behind me. They sort of eased their way through to get behind me and stood by me till the lift door open. Then to my surprised...these old couples ain't your typical weak, fragile bones grandparents. They pushed. And they pushed hard! I was like carried off in a sweep of a ocean wave. They pushed me and the person in front of me...all the way...ignoring all other people's shouting, swearing and crying. They just dont seem to care. I was in between. I cant fallback nor move to the front. I basically have no say in where I was pushed to...squeezed in between. They got into the lift alrite, with me too. The door closes right behind us, just after we entered. I can see eyes turning red and faces black from the people still standing outside the lifting as our lift starts to ease its way down. They will have to wait for the next...or the one after. These 2 old couples doesnt seem to feel any guilt or embarrassment at all. Not a single bit. They acted as if nothing has happen. Grrr...felt like slapping them twice on their wrinkled faces. Once we got out of the lift to the ground floor, they just rushed out into the horizon and was gone before I could have a second look at them.

The dinner at Hard Rock was uneventual except for a few usual staring eyes from those foreigners sitting next to my table.

A starter for a main
The next day i spent my entire morning at the Lourve. Purchased some more souvenirs.

The crowd at Mona Lisa's 'foot'
This is the only picture that caught everyone's attention


Caught a Metro to Notre Dame.

Notre Dame
After snapping some pictures and sitting around for like 10mins or so, its already evening. KFC for dinner. Somehow, it didnt taste that great this time. I dont know why. Perhaps I dont miss it so much now. 8pm and its early retirement for me.

The 3rd and last day...not much time left till my flight. I need to catch the 3:30pm shuttle bus to the airport. So I just went around town to do some light shopping. Along Metro line 1...where I can catch the connecting train to where my bus is waiting.

I reached home the other night, was exhausted until today. A weekend trip tend to get me all washed-out...most of the time. A 3 days 2 nites in Paris this time, is no longer the usual rush...but it's still a lil tiring, somehow.

Paris is unlike Venice, its a city with skyscrapers.


The clouds were plenty that day