GETTING THERE
Ahhhhh, Paris. This year...a trip to Paris and it was great. I wanted to do something very last minute. What I was originally going to do was use a US Airways special deal called 'e-savers', they're very last minute deals that are posted every Wed. But you never know where exactly these specials will be going, so you have to be able to be flexible. Unfortunately the only e-saver available the week I was looking at was to Rome, and since my traveling companion, Pete, had already been to Rome we opted to find a last minute deal on Priceline. It wasn't quite as cheap as I was hoping, but hey, how often am I in Paris? The flight out was delayed slightly but otherwise was uneventful, although long at just under 8 hours. We flew into Charles De Gaul airport. We were staying in an area known as the Republique and it is possible to take the train/metro directly from CDG. Metro/Train tickets are 1.60 euros for a one way ticket. You can get a 10 pack for just over 11 euros and there is a weekly pass that is available (I think for around 40-50 euros) that allows you to ride the Train/Metro all week long. We eventually bought a 10 pack and this lasted us pretty well the whole week. We would generally metro somewhere, walk all over that area and metro home in the evening. We opted for a cab from CDG and it was 45 euros to the Holiday Inn, Republique.
HOME SWEET HOME
We stayed at the Holiday Inn, Rebuplique which was a pretty nice place. It has a very Parisy-exterior but is modern on the inside with a decent bar and restaraunt. The desk staff were very nice and all spoke excellent English. The rooms were decent size for Europe. They have individual thermostats, although I don't think the air conditioning was on (it was still cool outside) because my and Peter's rooms never got cold with that air on. It would have been totally fine to open the window as it was nice and cool out except that our rooms opened out to the Republique traffic circle which was very loud. Some pics from the hotel and the Republique circle.
THE EIFFEL TOWER...ALMOST
We unpack and immediately set out for the Eiffel Tower. I find the Paris Metro more confusing then the Metro in either Madrid or Barcelona. The ticket machines do not offer multiple languages and are only in French. There was some issue with our credit cards that wouldn't allow us to use them (I have read they require a special card that has some kind of microchip in it which US cards do not have). It's fine if you can find a ticket window with a live person, but not every station has one. But we eventually get our metro tickets and are on our way.
We get off at the Ecole Militare metro stop so we can wander a bit and approach the Eiffel Tower from the distance to get the full effect. It's great, I love it as soon as I emerge from the metro. We are near a military academy that previously taught Napoleon.
It's exactly what I think Paris should look like, The Eiffel Tower is at the other end of tree-lined grassy parkway.
We pass the Peace Memorial on the Champ du Mars and stroll leisurely toward the tower.
It is immense, It's brown metal is pretty against the bright blue sky as fluffy clouds lazily drift by. I can feel the sense of Parisian history that stretches out before me, we close in on the base of the structure. The tower is massive, metal, and dominates your view, but is at the same time, airy and uplifting. We approach the ticket counter to purchase our tickets to ascend to the top, a perfect begining to our Paris vacation! ... Then I find that my wallet has been stollen.
Yup, stollen
....bastards. Ruined my idyllic freakin Parisian moment.
The sky darkens as the Eiffell Tower shrinks as I make my way back on the metro, back to the hotel to spend the next three hours cancelling my credit cards....bastards.
DAMN KOSOVO REFUGEES
Well, I think it happened as I approached the Eiffel Tower. A woman appraoched me and asked if I speak English, when I say yes, she holds out a card for me to read. It's a very sad story written in a shaky hand that tells of the terrible case of a family running from the terrors of war in Kosovo. Of a family broken and begging on the streets of Paris, far from home and family. I, being a jaded Philly city boy, ignore her pleas for money, after spending a few polite moments reading her card. I'm almost positive it was then she lifted my wallet.
Karma is a bitch.
So, the inevitable traveller disclaimer: Be cautious of pick pockets.
I thought I was better than this, a more seasoned traveler who should have known better. Luckily I have copies of all of my credit cards and driver's license in the safe in my hotel room, along with two hundred dollars which I hadn't excahnegd. Of course it would have been better if I had also left in the safe all the stuff I wouldn't use at all, so I wouldn't have to cancel every card I own. Better still, if I had placed my items in my front pocket where it would have been safer...sigh. Luckily Peter is with me and can pay for pretty much everything I need the rest of the week...we'll straighten out the finances later, crisis averted (for the most part). I am a bit travel weary and stressed and don't feel like searching long for a spot for dinner. Our first meak in Paris...at the German Brathause on the circle near our hotel.
Tomorrow is a new day.
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