At the outset we should thank ourselves for meticulous plan that gone into making our first weekend in Paris successful (patting on my back----it is really paining guys).
It took a while to lift our lazy bodies out of bed and head to rest room. It was 11AM -29 Sept 2007 by that time we headed out to catch the metro (M1) to Eiffel, after having two apples-only source of food to keep us alive here in Paris with no access to Indian food as we live in so-called posh area- La’ Defense-we were told Indians cannot afford to put up their shops here .I talk about our change in food habits some time later.
Eiffel tower is very much visible from the area we live; for that matter many monuments. A day before we thought we can walk toward them. One day we tried walking toward Charles de triumph (for us it is CDG), we burnt our fingers (our legs –that would correctly describes).Here everything appear to be very nearer to you, as you walk towards it goes away from you.
We got off the metro after traveling for 20 minutes at the station close to Eiffel.
We were competing with each other that who would have a first look at the Eiffel. We followed blindly the sign boards to reach there. I am no historian to describe what it is, who built that and when; for all that you can refer Wikipedia. I can only say that it is marvelous structure and manmade wonder.
We were warned by our French colleagues in office-reach there early to avoid crowd. Our fat-bums did not co operate with us to reach early. By that time we reached there it was 12’o clock. We have to stand in huge line for over an hour to get the tickets to reach the second floor of Eiffel. For your information there is lift facility to take you to the top.Unknowly we opted for steps to reach there. It was a good decision given my body. We reached first floor, taken pictures, had food and moved to second floor to repeat the same. We also thought of moving to top floor we could not make it as there was huge line to buy tickets. We said to ourselves “As there will be always a next time”. And also we felt that what is there in Eiffel except steal rods properly balanced (pun intended).
We climbed down this time with the help of lift, with feeling that we must come here in the night time to see this wonder glowing with electric lamps. We are planning to go back to this place this weekend in the night time. One update here: Paris is one of the safest places for night travelers-it is my observation.We walked and north and south sides of Eiffel to take some beautiful pictures. Towards evening headed back to barracks (as you know we are soldiers of Manhattan on Mission Paris).As usual we had some apples and bread before hitting the bed.
Next day-30 Sep 2007 –2 days before my birthday (Whole India is waiting to celebrate my b’day in the name of MKGandhi birthday), we headed to Loure Museum, after answering some phone and nature calls. It is also quite near to our place. One Euro away from our place. As you all know it is the biggest museum in the world. Truly it is the biggest. We were told that last weekend of every month, entry is free. Actually we went there to see if that is so.As you know Lady luck never smiles at me,so there is no free entry.We thought entry fee would be quite high.After going there we found that entry fee was only 9 Euros,it is well within our budget for the day, so we just bought tickets’ picked up route maps and went in. It is truly amazing to see so many things under one roof. We spent whole day there-believe me it is not enough. We saved the best for the last-our rendezvous with “Mona Lisa”. Before we left Loure Museum we went to “French paintings” section. I imagined that “Mona Lisa” would be huge Painting; to my surprise; it is just bigger than A-4 size paper. You can have look at all of these pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/mahesh.thipparthi. Look out for next post on how I celebrated my first birth day outside India and my views on Paris –The city-Culture and also how we are surviving on just apples
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