Paris
So, I spent a week (8 days) in Paris, three of them with Lap. Now we're in Reims, but, Paris. Paris smells, is my strongest impression. The city is really pretty filthy, and at times the stench reminded me of Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. Like, people don't clean up after their animals, or apparently even after themselves, rubbish, etc.
Paris is also pretty expensive. I was told London would be expensive, and I found that it really wasn't that bad - I wasn't told nearly as much about Paris being expensive, but it really is. The hostels are between 50% to 100% more costly, supermarket food is about doubled, eating out is a little more expensive. Oh, and the museums and art galleries all cost money to enter, unlike London where they are free - although in a funny reversal, Notre Dame is free entry but Westminster Abbey charges 16 pounds to go inside.
I pretty much only walked around Paris, the city (at least the parts of the city with things worth seeing) is pretty small, I was able to walk from the hostel, to the Louvre, to the Catacombs, and back pretty easily, which was really nice - especially since the hostel I was staying in was one of the hostels further out.
Speaking of, went to the Louvre, which was excellent, despite all the discriptions being in French. I mean, that makes sense, but it also means that I'm putting effort into understanding the pieces, and sometimes I just couldn't work it out. Also there is almost too much stuff in the Louvre, especially the Paintings. After the italian, french and spanish paintings, the prospect of german and flemish paintings of the same subject matter isn't super-appealing. Still good though.
Also went to the catacombs - didn't even know that Paris had catacombs until Lap mentioned it. I suspect they are pretty small compared to Rome's but I don't really know I guess - and since I don't plan on going to Rome, this was pretty cool - 2 kilometres of tunnels and then skeleton-walled tunnels, 25 (iirc) metres underground - apparently six million dead. Cool stuff.
Also also saw a heap of churches, including Notre Dame. Didn't go up the Eiffel Tower since I'm going to be back in Paris in a few days before heading south, but that will happen. And will probably cost a fortune D:
But yeah, despite being a stinky city with far too many people on the street trying to sell you shit, or begging, I liked Paris. After the worry with the volcano it was nice to just walk around a bunch, and Paris is certainly a nice looking city :) The Seine is also suprisingly clean for a city that is so dirty elsewhere. Go figure.
Right now I'm in Reims, Champagne region, Lap's Aunt's house - going to check out some underground caves, apparently, before returning to Paris on monday. Man I love saying that, 'returning to Paris'. :)
Welp, that seems like enough words. Catch you on the flipside?
Paris is also pretty expensive. I was told London would be expensive, and I found that it really wasn't that bad - I wasn't told nearly as much about Paris being expensive, but it really is. The hostels are between 50% to 100% more costly, supermarket food is about doubled, eating out is a little more expensive. Oh, and the museums and art galleries all cost money to enter, unlike London where they are free - although in a funny reversal, Notre Dame is free entry but Westminster Abbey charges 16 pounds to go inside.
I pretty much only walked around Paris, the city (at least the parts of the city with things worth seeing) is pretty small, I was able to walk from the hostel, to the Louvre, to the Catacombs, and back pretty easily, which was really nice - especially since the hostel I was staying in was one of the hostels further out.
Speaking of, went to the Louvre, which was excellent, despite all the discriptions being in French. I mean, that makes sense, but it also means that I'm putting effort into understanding the pieces, and sometimes I just couldn't work it out. Also there is almost too much stuff in the Louvre, especially the Paintings. After the italian, french and spanish paintings, the prospect of german and flemish paintings of the same subject matter isn't super-appealing. Still good though.
Also went to the catacombs - didn't even know that Paris had catacombs until Lap mentioned it. I suspect they are pretty small compared to Rome's but I don't really know I guess - and since I don't plan on going to Rome, this was pretty cool - 2 kilometres of tunnels and then skeleton-walled tunnels, 25 (iirc) metres underground - apparently six million dead. Cool stuff.
Also also saw a heap of churches, including Notre Dame. Didn't go up the Eiffel Tower since I'm going to be back in Paris in a few days before heading south, but that will happen. And will probably cost a fortune D:
But yeah, despite being a stinky city with far too many people on the street trying to sell you shit, or begging, I liked Paris. After the worry with the volcano it was nice to just walk around a bunch, and Paris is certainly a nice looking city :) The Seine is also suprisingly clean for a city that is so dirty elsewhere. Go figure.
Right now I'm in Reims, Champagne region, Lap's Aunt's house - going to check out some underground caves, apparently, before returning to Paris on monday. Man I love saying that, 'returning to Paris'. :)
Welp, that seems like enough words. Catch you on the flipside?