I survived the soul-searing terror of Paris!

[lyore]

... Otherwise known as the Eiffel Tower. OK, I wussed out before I got to the top, but I made it to the second level. Those of you familiar with my issues with heights will understand what an achievement this was for me. And the view was spectacular - we went up just after sunset, and everything was lit up. You can see everything, just looking out and seeing the Les Champs Elysees, Sacre Coeur (which looks magical at night), L'Hotel des Invalides - Wow. And as we walked home, it SNOWED! I got snowed on in Paris! Very cool (literally - we were freezing by the time we got back to the hotel).

Yesterday we went to Versailles. The Palace itself was amazing (although Louis the 14th was a little too into the gold gilt for my tastes). The highlights were definitely the Chapel and the Opera. We went out into the gardens, and while they would definitely be better in summer, they were still pretty spectacular.

Afterwards, we went briefly to Notre Dame, just as the sun was setting. As we went in, they were starting a service, so we sat in. The mass was in mostly in French, but the singing was in latin. Since I love sacred music, it was a pretty amazing experience. I want to go back to have a proper look around, and hopefully climb the bell tower.

The whole thing is kinda surreal - normal buildings, then suddenly a world-famous landmark smack bang in the middle of a city block.

Dealing with the French is... interesting. They only seem to come in two extremes - either very nice and helpful, or completely arrogant. As a general rule, the guys seem more helpful than the girls. The hotel is nice, but kinda cheapskate on the extras - for instance, there is no iron in the room, and they charge 30 Euro to hire one. I even got into a argument with the girl at reception because we ran out of toilet paper, and she was insisting that I should wait until the cleaning people came to give us more - on Wednesday!

OK, kasneeze's computer is alternating between trying to lock me out, and loosing the connection, so I'm going to end this before I loose the entry.

Comments

[vasher.livejournal.com]

Your icon is amusingly appropriate.

I am green with envy that you get to travel around gay Paris. Awesome! At least it sounds like you had fun... Are there lots of English speakers there? Or did you go the French speaking way?

30 euros an iron? Ouch.

[lyore.livejournal.com]

So far it's been a blast, and the best bit is that I have enough time here I can do things at my own pace and not have to rush madly from one attraction to the next.

My french is fairly non-existent, although improving exponentially from just being around french-speaking people. It's fairly easy to handle simple day-to-day transactions in french, since they all follow the same pattern. Most people speak some english, and as long as you at least greet them in French, they are OK about deigning to talk to you in it. Generally, when you ask 'Parley vous englais?' and they say 'A little' (they ALL say that), and then continue in near perfect english.

Yeah, I decided my top could remain un-ironed :)

[amethyste5.livejournal.com]

I only made it to the top by standing in the middle of the elevator with my eyes glued to the screen on my friends camcorder. But any level is worth it for that view!

Did you get to see the gardens behind Notre Dame? I remember them being so very peaceful.

(I'm still in love with one of the fountains at Versailles, the one with the gold turtles. Something about turtles in that setting was just highly amusing to me.)

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you're having fun, though the toilet paper thing sounds rather strange. Did she really think you'd go without toilet paper for three or four days? *g*

[lyore.livejournal.com]

No, I only got a very quick look at Notre Dame, apart from the time I spent at the service. I'm planning on going back for a proper look around later this week.

I saw the turtles, and the alligators :) Oh, and I have pictures.

[lyore.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what she was thinking...

[amethyste5.livejournal.com]

Yippee!!! Pictures!

[lotusflower85.livejournal.com]

I didn't really find the French any more or less helpful than the rest of Europe. Maybe a little less willing to speak English, but still - although we didn't actually get much time there. Although one French woman gave my friend some tissues when the toilet paper ran out in a store in the Champs Elysses. That was interesting ;)

[lyore.livejournal.com]

Now I've spent a bit more time here, I've found people in general very willing to speak english, as long as you at least try and speak french first. I think my biggest issue, that in general, the people 'seem'unfriendly - unfriendly vibes, perhaps? - is mostly due to the fact that these are city people, and I am most definitely not a city person. It's kinda like the attitude of Sydneysiders. I'm really not sure how to describe it, but once you actually talk to them, most have been great.