Paris - My wonderland!

When I was a kid, I only have 2 dreams. First was to be a cardio-thoracic surgeon and second was to see Paris. I guess there are certain dreams that are not meant to happen and there are those which are destined to come true.

Arrival in Paris

This is my second stop in my Europe trip - PARIS! I took a afternoon train trip from London to Paris. I booked my train ticket online and I guess I was bit late already since the promotion is gone. I told myself that I need to treat myself with a nice train ride so I booked a first class ticket to Paris. The train from London to Paris, which is called Eurostar travels daily from St. Pancras Station in London.  I was seated in cabin number 11 with two teenagers and their mother. Since I started travelling I have always believed that the people you meet in your journey, in one way or the other, would make journey more colorful. During my 2 hours journey to Paris, I was entertained by these two  teenager twins. Our conversations went from ipad games to travels to what they want to be in the future. Two hours to Paris was just so quick. Before departing the train their mother gave me a Paris metro ticket saying "You can use this in your first destination in Paris. Get it so that you won't queue up anymore.". Very nice of her in deed.

After departing the train, I was wondering where the immigration area was thinking that I need to go through the checking of VISA. Luckily, a guy informed me that in Paris, no immigration officer will check your VISA anymore since it has been checked from the country where you have departed. 

Aloha Hostel

I headed to my hostel, Aloha Hostel which is located near Volontaires train station. It is 5-7 minutes walk from the station.  I booked the said hostel from www.hostelworld.com. After 30 minutes, I found myself infront of a nice building with different country flags. Don't asked me why I arrived in 30 minutes instead of 7 minutes... Blame that to the words 'Got lost!'.  After check in, the receptionist showed me to my room which is in the first level. I was delighted with this hostel. Aside from that fact that it was the cheapest around the heart of Paris, the hostel was clean with good interior design. Near the reception was the common area where computers are lined up. On the basement was their dungeon inspired dinning area. Each room doors are painted in different colors of blue, green, yellow and red. The room they gave me was a mixed room of 6. 

I was in the green door

I settled my things and made my way to the metro again to meet my cousin Bev and niece Brie who were also on holiday in Paris and who were staying with our friend, Ameng who lives in Paris. Paris has a different metro ticket compared to Hong Kong, London, Singapore and etc. They don't have a card that you can buy and reload. You can buy 10 tickets to have a discount. 

Since then, I already read and hear people saying that the city of Paris has the most romantic ambiance.  As I walked in the streets of Paris that night I started to understand the feeling why. I really can not truly explain how it feels and why I feel it but really romance is in the air. 

I arrived in Charonne station and walked going to the house of Ate Ameng.  Minutes later I was enjoying my first ever Parisian home style dinner. 

By 11 pm, I decided to say good bye and went back to the hostel. When I arrived in the hostel I decided not to go in and instead I went to start my walking when I saw the tip of the Eiffel tower from the distance. I was so surprised that there are no restaurant or shops that were opened anymore. I started to realized that this was the Parisian lifestyle. Everyone is home by 8pm I guess. My expectation never failed me. I saw my first ever true love in front of me  for the first time. Ahhhhh, hello Eiffel Tower!

Eiffel Tower at night

My LOVES 

I woke up early on my second day to walk and to queue up for the Eiffel tower....  Again, I saw my true love and this time I would be on the top. The queue started to be long by 8 am but it was just fast. The ticket cost EURO 13 if you decide to take the elevator going to the top and EURO 9 if you just walk up and be fit. By 9 am, Bev, me and Brie were already on top of the tower, enjoying the most beautiful view - the city of Paris.

TROCADERO

Love in Paris

We rushed going down and stayed for a bit in Trocadero and took a bus going to Notre Dame Cathedral. Notre Dame cathedral has a free entrance fee, only with long queue on peak hours. I enjoyed the scenery around the cathedral and my favorite, I guess was the bridge where people hang locks to symbolized their love for each other. 

The love locks in Notre Dame

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Then, it was time for lunch.....

And of course, no one leaves Paris without sitting for a coffee...

After coffee, it was time to say goodbye to Brie and Bev as they leave Paris that night. Back on my solo journey again. That afternoon, I decided to walk around the City of Paris from the Louvre going straight to the historical Arc de Triomphe via the  famous street of Champ de Elysee. The Louvre Museum is one the largest museum and the most important museum in the world. It is where the famous Mona Lisa painting is displayed. 

THE LOUVRE

The arc which is located at the end of Champ de Elysee is called the Arc de Triomphe.  There is a large circular square in the middle from which no less than 12 streets emanate. The streets are named after French military leaders. I enjoyed my walk in this street since there are different things to see. Here are some of my photos around Champ de Elysee.

ARC DE TRIOMPHE

with Santiago

 At the end of the street, I was blessed with company. I met a guy from Uruguay named Santiago who shared a very nice evening conversation with me. We decided to look a nearest coffee shop after both realizing that it was so cold talking outside the street. And the nearest we could find was Mcdonald. Yes, it might not be a fancy coffee shop but I guess that didn't matter for a great conversation. It was that night when I realized that two people can be good friends instantly. After hours of chatting, we decided to leave realizing that we might have no medium of transportation anymore. We said good bye. (PS Santi, if you happen to read this blog entry... I want to thank you again for the great conversation and for keeping the communication till now... It's always nice reading your emails.)

Third day was about my endless walk in the city of Paris from my hostel going to Moulin Rouge to the beautiful district of Montmartre. If you are looking for a fun day in Paris, better set a tour to Montmartre since there are so many things to see from tourist attraction, to great food, to street selling and even to crazy sex shops. One of the reason why I love Montmartre was the different people you see. My favorite ones are the countless of  painters in the street painting different kinds of things.

The famous Moulin Rouge

My favorite thing in Montmatre

Sacred Heart Basilica, Paris

Oldest windmill in Paris, France

Reading Maps is my talent

hard to say Good bye!!!!

It was so hard to leave Paris. My heart was just heart broken when I had my last view of the Eiffel tower, praying that someday I can visit this city again.  See you again Paris!!!