Paris, France.

Sam and I spent 7 nights in Paris in total. First 4 nights in a row and then a little break in San Seb, Spain before returning for another 3. This post will just be on Paris as a whole.

I remember we found Paris overwhelming, beautiful and full of tourists.

Writing this post from near the end of my whole trip I can say Paris was not a highlight of my trip or even of Europe. It is not that I didn't enjoy the place, or the company or regret how I used my time. It's just I think that anyone who doesn't know French, might struggle on their first visit ( if it is a short visit like ours) to fully appreciate what it has to offer. We marvelled at the beautiful buildings and enjoyed the wonderful pastries and crepes. But we both felt we were a bit hesitant due to our lack of french and perhaps knowledge of the culture in general, which made us unable to really relax and to take in anything that wasn't on the surface. So i think i would like to brush up on my French and then spend a few weeks just drinking coffee and walking the streets or alternatively don't brush up on my French and just bring my mum!

We arrived in Paris in the late afternoon, and used all the power in our legs combined to make it up the many many stairs from the platform to outside of the metro station with our large bags ( the next day we would find there was an elevator) having spent our energy we found our hostel and went to bed, we would not even rise for dinner, we awoke the next day. With renewed energy we used our poor French to order pastries and baguettes for breakfast and took a long walk to the meeting spot for the free walking tour. We met our guide Halley who was French - Canadian who had a real love for the city and was able to tell us so many great stories along the route of our tour which went from Saint Michael's Fountain, past the hotel de ville, the Notre Dame (which we went back for another look another day), walked through Musee Du Lovre, then walked through Jardine des Tuileries (a really beautiful garden), before going through the place de la concord, and ending somewhere between the grand palis, and peti palis. After the tour Sam and I headed down the Avenue Des Champselyses and went to look at the arc de triomphe and the crazy roundabout of death, which is in front of it.

We finished the day with what we become or regular dinner cheese, salami (for sam) and baguette, which we ate on the steps next to our hostel.

We had enjoyed our tour with Halley the day before so thought we would join him on abother tour on the second day of our stay which was around the neighbourhood we were staying in, Montmartre. In the past the neighbourhood was full or artists and venues such as the Moulin Rouge. We started off at the Moulin Rouge before heading to Sacrecoeur, then the restaurant where the film Amelie was shot, past the last windmills in the district, and the last vineyard in the district too (apparently the used to be lots, but this one doesn't make very nice wine), past Van Goughs old house, and generally winding ourselves around the windy hilly streets of the district.

The following day we walked from the hostel to Opera Garnier, but rehearsals were on, so we couldn't go inside! But it looked like a beautiful building from the outside. So we returned home and napped before walking all the way to the Eiffel Tower, which was quite a way. I loved loved loved the Eiffel Tower. We took the stairs and laughed at the line for the elevator and made our way to the first and then second tier - it was delightful but very very windy. It was impossible to take any pictures that were even remotely true to how it was, but at least i have the memory in my head. After we came down we grabbed some crepes and laid in the grass park to marvel at the structure. So ugly but so great.

We headed to the train station the next morning thinking we would leave for San Sebastian, Spain... but alas they were full so we were left to find accommodation for the night. We found a hostel near by on our map and headed towards it. Unfortunately Sam got his sense of direction out of whack so we walked in a circle for 45 minutes, which is a very long time with your pack on your back. Finally we headed in the right direction but upon finally arriving at the hostel we found out if was booked out, ut the receptionist was nice enough to book us a 2 star hotel " around the corner'.. Another 45 minute walk later we entered the worst hotel ever. And exhausted went to bed until we rose in the dark to treck back to the station in the very early hours of the morning. You will find our adventures in San Seb in my next post...however for now.. a few days later we arrived back in Pairs.

This time we had booked a apartment which was a tiny little thing in the same area we were last time. so we got in at night and settled in - we had Chinese takeaway of the sort we would never of had at home - it was all precooked sitting in the cabinet and they weighed the amount you wanted and then you went home and reheated it.

The next day we had a late start, Sam found some nice markets while i continued to lay in bed and he brought some yummy things to eat like olives and cheese. Then we he returned we just went for a big wonder all over the hood and went to Garden du Luxembourg for a long nap. For dinner we had a yummy platter we cheese and olives and smoked salmon and prosciutto - yum yum.

The following morning we headed to the Palace of Versailles and we wondered around the vast gardens ( a lot of which were closed which was a shame) and had a nap next to the lake.

After this we wondered in Queen Marie Antoinette gardens, which included a little farm.

It was all really nice and i would definitely want to go back for more of look especially inside the palace itself. That night we were lucky enough to have a visit from Bianca and we met up with her friends Willie who was living in Paris. Bianca and Sam shared a really yummy Duck dish at a place called Lete en pente douce, and then after we went for a drink at a bar down some steep steps, and met up with some rather loud middle age Aussie women.

First thing in the morning Sam was heading back to Aus, Bianca and I continued napping in bed before she headed to Willie's and I headed to the train station to figure out where I would be heading next, turns out I would read my book all day and get the night train to Berlin. This was the only overnight train I took which I didn't have a bed, and I hope I wont have to do it again to soon!

P.S My camera ran out of batteries just after the Eiffel Tower, so I only took film images which i haven't got processed yet, so i have offered a couple of Sam's.. ie the one of the goats :)