Another foggy winter morning of August. Cold bites were stinging into the muscles like thousands of hover fly bites. Cigarette taste bitter for only spending an hour in night bed. You know, last minute bag packing, always horrible for a first timer. Yet we are rushing towards the station, we have a bus to catch leaving for France! Cant be missed.
Everyone was so unfamiliar, looking at people randomly. You feel you are alone. And another fag break, always helps. Spoke to my parents, received a lot many wishes and then heard the murmur in the waiting room of the Clink hostel. Yes it was the reception call from Topdeck.
Passport - checked, Visa - checked, money - checked, travel insurance, student documents - checked, wallet, phone, my camera bag - checked. My checked in travel partner sitting by the window, gives me a smile of relief. Got to be, if you find out you applied for Schengen visa in the wrong embassy, specially when your travel date is just a month ahead, for which you have paid a non refundable full payment. And yet you are on the trip, that smile can mean even a lot more than relives. I have to thank Italian embassy, for their kindness of seeing us and providing visa in almost no time. We made it this far, feels like dream. Finally, few minutes later, a melodious voice broke into my mind, "Hello and good morning everyone, welcome to European wonder 2010" It was our tour guide Lyndsey and we were our way to Dover.
After we all were checked at Dover by French Immigration control, we were free to board on the ferry and France was just across the English Channel. Tempting! Yet hunger was what came to our mind first. Yes we were starving to death. No sooner we received our tickets for the ferry, we jumped into the gathering place allocated for Topdeck travelers, left them to be watched by our fellow tourist friends and rushed into the dining area. It was almost a shopping center inside with café, brand-shops, some bureau de change anything you just name it. But the problem was money. After all, being students we had only £200 per head to spend. Besides saving at that early stage felt like a nice idea for the excitements later. So we were happy just with some sandwiches and water. And later sight seeing. Only then I found out how enjoyable that gonna be if I were on a sea cruise. Water and only water, what fun that gonna be, I just wonder.
So we have only two nights and literally just a day visit Paris. Out of all the main tourist attractions, we have to find those ones, that match our interests. The Louvre and of course the Eiffel Tower. Thanks to Mitul bhaiya for bringing the lonely planet guide on my iPhone, its making the selection lot easier. Although he is one who is going to come up with all the plans. Mobile network has picked up the roaming signals quite earlier, that means we are in the French territory. Its just a matter of time we will land in Calais.
As we let go the other bus that dropped us at Dover now we have our permanent bus with a driver, Paddy an amazingly witty person, from Scotland living in France. Grabbed new seats after serving the rucksack into the coach's stomach, now another four hours journey from Calais to Paris. In Europe, drivers are not allowed to drive for nonstop three hours, so our Paddy will be taking a break for thirty minutes where suitable. So we assume we'll be in Paris around four, PM! By the mean time we get a chance to introduce us to others playing a little fun game on board where you have to say about you and then tell two lies and three truths which others have to find out. I was playing introvert and tired but enjoyed others playing.
Around half past four, we finally reached our hotel, B&B Hotels (nearest station: Port de la Villette) Before boarding off the bus we selected our partners to stay with and in that order me and Mitul bhaiya is sharing a room with another travel mate, Alex, who is from China, studying in UK and traveling with his girlfriend. Upon rushing into the room, (it felt like heaven) Miul bhaiya went for shower, while I pulled out our clothing and toiletries. At 6 we had to meet at the reception for dinner. So hurry!
Restaurant's name was Orange N Bleue, but the meal was not so orangish neither blueish! It was semi-awesome. We tasted, snails which was special for the Topdeck group, cheese and onion soup, pastas and french breads. We were briefed what would be the plan for next day in Paris from the next hour, so we went back to our rooms, got ourselves well suited and climbed back down waiting for our Paddy. Its gonna be a tour by bus!
Everyone was so unfamiliar, looking at people randomly. You feel you are alone. And another fag break, always helps. Spoke to my parents, received a lot many wishes and then heard the murmur in the waiting room of the Clink hostel. Yes it was the reception call from Topdeck.
Passport - checked, Visa - checked, money - checked, travel insurance, student documents - checked, wallet, phone, my camera bag - checked. My checked in travel partner sitting by the window, gives me a smile of relief. Got to be, if you find out you applied for Schengen visa in the wrong embassy, specially when your travel date is just a month ahead, for which you have paid a non refundable full payment. And yet you are on the trip, that smile can mean even a lot more than relives. I have to thank Italian embassy, for their kindness of seeing us and providing visa in almost no time. We made it this far, feels like dream. Finally, few minutes later, a melodious voice broke into my mind, "Hello and good morning everyone, welcome to European wonder 2010" It was our tour guide Lyndsey and we were our way to Dover.
After we all were checked at Dover by French Immigration control, we were free to board on the ferry and France was just across the English Channel. Tempting! Yet hunger was what came to our mind first. Yes we were starving to death. No sooner we received our tickets for the ferry, we jumped into the gathering place allocated for Topdeck travelers, left them to be watched by our fellow tourist friends and rushed into the dining area. It was almost a shopping center inside with café, brand-shops, some bureau de change anything you just name it. But the problem was money. After all, being students we had only £200 per head to spend. Besides saving at that early stage felt like a nice idea for the excitements later. So we were happy just with some sandwiches and water. And later sight seeing. Only then I found out how enjoyable that gonna be if I were on a sea cruise. Water and only water, what fun that gonna be, I just wonder.
P&O Ferry 1
P&O Ferry 2
It has already been more than a hour, but Marco Polo and Columbus see no coast. Ferry is running late that's what we have been told. 'Tis going to take around two and half hour earliest possible to reach the shore. Our tourists friends look like they lost their appetite to make friends and some are already running on booze, which made us less interested to talk to. I do drink though! Mobile network is still on but too scared to pay bills on roaming, heard so many stories, can afford to tell one of them. Lets plan what we can get to see today.
Eurotrip plan
So we have only two nights and literally just a day visit Paris. Out of all the main tourist attractions, we have to find those ones, that match our interests. The Louvre and of course the Eiffel Tower. Thanks to Mitul bhaiya for bringing the lonely planet guide on my iPhone, its making the selection lot easier. Although he is one who is going to come up with all the plans. Mobile network has picked up the roaming signals quite earlier, that means we are in the French territory. Its just a matter of time we will land in Calais.
As we let go the other bus that dropped us at Dover now we have our permanent bus with a driver, Paddy an amazingly witty person, from Scotland living in France. Grabbed new seats after serving the rucksack into the coach's stomach, now another four hours journey from Calais to Paris. In Europe, drivers are not allowed to drive for nonstop three hours, so our Paddy will be taking a break for thirty minutes where suitable. So we assume we'll be in Paris around four, PM! By the mean time we get a chance to introduce us to others playing a little fun game on board where you have to say about you and then tell two lies and three truths which others have to find out. I was playing introvert and tired but enjoyed others playing.
Around half past four, we finally reached our hotel, B&B Hotels (nearest station: Port de la Villette) Before boarding off the bus we selected our partners to stay with and in that order me and Mitul bhaiya is sharing a room with another travel mate, Alex, who is from China, studying in UK and traveling with his girlfriend. Upon rushing into the room, (it felt like heaven) Miul bhaiya went for shower, while I pulled out our clothing and toiletries. At 6 we had to meet at the reception for dinner. So hurry!
Restaurant's name was Orange N Bleue, but the meal was not so orangish neither blueish! It was semi-awesome. We tasted, snails which was special for the Topdeck group, cheese and onion soup, pastas and french breads. We were briefed what would be the plan for next day in Paris from the next hour, so we went back to our rooms, got ourselves well suited and climbed back down waiting for our Paddy. Its gonna be a tour by bus!
Our restaurant
Sebastian trying to try out Escargots
Mitul bhaiya examining ... :P
First stop is Basilique du Sacré-Coeur, a Roman Catholic Church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Construction completed in 1914. Mainly famous for the students nightlife and the hill-top construction that gives you sight of the whole city. There is one lift which charges to take you up the hill or else be dynamic, climb up 272 steps. Grab some gelatos if you want, these are quite fine to walk with.
As a young kid I read about Eiffel tower, back then it was one of the 7 wonders. I often dreamed about visiting this place and now at the last stop of our bus tour, when the tower is standing right next to me, I can hardly accept the truth. A cool wave ran though my spine, I feel numb, just staring at the tower. I dont know if it is the tower which is beautiful or its just my mind making it so seductive. Clearly it was made of some subtle mind.
Sacré-Coeur Basilica (collected)
Sacré-Coeur Basilica at night
French gelatos ... yummy (collected)
After having 40 minutes free time now we are back to our bus. Next stop, La Dame de far, The Iron Lady, the Eiffel Tower routing through the Arc de Triomphe, Musée du Louvre, Les Invalides, Notre-Dame de Paris, Moulin Rouge and finally the Eiffel Tower. Paddy went mad while crossing the Arc de Triopmhe, he started circling around the Triomphe at quite a high speed. First the whole bus accepted that as an accident and left lives on Gods hand minutes later when they finally found out, we all started shouting and that was the thing, helped all of us bonding.
Arc de Triomphe
Les Invalides
Notre-Dame de Paris
Musée du Louvre
Moulin Rouge
The Eiffel Tower
Ten minutes at the sight of Eiffel tower was nothing special. So we just took some photos, amazed ourselves by the view of the Eiffel tower. It was heavenly but now as we all are getting weary, shattered and whatever word you have in your vocubulary to mean us tired, was not expressive enough. So we headed back to the hotel. Lyndsey marked all the tourist spots on the maps upon reaching hotel and invited all of us for some friendly drink to the Orange N Bleue. Just a little refreshment and then I off to the restaurant.
Mehraj Anik © 2010-11 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHTED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER(s) AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION. NO PART OF THIS BLOG MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL, PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING OR OTHERWISE WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER.
Mehraj Anik © 2010-11 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHTED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER(s) AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION. NO PART OF THIS BLOG MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL, PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING OR OTHERWISE WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER.
YAY! Beautiful!!!
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