Paris, I had low expectations which were seriously superceded!!

I made it safely into one of the Paris airports and got onto a bus into the city center. It was a long ride in and I started trying to find a hotel...yes I went to Paris without a hotel reservation. I had to call ten hotels before I found one...I paid an arma nd a leg for the room and had to switch to a different room for the second night, but I had a roof over my head! I made my way via the metro to the totel, checked in and got settled. It was starting to get dark and I wanted to find the Eiffek Tower. I was walking toward the area and looked up to see part of the top sparkling with white lights. I was so excited and could not believe that I was actually in The romantic city of Paris. I almost began running trying to get to the park where I could see the whole tower. I finally made it and it was so beautiful! I must have take 30 or more photos just of the Eiffel Tower. After admiring the tower for a while, I decided to head toward Arc de Triomphe...along the way. a local started walking with me and telling me about the city. It was a little freaky at first but there were lots of people about so I did not mind. I made it to my destination and then back to the Eiffel Tower and then found my way (after getting lost) back to the hotel and a good restaurant close by. I did not eat dinner until about 11pm and then went back to my room to unwind. So much to see and do that I was overwhelmed.







The next day, I slept in and then headed toward the Louvre. When I got there the lines were so long that I decided to come back at a different time. I sat down on some steps and decided to plan my day. After a minute, it started to rain and then it really came down. I put my papers away and zipped up my rain coat and pulled on my hat. Hundreds of people were running from the line to get cover from the rain so I ran toward the line and got inside in a short period of time!! I bought my Museum pass, sat down with a Cappucino and relaxed a bit before tackling the Louvre. I spent about five hours in the Louvre and I was exhausted and decided to get some fresh air. There were some amzing peices of art, sculptures, and the general architecture of the building and rooms. Once you have seen the Louvre, do you need to go anywhere else?



I went to Napoleon's Tomb next and then to Muse d'Orsay. I saw some of Monet's work and Renoir, VanGogh, Rembrandt, and many others that I would remember if I followed art! I made it to Notre Dame and walked along the water for a bit. I went to hard Rock cafe for dinner and then home to bed. One last day in Paris, reserved for Versailles.





The only thing I accomplished on the third day was getting my train reservation to Lyon, sotring my bags for the day, and taking the trip out to Versailles. There were SOOOO many people there that it was hard to enjoy everything. The gardens were beautiful with the flowers, fountains, and music. The Palace was amazing in architecture and art. I got lunch at a local restaurant just as the rain starts to come down in sheets. Good timing!




I made my way back the main train station in time for grabbing a snack and boarding my train. First class really is the way to go. There were only two single gals and a family of four in the whole compartment. Big comfy seats, a power outlet and a smoothe ride. Goodbye Paris, Hello Lyon (lee-yone)

It was dark and all information booths were closed by the time I got to Lyon. I tried calling the hostel and got no answer. I went to the subway but did not have a clue where I was going. I broke down and asked a cab driver how much and decided it was worth it. I never would have made it on my own!! The hostel was busy with a little bar and a lot of young people. I found my room and got settled and went to bed. The next day was Sunday and nothing was open--hardly anything I should say. I got some information and a map. I bought a subway pass and hit a few spots and walked around a bunch. I went back to the hostel when I had had enough of the rain. I got caught up on emails and reading. I started my laundry and visited with a fellow American who was using his laptop as well.




It was getting late and I was hungry. We decided to have dinner together, but there were not too many places open. We got a reservation at a really nice restaurant on top of a hill overlooking the whole city. We were terribly underdressed but they let us in anyway. I had an excellent salmon dish and I could not make out what his was--some sort of seafood concoction that looked a little like jello. A very nice night! I was really tired and hit the sack as soon as I made it back to the hostel. I never did make it to a breakfast at this hostel as it closed before I cared to get up. The next day I was going to do a daytrip to Avignon or Chamonix but ran into problems getting tickets to different places. It was a realization the France is big and that I did not have much time left here. I decided to stick around Lyon and walk the old city streets and made my way into an Irish pub in search for food. None there but I had a small Guinness and got directions from an English speaking Irish guy. He told me about a Scottich pub just down the road. I made it there and had a great meal and a good tiramsu dessert. My waitress was from Scotland and knew English--a big relief for me and actually for her that I knew English! Back to the hostel for one more night!



The next morning I made my way down to the train station and on my train to Tours. I waited a long time on the tracks and more and more people started showing up. I was not nervous until I saw the train pull up with only about 3 cars...I was lucky to get a seat, but some had to stand. I do not know if we left anyone behind. It was a long slow train to tours ut I finally made it and managed to get to my hostel. I had a room to myself, but the shower and toilet were down the hall. I got some dinner and walked the old square for w bit and then headed back. I got some brochures for tours of castles the next day. I woke up early and called about an all day tour and they had a spot for me if I left the hostel right then...I was not even awake and had not had breakfast, but I was out the door in a few minutes. ...

The guy at the reception insisted I take the bus because of the rain so I did, but I got on the worng direction and missed the morning half of the tour which was the castle i wanted to see the most. I finally got back to the city center and walked around until it was time for them to pick me up for the second half of the tour. We went to two castles that were awesome. Cheverny-an old hunting lodge with actual residents living there

...And Chambord, the Grand Daddy of them all...



It was a great trip and I was exhausted and just wanted dinner. Nothing was open for over an hour. I scoped out this little Italian restaurant and decided to go back there later. I had lasagne and a glass of white wine. Both were very good, but not as good as the homemade tiramisu that I had for dessert...mmmm...a great last meal!

I had to get up extra early to catch the faster train to Paris for my afternoon flight to Ireland. I was surprised that I made the 6:30 am train. I had a first class Couchette all to myself so I decided to go back to sleep for an hour or so. I made it to Paris and bought a one time use subway ticket. I was heading for the bus that would take me to BVA airport and it took me 2 hours rather than 20 minutes. I am still relatively new to the subway system and this particular line is like a spider with eight legs with one line title. Anyway, made it to the airport and it took forever to get checked in because everyone arrives at the same time--multiple busloads of passengers at the exact same time. The flight was late, but we finally got airborn. I am on my way to Ireland and so excited!!