Welcome to the frigid land of France where you understand nothing and it hails basically everyday. Indeed, perhaps a beach (Valencia, Ibiza, Mallorca, anywhere) would have been a more conventional spring break choice. But, alas, the sights and history of Paris, along with a few good Gtown friends studying there this semester, beckoned. It's true; Paris was built for tourism... Versailles, the Louvre and Tulerries, Champs Elysee and Arc du Triumph, Musee d'Orsay and Invalides, Napoleon's Tomb, Hotel d'Ville, the Opera, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, Mont Martre and Mont Parnasse, Latin Quarter and the Seine... oh, and the Eiffel Tour of course. Yes, the week was packed with all of these sights and more... a few bars and some March Madness (which is a sore subject for me at the moment).
Suggestions:
*Go to Paris. Later in the year. It was coooold and rainy and so windy that the top of the Eiffel Tour had to close to tourists.
*Do not stay at the 3 Ducks Hostel... while this may be obvious immediately (given the name), unless you appreciate a bar as a lobby and muddy courtyard as the hallway, I would suggest going elsewhere.
*Do not be surprised by the 7.50 Euro bottle of Perrier... and, yes, currently that equates to about $100....
*The Louvre is closed on Tuesday, despite the tourist book's time schedules.
*If you are 4 people staying under a 3 person hotel reservation... TELL THEM, immediately, while an English speaker is available. Or they will catch you, try to rip you off, pretend they don't understand English, and then gruffly escort your party out the front door. (Don't worry, this was eventually resolved...)
*Enjoy the cheese and wine... and FONDUE!
*Enjoy the company of good friends... GO with friends!
Well, that's about all... Enjoy the pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2108136&l=167a7&id=1410721
y hasta pronto!
