Paris in March

The city of love, and art, and culture, possibly fashion, and food...glorious food. Everything tasted better in France, even the street food.

We planned this trip for months. After one depressing on call and feeling sorry for myself - I decided enough is enough. We needed a break; I no longer cared how much things cost. Just wanted to get away - and we did.

It was difficult enough to get leave together. My painstaking plans didn't fall through when the storm decided to hit France the day before we were scheduled to fly. And so our flight was cancelled and we were rebooked for the next day. Whether unluckily or predestined, we didn't know about the cancellation until we reached Bristol International at 5am (most ungodly hour ever known to men especially when you've had no sleep the day before due to on calls). Imagine my face when I found out we're not flying first thing in the morning....and my plans for the whole day just faltered. I could cry if not for AJ who cleverly rescheduled it the very evening. Half a day lost better than two days in total...sensible sensible man. As opposed to emo me...

And the plane....it put me to tears. I've never sat in a plane smaller than that. Not even Airasia. Wait..I might have sat once on a 6 seater plane before going to the interiors of Sarawak. Then again this is going to EUROPE!!

Anyhu....

We reached Paris at 9pm and by the time we reached our hotel it was 11pm. Tired, disappointed and hungry. On top of that we had to flick out our small French phrase book to try to speak some discernable French to buy food in the local boulangerie (bakery). A 48 hour crash course with a small phrase book didn't get us far - we resorted to sign language in the end when the baker said "me speak no english". Great...

Almost 24 hour without sleep; stranded in Bristol for one whole day; really dead tired; very hungry - we made do with eating some pasties and babs which were surprisingly good (or we're just very hungry). Hit the sack almost immediately after..so much for spending the first night in the most romantic city in the world.

The days thereafter were enjoyable. Besides finding out our existing camera is crap (he blamed me for being 'kiamsiap' and not geting a new camera before the trip); everything else went smoothly.

Like all tourists; we did the 'touristies'...and of course we eat..and eat..and eat.

We visited Notre Dame:

We saw gargoyles....

AJ had a go at becoming the Hunchback - ringing the church bell.

Of course, no Jong-Chia trip is ever complete without visiting the hospital. And what a hospital..even the garden hedges were artistically designed! It's even called "Hotel". It's an up and running hospital mind..not a museum.


We visited yet another church, St Chapelle - supposedly famous for its stain glasses depicting 12 books of the Bible. I could just about make out Genesis and Exodus.

We saw art at the Orsay:




We emulated the sculptures at the Rodins:

AJ in deep thoughts when studying...

AJ doing the 'alamak' when he failed....

At last...Andy when he passed.... (LOL)

We spent almost an entire day at the Louvre. We met the famous smiling/non-smiling overrated lady..she's real tiny! The queue wasn't that long but the crowd just grew and grew. I wasn't at all mystified; instead was awed by the "Wedding at Cana" opposite it. We actually took lots of photos here but lost half of them while uploading. Stupid stupid camera...have to add to my wish list of birthday pressies...

We spent another day at the Chateau de Versailles, the center of power during Louis XIV's rule.

We visited Sacre de Ceur, a Roman Catholic Church, also known as the Sacred Heart. Lots of people come here to get their 'patungs' or crosses blessed for reasons that escaped me and AJ. No pun intended..

A really traditional merry-go-round....

We walk down (up and down actually) Champs Elysees to see Arc de Triomphe and of course the ever so famous (G would vouch for this, if not for himself then for his other half!) Louis Vuitton HQ. I have made a vow here (never say never though) to stick to my no-LV policy for life..kekekeke. Fingers crossed!

A trip to the supposedly most romantic city will not be complete without a slow stroll to the Eiffel Tower. We took our time here; stopping half way and bought some ice cream and dessert. Never too cold for ice cream hehe..Nothing like sitting on a bench enjoying the breeze and admiring the tower! And the view from the top is just breathtaking (although I almost had frost bite from the cold!).

A great place to profess one's love - AJ's done it beautifully ;)

More to come...Part 2: Food...glorious food...