Pondering Paris

Waiting for a taxi at around 6:10 a.m. in 7 degrees celsius weather.

We arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport in the wee hours of the morning. My husband and I were weighing the option of whether to take a train or bus to get to our hotel but after a 12-hour and 17 minute flight from Hong Kong International Airport, we succumbed to the easier option of queueing for what turned out to be a 65 Euro taxi ride to our Paris hotel. Thus, my first tip is to ensure you know exactly how you will get to your Paris accommodation and knowing how much it will cost you. It will probably still be around the same price, but at least you avoid the icky feeling that you have been conned by someone who could actually be the most honest cab driver in Paris. Here are some other options to get to the city via RER B or by bus.

This display is conveniently located near the baggage carousels.

It took us around 45 minutes to get to Holiday Inn Paris Montparnasse, which I thought was too long considering there was hardly any traffic at that time of day, but I felt heaps better when the kind front desk staff named Galina found us a room and got us in it by 7:30 a.m. Check-in is usually not until 2 p.m. The room was a decent size and the sunrise view was pretty. I may have been a bit biased though, because after flying from Manila to Hong Kong then to Paris, any room with a clean bed would have suited just fine :-).

I was lucky that I got to stay in a hotel and an apartment in Paris during this trip to France. First at this hotel and then after our pilgrimage to Lourdes, at a beautiful BridgeStreet apartment with a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower and within walking distance of the Gare St. Lazare train station.

Bedroom 1 was nice and had an en-suite.

Bedroom 2 was a bit bigger.

The lounge room made for a comfy bedroom 3!

The apartment option works if there are at least three of you staying there and it comes out cheaper when you divide the cost amongst the three (or even six!) of you. This next room, however, is my favourite of the four...

Yes, it's a kitchen which means we get to whip up delicious meals at half or even a third of the cost of Paris restaurant meals! Top tip right there! ;) Oh, and there are lots of convenience stores, fruit shops and mini groceries nearby from which to buy your ingredients. If you feel like splurging a bit, get your groceries at Galleries Lafayette.

But the stove, the big refrigerator, the microwave, the dishwasher are not the main reasons why I love this room, it's not even the fantastic meals that were prepared in this kitchen...

... it was THIS captivating view of the Eiffel Tower which left me starry-eyed! Sigh! *swooning with joy!* ;) I made over a dozen trips to that kitchen throughout our stay... just to catch another splendid glimpse of the Eiffel. It never failed to impress! With such a wonderful home base, it was easy to enjoy the City of Light and Love!

Paris Sightseeing Highlights:

*Tour the sights with ease on a hop-on hop-off, double-decker, open top(in good weather) bus.

* The Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees

The iconic Arc de Triomphe along the equally famous Champs Elysees.

A stroll along the Champs Elysees

* Parisian food, drink & pastime ;)
I enjoyed waiting in line for an authentic Parisian crepe. I must have waited for over 15 minutes as there was quite a queue. But the smell of the crepes as they were cooking was too irresistible. I could hear those in line speaking in French and discussing what they would get- "sucre"(sugar), "chocolat!"(no translation needed ;)) and "Nutella!" If it was good enough for the locals, it was good enough for me. I ordered all three! hahaha!

Street food! Parisian style ;)

After walking along the Champs Elysees, enjoying some drinks at Louis XXV. Cheers!

* The Tour Eiffel or Eiffel Tower

Always leaves me... STARSTRUCK!!! 

* Basilique du Sacre Coeur de Montmartre

Fun little shops as I take a leisurely walk up the street to the base of the Sacred Heart Basilica.

The Sacred Heart Basilica of Montmartre( Sacre- Couer), Paris

Sporting a hat which I got from one of the shops on the way up ;).

* Sunset over Paris as seen from the Sacred Heart Basilica <3 

* The Artists' Village of Montmartre

* The Louvre Museum and Glass Pyramid

Sure you're in the midst of great masterpieces like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, but you still gotta eat! ;)

A fun photo with the Louvre Pyramid! ;)

Since you cannot take photographs of most of the exhibits in the Louvre, you'll just have to settle for some wacky or quirky pictures outside the museum. With this photo of me leaning on the Pyramid taken, all that's left to say is Vive la France!!! :D