A trip to Paris

This is about my trip to Paris with my wife Bhargavi.

Paris is capital of France the World's top destination.

We planned a three day trip to Paris on a long weekend from Germany. We started on 2nd Oct 2008 night by the Eurolines bus which is the cheapest way to reach Paris. Our bus was suppose to arrive at 21:45 but fortunately at least it came at 23:30. Paris is a 6 hour Journey from Dusseldorf, Germany. We reached Paris Galleni early morning at 5:45 and started to our hotel. Our hotel Ariane Montparnasse was located near Alesia metro station we had to change two metro trains to reach the hotel. We reached the hotel after a couple of inquires. The receptionist was friendly and readily provided a room. We refreshed and left out for visit.

Day One:
Being second time to Paris I knew a where to start. First we took a Paris Viste a three day ticket and started to Arc de Triomphe which is located in the middle of champs elysees a well know street in Paris. We reached at 9:40 am and after spending a couple of minutes at the monument we started towards the Louvre Museum know for the famous painting of Monalisa. We walked along the street champs elysees, an Air force open exhibition was held along the stree all the aircrafts and Bombers used by Air force were organized along the street. We just stopped near the Grand Palace and Petit palace and took couple of photos and started again. On the way opposite to Louvre Museum you have a big garden before which you will come across a largest square "Place de la Concorde". One side of the square you see a narrow street leading to a chruch and other side you see a large building The Assembly National and also towards the sides you can see two large beautiful fountains. After the square we walked along the garden and reached the Louvre Museum around 12:00 pm. We took the tickets from the wending machine instead of standing in queue and then proceeded towards the Monalisa Painting first. Till evening 5:00 pm we spent in the Museum and then after that go into bus and went to Notredame which is one of the famous churches in Paris the church is built in Gothic style. If you are not ready to take a tour there is nothing much to see. The tour is for additional charge of 7.5 euro and need to take stairs to reach the top. We just walked inside and came out then we started to Eiffel Tower. We reached Eiffel tower at 7:00 pm or so and then took a boat tour 11 euro per person. This is one which no one should miss and I would suggest taking the tour during night. It was amazing and lovely. After the trip went to a Indian hotel near Montparnasse and went to hotel.

Day Two:
Second day got up at 8:00 am got ready and we started out at 10:30 am after having breakfast at the hotel. We directly went to Basilique Sacré-Coeur we had taken a trip in the small round trip in train like bus which will take you along the streets of Montmartre hill. It was a pleasant and nice trip for about half an hour and then we spent some time seeing the entire Paris from the top of the hill fantastic views. Then we had out meal again in small indian hotel the Taj Mahal which is few meters from the place after you come down the steps in fromt of Sacré-Coeur. Then we started our way to Invalides Palace here you can see The Tomb of King Nepolean II and the army museum. Then from here we walked all the way to The Eiffel Tower. We were near the Eiffel at around 6:00 pm and was able to get to the top at around 6:50 pm after waiting in the long queue. Still we were lucky enough we had a good light to see the Paris in daylight. We spent on top of the Eiffel till 11:40 pm closing time :-) after all Paris visit becomes worth when you spend more time on Eiffel. The night views are amazing and you will never know how much time has passed away. Taking the memorable moments with us we came down the Eiffel and went back to hotel.

Day Three:
After getting ready we checked out from the hotel after having breakfast and headed towards Luxembourg gardens it was drizzling but managed to go around the garden. After that we went to the the Pantheon which is a huge cathedral. It build in Roman style and one of the must to visit monuments in Paris. After that we had lunch and started back to Galleni at 3:15 pm was our departure to Dusseldorf. But here things started turning red. We missed the connections and was not able to reach the place in time. Even thought we reached at 2:50 pm or so we were not able to get in to the bus as we need to collect the boarding pass and there was a long queue. So we had to rebook a new ticket for the next day. I first thought of catching a train and so started immediately to Gare du Nord but unfortunately I did not get a reservation in the train too then near the station I booked the Hotel it was just above the train station Gare du Est which was 10 min walk from the Gare du Nord station. Went to hotel left my wife the to rest and I went back to Galleni to book the bus tickets for the next day. came back to hotel took rest. End of the day. Lesson to learn never go late even to catch a Bus :-). Buses does not always start late as happened in Dusseldorf.

Day Four:
Since we had time till 10:00 pm night the bus time is at 11:00. We planned to go to Disneyland Paris. Early morning we got up got ready and checked out from the hotel and started towards Disneyland. We had to catch our RER at Metro station called Nation so first we tool the tickets 12,80 Euro onward and return for each person from wending machine and then started to Disneyland. We reached Disneyland at 9:20 Am since the park opens at 10:00 am we had time. So had breakfast and deposited our luggage in safes then started to Park we took One day pass for Two Parks(Disney Park and Disney Studios) for 59 Euro per person. First we went in to the Disney Park, Disney park is divided into five parts Main Street U.S.A, Frontier Land, Adventure Land, Discovery Land and Fantasy Land. Mainland has small rides and shopping complexes. We took the Train ride from Main Street U.S.A the starting point and got down at Fantasy Land. For more info on rides shows and others visit here. First we got into the Star tours a virtual ride where you sit in the seat and the in front will be big screen where you are shown a movie kind but your seats move shake and all to give you the feel of being in the tour. After that we entered Space Mountain Mission II which is like a roller coaster ride with 360 degree loops in the complete dark room with laser lights. After this we had to take a break as my wife started feeling giddy after the ride. we well to the Main street and then saw the Disney Show at 12:00 pm, finally after a small battle my wife got ready again for rocking. Then we went Pirates of Carrabien and then romed around in Discovery land then at 3:30 pm started to Disney Studio as the Stunt show was at 4:00 pm. we had a meal in the studio before going to the stunt show at 4:30 pm we came out and the show was Spectacular never miss when you have a visit. After the show I went to the Roller coaster alone :-( . After coming out we went to Studio Tram tour and there ends our trip to Studio we came back to park again. We went to the Small Little world the most important one I feel in the Park Its just a small boat ride where you see plenty of dolls mind blowing they sing, dance and you can see even the lip and eyes movement while they sing and dance. After the small little world we went to the adventure land and then took a Paddle Steamers it gives you a feeling of riding in a big boat through the amazon jungle.

It was time to pack but still gave a try to get into the Big Thunder Mountain and was successfully able to get into the last ride for the day. After that we came out and sent some time in taking snaps near the Sleeping Beauty Castle. It looks amazing when its lighted. Even though the Park officially closes at 7:00 pm people are allowed to stay inside we were there till 8:00 pm and then started back to Galleni we reached Galleni at 8:55 pm had dinner and went and stood in the queue right in time at 10:00 pm for collecting boarding pass. Back to home in Dusseldorf at 5:40 am next day.

Here ends the Paris trip.

Some snaps from the trip please click links down to access the albums:
Arc de Triomphe, Grand Place

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Petit Palace, Invalides

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Concorde Square Left fountain and right Assembly National

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Louvre Museum Entrance and Monalisa

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Notredame outside and inside

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During Boat Tour

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The Sacré-Coeur and The Invalides

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The Eiffel Tower

From Paris Trip 2