Tuesday, 1 June 2010: CMN - CDG
Out Of Africa
We left early this morning and took the cab to the train station. We’d already bought our second-class tickets to the airport yesterday and went to the platform. The train was slightly late (how could a train bound for an airport be late?!) and at first, the electronic boards showed the train would leave from two platforms. Finally the right train pulled up and we got in. It was a forty minute ride to the airport and we had to go through security to enter the terminal one person at a time (imagine the bottleneck). After that, we made our way to the right terminal to check in for our easyJet flight.
There was just enough to time to have a cup of hot chocolate and some pastries before we went in. Not even time to shop (I was running out of dirham anyway) as we had to board the plane almost immediately, no thanks to the thorough body check we had to go through. I shopped from the airline duty-free though (oh dear!).
We landed at Paris Charles de Gaulle at 1 pm and after collecting our bags, took the RER B train to Gare du Nord. The stupid thing was we had to use coins to buy our tickets (and as we decided to buy return tickets, we needed Euro17 in coins) and the stupider thing was we only sighted one machine that could change your Euro notes into coins. After 30 minutes of train ride and ten minutes of walking in Gare du Nord itself, we finally emerged at Rue de Dunkurque and walked to our hotel. After checking in, we freshened up and left to explore the area. We had been to Paris twice before and never been to Sacré Coeur so we decided to head there first. It started to rain as we neared the church... I was worried that I wouldn’t get to experience a proper summer but I really needn’t have worried. What would summer be without rain, eh.
The rain got heavier and we entered the church to get dry. It stopped raining when we left the church and walked down the hill. We walked all the way to Galeries Lafayette; I left Lin there promising to meet again just before the store closed at 8 and walked on to the Opera/Madeleine area. I was late in coming back as the distance was longer than I expected. We took the metro back and had dinner at a kebab restaurant (I had lahmacun; the Düsseldorf version, while not great, tasted better). Kebab meals cost more in Paris too.
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Versailles
The morning started off overcast. We took the train and changed for RER C to Versailles Rive Gauche station to visit Château de Versailles (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) exactly a week after we visited the Russian Versailles. We had bought tickets online and were waved in after a cursory glance and scribble on our printout tickets. We spent about two hours there before exploring the gardens. The sun came out and we spent a lovely summer day in the garden. We also walked to Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon. I couldn’t help thinking of the vanity, extravagance and arrogance of the past royalties for building all these great palaces and vast parks only to leave them all behind.
We finally returned back to the station and took the train back to Paris. We stopped first at Printemps and Galeries Lafayatte before returning back to the hotel. Dinner was had at another Turkish restaurant.
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Shopping!
Today, we took the RER A to La Vallée Village near Disneyland Paris (we had already been to Disneyland Paris when it was known as Euro Disney). Because we actually stopped at the Disneyland station and had to buy another ticket to Val d’Europe where La Vallée Village is, we only arrived at almost noon. I also called home to wish Abah Happy Birthday. We left after 4 pm and returned to hotel before venturing out again after 6 pm (stores close late on Thursdays). I didn’t buy much though as what I had set my eyes on were either not available or already sold out. Yes, such discipline!
Dinner was had at the resto we went the evening before. By now, I was already sick of meat in general and kebab in particular.
Friday/Saturday, 4/5 June 2010
From Paris With Love
Well, would you believe it, after months of planning, the getaway was coming to an end already. We left after 8.30 am, walked to Gare du Nord and took the RER B train to Charles de Gaulle. It was an express train (i.e. with limited stops) so we arrived at the airport after 20 minutes or so. Although it was not yet 10 am, the check-in counters were already opened and so we checked in.
We submitted our tax claims – I must remember to use my plastic next time, opting for the refund to be credited into my credit card instead; paying in cash does not pay as there was a Euro3 charge for cash refund (I only realised I couldn’t opt for the refund to be credited into my credit card after having paid in cash) plus it took longer – before walking up the ugly glass tunnel to passport control. A short browse at the duty-free shops followed before we headed for the gate.
It was an empty flight and so I was able to stretch out. But despite that, I couldn’t sleep. Bahhh. And the movie From Paris With Love was among those in the in-flight entertainment but I skipped it as I read the reviews were not good.
We landed at KLIA 10 minutes past 6 on Saturday. I went to perform prayers before walking to the carousel. Saw my bag pass me by, ran after it and then ran all the way to the train making it with four minutes to go. Yea, I get fit that way.
‘Til the next adventure then.
~~~~~~~~
Well, last night’s footie results were hardly surprising with Argentina registering a 4-1 win over South Korea, Greece resurrecting their chances with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria and Les Blues feeling the blues after a 2-0 defeat to Mexico.
And Arsenal will start the new season with an away trip to Anfield.
Out Of Africa
We left early this morning and took the cab to the train station. We’d already bought our second-class tickets to the airport yesterday and went to the platform. The train was slightly late (how could a train bound for an airport be late?!) and at first, the electronic boards showed the train would leave from two platforms. Finally the right train pulled up and we got in. It was a forty minute ride to the airport and we had to go through security to enter the terminal one person at a time (imagine the bottleneck). After that, we made our way to the right terminal to check in for our easyJet flight.
There was just enough to time to have a cup of hot chocolate and some pastries before we went in. Not even time to shop (I was running out of dirham anyway) as we had to board the plane almost immediately, no thanks to the thorough body check we had to go through. I shopped from the airline duty-free though (oh dear!).
We landed at Paris Charles de Gaulle at 1 pm and after collecting our bags, took the RER B train to Gare du Nord. The stupid thing was we had to use coins to buy our tickets (and as we decided to buy return tickets, we needed Euro17 in coins) and the stupider thing was we only sighted one machine that could change your Euro notes into coins. After 30 minutes of train ride and ten minutes of walking in Gare du Nord itself, we finally emerged at Rue de Dunkurque and walked to our hotel. After checking in, we freshened up and left to explore the area. We had been to Paris twice before and never been to Sacré Coeur so we decided to head there first. It started to rain as we neared the church... I was worried that I wouldn’t get to experience a proper summer but I really needn’t have worried. What would summer be without rain, eh.
The rain got heavier and we entered the church to get dry. It stopped raining when we left the church and walked down the hill. We walked all the way to Galeries Lafayette; I left Lin there promising to meet again just before the store closed at 8 and walked on to the Opera/Madeleine area. I was late in coming back as the distance was longer than I expected. We took the metro back and had dinner at a kebab restaurant (I had lahmacun; the Düsseldorf version, while not great, tasted better). Kebab meals cost more in Paris too.
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Versailles
The morning started off overcast. We took the train and changed for RER C to Versailles Rive Gauche station to visit Château de Versailles (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) exactly a week after we visited the Russian Versailles. We had bought tickets online and were waved in after a cursory glance and scribble on our printout tickets. We spent about two hours there before exploring the gardens. The sun came out and we spent a lovely summer day in the garden. We also walked to Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon. I couldn’t help thinking of the vanity, extravagance and arrogance of the past royalties for building all these great palaces and vast parks only to leave them all behind.
We finally returned back to the station and took the train back to Paris. We stopped first at Printemps and Galeries Lafayatte before returning back to the hotel. Dinner was had at another Turkish restaurant.
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Shopping!
Today, we took the RER A to La Vallée Village near Disneyland Paris (we had already been to Disneyland Paris when it was known as Euro Disney). Because we actually stopped at the Disneyland station and had to buy another ticket to Val d’Europe where La Vallée Village is, we only arrived at almost noon. I also called home to wish Abah Happy Birthday. We left after 4 pm and returned to hotel before venturing out again after 6 pm (stores close late on Thursdays). I didn’t buy much though as what I had set my eyes on were either not available or already sold out. Yes, such discipline!
Dinner was had at the resto we went the evening before. By now, I was already sick of meat in general and kebab in particular.
Friday/Saturday, 4/5 June 2010
From Paris With Love
Well, would you believe it, after months of planning, the getaway was coming to an end already. We left after 8.30 am, walked to Gare du Nord and took the RER B train to Charles de Gaulle. It was an express train (i.e. with limited stops) so we arrived at the airport after 20 minutes or so. Although it was not yet 10 am, the check-in counters were already opened and so we checked in.
We submitted our tax claims – I must remember to use my plastic next time, opting for the refund to be credited into my credit card instead; paying in cash does not pay as there was a Euro3 charge for cash refund (I only realised I couldn’t opt for the refund to be credited into my credit card after having paid in cash) plus it took longer – before walking up the ugly glass tunnel to passport control. A short browse at the duty-free shops followed before we headed for the gate.
It was an empty flight and so I was able to stretch out. But despite that, I couldn’t sleep. Bahhh. And the movie From Paris With Love was among those in the in-flight entertainment but I skipped it as I read the reviews were not good.
We landed at KLIA 10 minutes past 6 on Saturday. I went to perform prayers before walking to the carousel. Saw my bag pass me by, ran after it and then ran all the way to the train making it with four minutes to go. Yea, I get fit that way.
‘Til the next adventure then.
~~~~~~~~
Well, last night’s footie results were hardly surprising with Argentina registering a 4-1 win over South Korea, Greece resurrecting their chances with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria and Les Blues feeling the blues after a 2-0 defeat to Mexico.
And Arsenal will start the new season with an away trip to Anfield.
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