The final stage of our 2011 trip was Paris and it was seriously muggy and hot, right in the middle of tourist season. It did little to dampen our enthusiasm and we made the most of the time we had before Lynda jetted off to Canada and Alaska for another month of her long service leave and I returned to the grind in Melbourne. It was a great way to bring to a close a brilliant 4 weeks discovering the UK and Ireland. My favourite highlights were Liverpool and our kind cab driver John who provided some history of what Liverpool was like for my Dad and 3 of my siblings as well as all the great sport and music locations. Also the Cavern was pretty emotional for Lynda and I and just the overall presence of the Beatles was unforgettable. The Edinburgh Fringe was another dream come true as well as that beautiful city and the drive around Scotland just had us craving more. Both my grandfathers whom I never met, came from Scotland and there was a weird sense of belonging wherever we went, even though when I mentioned my real name was Campbell they tended to go quiet as apparently the Campbells were nothing other than scoundrels and thieves. Oh well. These are the notes and photos from the amazing Paris.
Paris 20/8/11
by Ian Wilson on Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 5:48am
Ooh la la here we are. From the chill of Dublin we arrive in 30 degree heat in Paris within a 1 hour and 40 minute flight. The excitement of arriving in Paris was palpable and we were met by a driver who didn’t speak a word of English. He was a fantastic young bloke with slick backed hair and designer gear and played doof doof music all the way into Paris. He was also a brilliant driver and negotiated some hairy situations in his big VW bus. The drive into Paris was a bit of an anti-climax and resembled nothing more than a trip down the Tullamarine but even rougher. After going past the footy stadium and under the tunnel he made a left turn and suddenly the view was transformed into magic. The architecture is to die for and the trees and cobbled streets….everything is amazing! Our hotel is 5 mins from the Louvre so we headed there for a walk straight away. Always feels good to walk the cities before you get down to activities. Anyone who has been to the Louvre will understand how breathtaking it is, but what surprised us the most is the area around the museum for people to walk and hangout. This is the height of tourist season and there was plenty of room. From there it’s the stunning walk down the Champs Elysees to the Arch de Triomphe. The next 3 days are committed to museums and all the other Parisian things you do. I’ve mastered Parles-vous Anglais? It appears most people carry English so all’s good so far. Latest instalments to the “Man’s Arse” series are “Man’s Arse at Louvre” and “Man’s Arse at Louie Vuitton”.
Paris 21/8/11
by Ian Wilson on Monday, August 22, 2011 at 6:19am
Louvre day. What can you say about a place as beautiful as this? Every massive room alone was justification to charge people to go in! Every ceiling, wall, everything was superb..oh and then there was the priceless art! Apart from the Mona Lisa you can get extremely close to all the art. We spent 4 hours in the Louvre and could have done 4 more. We then went to another art museum called Musee d’Orsay. This was a reconverted railway yard and was spectacular. Much more compact than the Louvre but some of the greatest works of art by French Impressionists and Van Gough and Toulouse Le Trec. We weren’t going to line up for Toulouse and spent a lot of time with my favourite Van Gough and Lynda’s favourite Monet. I seriously had a spiritual experience when I got my big nose 4 inches from Van Gough’s “Self Portrait”. I thought it would set off alarms but everyone is so cool. It’s like they look at you and think, “There’s another one having a spiritual experience”…no probs. In fact the French have been so cool everywhere. Their service and willingness to engage you has been overwhelming. The only rude people here are the tourists. We wouldn’t come back in the peak of tourist season again but our Paris Pass we bought before we left home has been a God send and gets you straight past the queues. Seeing the Eiffel Tower up close today was a highlight. Yes there are bigger monuments that are shinier and modern but there will never be anything as graceful and classy. We don’t think we can be bothered queuing up to go up the tower but instead go to the Mont Parnesse Tower for the view of Paris. Stinking hot here at the moment and I am chafing like a bastard! Walking like John Wayne.
Paris 22/8/11
by Ian Wilson on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 7:48am
We are absolutely stuffed after another long day discovering this amazing city. Started the day being scammed by a gypsy as we moseyed along the Seine to the bus stop. She must have seen me coming for a mile! It was first thing in the morning and we were both half asleep and suddenly this young girl about 15, walks toward us (I think..she may have jumped out from the side!) and she picks up a gold ring and pretends she just saw it but is prepared to give it to us for good luck. Well I just reckon this is great. This kind woman is prepared to give me this ring which is clearly worth 100,000 euros and all I’ve gotta do is take it to a pawn broker! (Thoughts of an old Daffy Duck cartoon where he discovers Aladdin’s Cave and helps himself to what’s not his!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YZNXwjfq6g
She then walks past us a bit while Lynda tries to negate my obvious enthusiasm for the find of the century and bring plain logic to the fore! She then comes back to us and asks for some money for a sandwich and a coke for her and her expectant baby (we later decide that that was just a windcheater under her top). Anyway I hand her about 5 euro in change and she bolts. Within 2 minutes I’m convinced I’m not gonna be rich and I turn to see the girl 400m away waving. I thought about keeping the ring for Corrie but decided to chuck it in the bin…Idiot! First stop Notre Dame and no surprises here. Dark and gothic with stunning stained windows. Then off to Centre G Pompidou, one of the world’s great modern art museums. After being burnt with modern art so many times I was prepared to go one last time. There were the usual suspects in terms of indescribable installations but there was a lot more depth this time around. We did take a couple of “Man’s Arse” shots, “Man’s Arse on elevator” and “Man’s Arse on undefinable installation”. There were some classics on show and the building itself was fantastic. The elevator when you enter plays Tibetan monk chants and takes you 6 stories up where you can get a great view of the city. After this it was back on the bus and to the Opera which is a breathtaking building, one of many ordered to be built by Napoleon 3rd to make him feel better. There are photos but it beggar’s belief to see what was achieved over the 15 years it took to build. There are now 2 opera houses in Paris and this one is just used for ballet. The government puts in US$250,000 per annum towards the 2 opera houses every year plus what philanthropists throw in. They take their arts seriously in Europe and as our guide said “what price do you put on dreams?” He was an arts academic and highly engaging and knowledgeable without being pretentious. He even asked questions to the audience and Lynda and I got a few right and were quietly chuffed! After the Opera we took the bus to the Eiffel Tower where we got on a river cruise which was a nice change of pace. Then back on the bus and home. It’s our last day tomorrow. Hopefully Salvador Dali exhibition and discover the Montmartre area.
Last day in Paris
by Ian Wilson on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 4:32am
Our last day in Paris. We took the Metro today for a spin. It’s clean and efficient as well as easy to use like the tube. The only difference being that the carriages are bigger thankfully. Went to the art district of Paris called Montmartre which is as Paris as it gets…cobbled stones, cafes, and artists displaying their works as well as working on the streets. It’s where some of the great artists hung out like Picasso, Dali and many others and we were so fortunate to see the Dali exhibition. It was just incredible. On top of the hill at Montmarte is a massive cathedral called Sacre-Coeur which was beautiful and overlooked the city. There was too much of a queue to get in but we bumped into an American couple who suggested we check out the church which was behind the big one as it dated back to the 11th century. We did just that and it was in need of some TLC but a classic nonetheless. No tourists either! Ate a couple of ripper crepes at a cafe then back on the Metro to the business end of Paris and to check out the huge new Arch which looks down the road to the Arch de Triomphe. It’s impressive and the whole district is a complete contrast to the old Paris. Lynda took the last “Men’s arse at giant arch” photo here. Did a bit of last minute shopping back near the Louvre and Corrie and Mia will be very happy to see Daddy when I get home as a consequence! It’s been the holiday of a lifetime. Everything we expected was exceeded and as Lynda said today it’s been like 6 mini holidays in one. I enjoyed London but the fact that it was apparently quiet scared me a bit especially if I had to work there and it was very expensive. Liverpool had a great feel to it and was heaps of fun. Edinburgh was a blast and unforgettable with the Fringe and seeing so many shows. It was just a beautiful city. The highlands were magnificent despite the temperamental weather and really special countryside. Ireland was a green that was special and the countryside was worth another visit especially more of Northern Ireland next time. Paris has been spectacular and although the customer service has been exceptional everywhere, it’s been superb here even with the language issues. It’s a city with a laid back feel that is unique. I would love to bring my girls back one day. Lynda heads off to Canada and Alaska tomorrow so I will miss her dreadfully but we have so many great memories to fall back on and crack up to! Finally the thing I noticed the most that we have back home that people over here don’t, is fresh fruit and veg which we take for granted, and our kids having the opportunity to get outside and play. We are truly a lucky country. I just wish we had politicians with vision to create, not just survive. Oh …and being told not to smoke, drink, speed, ride without a helmet, breathe! Stop telling me what to do! People drive and ride scooters, bikes etc around the Arch de Triumphe with 12 exits and no road rules or lines!! And they do just fine thanks very much.
Last night in Paris and the much vaunted ‘Man’s Arse Series”!
