1st May 2011, Lafayyete Gallery
After our stop at the Opera House,we walked to this church that is partially under maintainance and had our lunch.Yes.Bread with Nutella again.There were kids playing at the park in front of the church with their parents.Super cute.After eating a few slices of bread,we walked again and arrived in front of the Laffayete Gallery which to our dismay (and expected) was closed for the day.We literally window shopped from outside.Here are some of the pictures of Lafayette Gallery and shops we walked past by.
1st May 2011, Arc de trimphe Champ -Elysees
We then continued our jounrey to the famous Arc....We didnt cross the road and have a closer look to it though.We spent roughly about 5 minutes there snapped a few pictures and ready to go to our next stop.
Then wecame a cross this red bus..
It kinda looked like London's double decker bus no?Anyhoos,its a tour bus called the Hop on Hop off bus.We paid 23 Euros and were able to use our pass for 2 days.They drove us around Paris and stopped at tourist attractions.We hopped on the bus and got the chance to have a look at the shopping street,Avenue des Champ-Elysees. This is where all of the designer boutiques are located.Channel, Louis Vuitton,Gucci, you name it.We were tired and knows pretty well that we can't afford it so being on the bus was a good idea.
May 1st, Boat Tour,Eiffel Tower
What we did next was rode the bus to the Eiffel Tower (again) and took the 1 hour boat ride tour.Since we wanted to save time,we bought the lunch package.So we had the chance to again,tour the city if Paris only now on the Seine River.It was hot yet chilly.If you know what I mean.Only then i realized that they have quite a number of bridges with its own story to tell.Suddenly it hit me,I remembered about the love bridge (of which i recently reread on someone else's blog) that they have one in Paris!I didn't have my own pad lock which was such a bummer.We didnt have any timeto go and look it up online,so what i did,was i KEPT MY EYES OPEN everytime we pass a bridge.And true enough,this was what we saw,
I was super excited and we both decided to go and have a look at it later.We we're super hungry by that time.When we ordered for lunch,we expected real lunch.On a plate at the very least.Something nice,something French like this perhaps,
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| Over exaggeration,i know |
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| Lunch in a BOX?really?Its not even French.=( |
We did take a few pictures but very few,while we're on the boat.I didn't remember why.Its the breeze and the sun that made us quiet I think.All deep in their own thoughts.Its a beautiful day really.MasyaAllah..
As we arrive back at the Eiffel Tower,i wanted to get they Eiffel Tower key chains badly.I had to get something for Zubair!So while i walked along the street,this little girl kept on shoving a paper to my face that says that shes a mute and deaf orphan needing money to buy food.I honestly had only 5 Euros with me.I politely declined and kept on walking. However,on the way back,she came to me again and took my shades and walked away.She was now with a group of friends and i walked towards her and her group of friends.A friend of hers said that they needed money and i said that i really don't have any to spare.But i remembered that i had a few chocolate bars in my bag and offered them instead.One of the girls sternly said that they needed money so i left.The funny thing is,remember the mute and deaf girl earlier?When i handed her the chocolate bars she said 'Merci!'.Now,how can she do that no?This was the group of people that my friend had warned me about and here I AM WARNING you.Tourists are always their target.I know that theres this soft spot in our heart telling us to help people in need.Let me tell you this,if you have doubt in giving alms then better not.Give them only when you really want to and do it for Allah.
May 1st, Pont des Arts
We hopped on the Red bus again and made our way to the Pont des Arts or the Love Bridge.BOY!I was super excited.Not that i believe in the magic.But i think its sweet.Love bridge is where couple write their initials on a padlock and locks on the railing.Then they threw a way the keys.Since its impossible to retrieve the keys,it symbolizes how its impossible to beak the love between them.Its sweet really.Padlock of various shapes,size and colour faithfully hung itself under the hot sun and pouring rain in the name of love of two souls..Since i didnt have a padlock with me i decided to take one of the keychains that i just bought and hung it there.People might thing that its stupid.It may be.The same thing as wishing fountains.But people still do it anyways,just for the fun of it.
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| Thats mine.The red keychain. |
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| Love struck |
After visiting the bridge,we strolled along the roads next to it and looked at stalls for a while.We were tired by then,it was almost 7 and we were tired.We head back home and rested.We wanted to nap for half an hour or so but ended up waking up at 9.30-ish.So we went out to find a nice fancy dinner for ourselves.We walked along the roads but they were eerily deserted.It was scary really.A man gave us THE LOOK.My mind automatically flashed scenes from the movie TAKEN in my head.Thanks head!Of all times to make me scared..Anyhoos,by 11 ish all restaurants were about to close and we ended up going to a nearby restaurant WHICH WAS THE BOMB!Its called Chez-Ginnete.After almost 2 months of not having coffee,i said to myself,what is Paris without having a cup of coffee at its cafes?I don't come here often,when else would I be able to enjoy their coffee?So i ordered a cup of cappuccino which was heavenly (it might taste like our average cappuccino, but the hiatus made it taste better perhaps?).The menu was in French and we can guess some of the words..We ended up ordering
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| Salmon with radish |
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| Turbot with creamy risotto and pesto |
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| Cappuccino!YEAY! |
The dessert was the best part of all..wait for it..wait for it...
Tadaaa!
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| Molten chocolate cake with caramel ice cream |
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| Uh-lala! |
Thank God they don't have a high tax like in Montreal.Fiuh!We decided to call it a day and head back to our hostel for a good night sleep.
May 2nd, Last Day
We decided to try the pastries and sandwiches at a Deli in front of our hostel.The smell!my oh my!Everytime we passed that deli,glorious smells filled our nostrils!So thats where we headed to early the next morning. The owner doesn't speak English(or doesn't want to) which makes communication hard.We bought some pastries and ate it on a bench outside.It was a cold morning.It rained the night before maybe.Here are some pictures of the colourful treats sold there.
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| Macaroons! |
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| Sinful delights! |
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| YUM! |
Thank you Paris for the wonderful time although i wished i could've stayed longer.I'll come again InsyaAllah!And next time we'll make it REALLY romantic.hehe.
In Paris,i fell in love with a city,spent hours looking at the city,almost hit someone on the head,was lied to,worked out using my luggage,met a nice Algerian,and a scary one.
One thing,those who say that love is in the air,have been to Paris.
Wait for my return.
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| Au Revoir Paris! |
Till then,Salut,
Love,
Anggerik
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