Day 2 in Paris: Lessons Learned

So we're here on Day 4 of our EuroTrip, and day 2 in Paris. Today, I learned a few things:

1) 2 Steak Tartare meals are the most I can take per day
2) People usually start with their left foot first going up and down stairs
3) The French are poor at transportation planning

The days are starting to become a blur...Les and I keep forgetting what day it is, or how far along in our trip we are. I think it's Tues, the 15th, and about 4 of 14 days into the trip. We can't believe how much we've done so far and we're probably going to be exhausted for about 2 wks when we get back. Speaking of which, coming back home will be very difficult...much less going back to work.

Anyhow, today we slept in a bit which was nice. We happen to be pretty close to the shopping area, so I had to buy a longsleeve undershirt since it's been chilly here. $16 Eur at the Gap and we're on our way. Across the Paris Opera House, which is the biggest in the world I think, we stop at a cafe where they sell, *gasp* steak tartare (my new favorite dish since Napa introduced me to it and seeing it from the movie Wall Street). Les doesn't like seeing the raw meat but let's me enjoy it anyways. I'm going to try to sneak it into her turkey sandwich one day so she can enjoy it as much as I do.

After lunch, we head onto the Paris Tour Bus and head around North Paris. Apparently we get on the wrong route because now we get a first hand tour of the Red Light District and pass by the famous Moulin Rouge. It looks more glamorous in the movie, but I guess the rampant homeless and druggies walking around sort of dispel any notion of grandeur. Les doesn't want to go tonight even after some prodding.

Finally we get on the correct bus and head to the big touristy sites, like the Madeleine (a giant church that looks like the Parthenon), the Louvre-er, Notre Dame, and the Musee D'Orsay. First, the Madeleine church is HUGE inside. I know there's a bunch of history and symbolism in the architecture and sculptures, so I do my best Robert Langdon impression to try to find some hidden marks or directions. The only thing I find is a large donation box that sits next to the organ. What a disappointment.

The Louvre-er is closed today (Tuesday), but still a lot of people loiter in the area. Same for Notre Dame, where a long line had formed to get in. No Touchdown Jesus at this cathedral unfortunately. Crossing over the Seine, I can see the river banks that look just like the scenes in Ratatouille. If you haven't noticed, I draw a lot of my references from movies and/or cartoons. My whole association memory is based off those things, sadly.

Finally, we get off at Musee D'Orsay and walk around the old Train Station-turned-museum. Pretty nice, but I'd admit that I probably don't appreciate artwork as most ppl. Les seems to enjoy walking through and reading at most pieces. I only get excited when we make it to the top floor and I recognize some of the major pieces, like Van Gogh's self portrait and Whistler. I do the requisite picture taking of the art so I can show everyone that I was there and the actual painting looks exactly like it does in the books.

With the museum now closed, we hop back on the bus and head to Champs Elysses, which connects the giant Monelith and the Arc de Triomphe. Before we hit the Arc, we grab dinner at a nearby restaurant, and guess what? They also have steak tartare. This is where lesson 1 is learned. You really can have too much of a good thing, and it's starting to upset my stomach.

After dinner, we head to the Arc and take the 248 steps up the staircase. Holy moly...my legs are about to fall off but that's where lesson 2 is realized. People start the staircase with their left foot first, as shown by the immense worn out areas on the first step, left side. Interesting. Les and I take some pics at top, and again, do a few panoramics across the landscape.

The Arc is pretty impressive, until I find out that apparently a lot of other countries have their own Arc too...heck, Rome has like 3! Also, you can get your own by giving yourself one. I think Romania gave themselves one for just participating in WWI. Come on now. That's like giving yourself a Certificate of Appreciation at work for just showing up.

Heading back down, we hang out the Arc base to watch the biggest turnabout in the world in action. Wow, those French drivers just go. No brakes, just go. Need to get to the other side of the 12 avenue merge? Don't worry, just turn 90 deg at 30 mph and gun it. Trust me, they will stop for you. It's like the snowboarder rule: just be responsible for whats ahead of you...the ones behind have to watch out. (btw: the Eiffel Tower has a cool sparkly light show at 9pm for 5 min)

Finally, Lesson 3 about the bad transportation planning in Paris is learned on the way back home. I still don't know which subway tunnel, train, or route to take because I swear we take a new way home everytime. Each station you need to take the RER, then the Metro, then go back and forth b/w each area with your ticket, but your ticket can be invalidated along the way, and so forth. A lot of parts are quiet and empty, which reminds me a lot of Cloverfield when the group has to find refuge in the subway stations for safety and then all the creepy crawlers come out and attack. Then I think about where I would run and how I would fend them off. I have a vivid imagination.

Finally make it home and now we rest our feet and plan for tomorrow. Whoa, Patrick Swayze died?