Q: What did I do on my birthday?
A: Wait in line.
Yesterday, July 28th - my 34th birthday, I went to Versailles to see the famous Chateau there. Then, I returned to Paris & went to the Eiffel Tower - I wanted to go to the top.
Underestimating the nature of high season - I didn't get a museum pass, which would have let me skip the lines. (at Versailles, but not the Eiffel Tower). Big Mistake!
Upon arriving at Versailles, I waited over an hour to get a ticket. Then, I waited another 1+ hour to get in.
When I went to the Eiffel Tower that evening, I waited over an hour to get in. After getting to the 2nd level, I had to wait in another line to get to the top. Then a line to get down to the 2nd level. Then a line to get back to the ground. I think I spent over 2 hours in lines there too.
I got onto the metro, and started to head home. It was almost 1:00am. Then the metro lines started closing down. I got off one train & ran to my connecting train - missing it by literally seconds. So, I was stranded in some unknown part of Paris. Fortunately I was able to flag down a cab... exhausted.
Anyhow - enough ranting about lines. The sights I saw were great.
Versailles was amazing. The building was more ornate that I could possibly imagine. It was more luxurious than anything you'd see on TV or in movies. I could see why the French people would rise up when the kings had all that, and they had nothing.
While the building was impressive, I liked the gardens & lawns outside 10 times that. They were fantastic, with perfectly manicured trees, great statues & fountains, and a mile-long artificial lake.
I've already raved about the Eiffel Tower. It's spectacular! Going to the top at night was cool, but I think it would be better in the daytime (hindsight = 20/20).
Today was more relaxed. I grabbed a croissant & coffee at a cafe near the apartment that I was staying in. Then I went to the Catacombs - where millions of Parisians are buried. Their bodies were moved to underground mines after cemeteries became overcrowded.
Then it was time to say adieu to Paris, and take the train up to Normandy. Tomorrow I see the D-Day beaches.
So, in conclusion - definitely go to Paris! It's a fantastic city, with wonderful things to see & do. But, definitely don't go to Paris during the high season if you want to do tourist things. You'll just wind up dealing with huge crowds.
I was very impressed by Paris. I'll definitely be back - there's a lot more to see & do.
(More & more pics are going up onto flickr. I'm not taking the time to name them, link them here, or post to facebook - no time for that right now)
www.flickr.com/photos/theycallmecb
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Did I miss how you got hooked up with an APARTMENT in Paris? Very cool. Don't expect the same from the hostels;)
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