My one amazing night in Paris. I arrived into Paris from
Stuttgart early in the morning and after jumping on the metro I found my way to
the hostel to dump my bags. Unfortunately it was far too early for me to check
in for the night, so I left them in storage and decided to go for a wander
around the beautiful city of love.
I headed towards Notre Dame as a starting point for my day
and found myself sitting under the beautiful church contemplating how amazing
the architecture was and ofcourse wondering why I sitting there without a
croissant or a baguette or atleast something else stereotypically French.
Perhaps I would also need a beret. Obviously contemplating the most important
things in life. Clearly.
I went for a stroll along the river and down alleys filled
with shops and quaint café’s stopping at a bakery to get a delicious mushroom
quiche and a tart filled to the brim with berries. Now content and filled with
delicious pastries (which future B may begin to regret, however I shut that
thought up with each delicious bite) I continued to stroll down seeing where my
feet would take me in this beautiful city. Quickly looking at my watch, I
realized that I had little time before a skype date home, so I jumped back on
the nearest metro station, headed to my hostel, snatched my laptop up and went
in search of internet access. After 20 minutes of wandering around with no
luck, I jumped back on the metro having seen a starbucks with wifi earlier.
Yes, I know, Starbucks, possibly the most ‘un-Paris’ place
to go, but hey, I was desperate!
I ran into starbucks, set up my computer only to realize
that I had been an hour out when I was thinking about the time differences,
doh! So I was over an hour late now for
my skype chat. So, I did what any good daughter would do. I sent email after
email to my Dad so that his phone would jingle, he would get up and come back
online. It’s always fun to be obnoxiously persistent when it comes to emails. And that persistence
paid off in the end – take that people who say to stop being so annoying!
Annoying gets results!!
A young guy sat next to me about to work on computers and
asked if I would mind keeping an eye on laptop while he went to get a drink and
I informed him that I would karate chop anyone who tried to steal it. After my
skype chat I began a conversation with my table neighbor and he asked me what
my plans were for the night. Not having any plans and just going with the flow,
he gave me his number in case I decided to go out for a drink.
I headed back out to go finally check in at the hostel. They
told me I was located on the 6th floor, but what they failed to tell
me was that it was 12 flights of stairs up in a very narrow staircase. Dammit! Carrying my exceptionally heavy backpack,
plus a day bag, I lugged my way up the 12 flights. If this doesn’t do amazing
things for my leg muscles, I don’t know what will!!
So puffing like Homer Simpson I finally reached my room, and
crashed on the bed trying to recover and catch my breath. After lying on the
bed for about 20 minutes I mentally kicked myself in the pants – I was in Paris
and so far I had essentially been to Starbucks and was now lying on my bed.
Ohhh the shaaaaame.
So I picked myself up, changed my clothes and headed out for
the rest of the afternoon. I decided that I would remain true to my nerd/artsy
side and go make my way to the café that is featured in the movie Amelie. This
movie is one of my all-time favourites, about a girl that anonymously goes out
of her way to make people smile and meddle in their lives for their own
benefits, while secretly pining for a love of her own. It is full of the right
amount of quirkiness that appeals to me soul. So I set off to find the ‘Café des
2 Moulins’, where the fictional Amelie worked. Fun fact about this café, the
business was going under until the film makers approached them for the movie,
and since the movie has become so widely popular, business has begun booming.
I hopped on down the streets of Mont Marte to find this café
and instead found myself getting lost down alleyways of Paris. After stopping
to view my surroundings after about 45 minutes (I am sure it was only supposed
to be a 20 minute walk from my hostel??) I decided to go for Plan B since the sun
was beginning to set, jump on a train, make my way to the Moulin Rouge and
eventually find it.
I hopped out of the tube station and found myself facing the
magnificent Moulin Rouge. It was pretty cool however very different to what I
thought it would be, however my mindset of the venue comes from the movie, and
it’s pretty clear that it would of and has changed through the years since the
movie was set. I went for a walk down the street and found a myriad of bars as
well as ‘specialty’ stores, but hey, I was in the red light district!
I got stopped a few times walking down the street by men
feeling the urge to comment on how ‘beautiful’ I was. One young guy who could
not speak any English, but could speak some Spanish (and I knowing a little)
had to ask if I had a boyfriend because he didn’t want to miss the opportunity.
I blushed and told him that I did have a (fake) boyfriend, but thank you for
his compliments and kept walking. I must say the day was turning out to be an
incredible ego boost, and I decided to take all the whistles as compliments
also, rather than being creepy and also rather than focusing on the fact that
they probably thought I was a prostitute seeing as though I was walking through
the red light district. Whatever, an ego boost is still an ego boost, and just
seems more charming when it is coming from the French!
I actually managed to find the Café des 2 Moulins and of
course it was incredibly busy. Wanting to relive some moments of Amelie I found
myself a free table and ordered a crème brulee which I could crack with a tea
spoon, and a coffee. I took the atmosphere in replaying scenes from the movie
in my head as I watched couples and families in conversation.
My crème Brulee arrived and
eagerly picked up my spoon ready to crack that bad boy. Unfortunately the
top was a bit soft and didn’t have the same effect. They must get so many
people in ordering them that they pre-make them and keep them in the fridge
which just seems to soften that burnt sugar goodness. Needless to say I was a
bit disappointed, but it still tasted delicious and I wasn’t about to complain.
I mean, HELLO, I was in Paris!
After my deliciously healthy dessert/dinner I found a
payphone and decided that I would infact call the guy I met at Starbucks. He
said he was on his way out to a bar just opposite the Moulin Rouge. Well, well,
well, what a coinky-dink that I just so happen to be outside the Moulin Rouge!
We met outside the famous red wind mill and he took me to a
bar across the road. As I sat down at the bar, I looked around me at the
decoration. Hang on, this seems familiar, there are kangaroos, and koalas
aaaand, woah, it dawned on me that I was in an Australian bar. Having not been
in an Australian bar EVER, it kind of blew my mind but was a nice bit of
familiarity. The bar tender who was friends with the guy I met laughed at the
fact that I was probably the first Australian to ever come into the bar. So I became
the connoisseur of the selection of Australian beers. I chatted with my new
friend for a while about all the random things in life, and ordered more drinks
of ridiculously stereotypically Australian named cocktails before heading to
another bar to have a bit of a boogy. Again, there was more drinking and
talking and laughing before arguing where the Amelie café was. Not wanting to
be proven wrong, I insisted that we go find it, because I knew I was right. So
at 5am we are trolling the streets to prove that I was in fact correct. Turns
out, I was. Win!!!
After stumbling back to my hostel at 8:30 in the morning I
managed to get in a half hour nap before check out.
In my slightly hung over state, I checked out of the hostel,
leaving my bags in storage and decided that I needed to make the most of the
day seeing as though I was flying out late that night. I made my way to the
Champs Elysee to make my way up to the Arc de Triomphe. I stopped into the
stores ogling the pretty things that I couldn’t afford, and then I saw it.
There was a gigantic Haagan Dazs café, shining like a beacon of light through
storm clouds. My hung over state said “Hells yes” as I made my way across the
street in a zombie like fashion. My eyes were clearly bigger than my belly had
plans for but I ordered 3 scoops of amazing ice cream and ending up only eating
one. Turns out ice cream really does suck for a hangover, but I enjoyed it
anyway!
Next stop, saying howdy to the Eiffel Tower. I stood and watched
it while the rain began to fall. Bright coloured umbrellas began to pop up all
around me, but not having an umbrella I didn’t mind. I felt at peace and like I
was part of some old movie watching couples walk past huddled close together
under the umbrellas, shielding themselves from the skies that were opening
above them. It truly was magical.
I broke out of my daze and looked at the time, it was time
for me to head to the airport and fly off to Scotland. As I walked back to get
my bags I wondered whether it would be appropriate to have a nap on the floor
of the airport. Either way, it seemed like a brilliant plan to me.
B xox
