09th July,2015.
Just won the 3 month long adventure summit contest from company. The efforts paid off as the prize was charismatic & in bucket list of every ….The Romantic Paris it is...
10th July,2015
Things were packed...was too much exited. Bit scared too as its my international tour though it is with 60 other colleagues. Things were double checked as part of habit. Reached airport at 6.00pm the flight is at 10.05 pm. from Mumbai International airport. We have a stopover at Dubai for this 7 hour journey from Emirates flight.
Things packed are specially for Paris from what I'm wearing to what I am carrying. People make a bucket list for travelling I had bucket to strike out.. its easy to found too on airports. Met Bob our tour guide on airport & others too.
Tip1- Always tag your bags from airline tags rather your own..it help you to find them easily with help of airline.
Tip2-Don't rely on your international carriers such as Vodafone while travelling. Buy an matrix card from airport with just your passport. The bill is also reasonable for services they provide. I relied on Vodafone which didn't worked out.
Tip3-Also carry a good mobile from branded companies which have a most of features to avoid carry digital cams. Battery checks should be done as low voltage in many European countries can charge your phone slowly with Indian chargers can be big put off.
Tip4-Use travel card one like below to avoid carrying currency. Just load the currency you want with mobile app.
Boarded the flight to Dubai. Bit rough while take off. No need to carry fancy songs & movies in your mobile flights has it all. Served veg food with Indian dishes was a bit boring. Went to sleep. Reached Dubai late night.
The airport is huge, shiny, loaded with every brand shop you can recollect. As we doing shopping on way back just checking out things to buy.
Tip try drinking mineral water than filling water from taps you find it hot & tastes pathetic.3 hours spent like a minutes. Boarded the amazing indoor airport metro faster than indian one. You can imagine how big the airport is.
Reached the near counter & big boeing jet is waiting for us. This time the seating arrangement was not quite good with an oldie who is keeping to self whole flight went to sleep. Waked with sun rays on face & it was just 6 AM as per local time.
10th July,2015
Reached the Charles de Gaulle airport of Paris. Crowded but well managed airport. As its a 3 days holiday in Paris the place is less crowded confirmed by travel guide. Catched the transport to hotel with picturesque city around.
On the way to hotel we are going to visit 3 places one is palais de chaillot & other is an opera theatre from history & speciality of Paris an Perfume museum. As it was summer time the heat is on but the cool breeze is flowing all the time.
Concrete arrow is place from where you can have a view of Eiffel tower & other eye-catching monuments around.
Next Stop is Fragonard Perfume Museum. Photography is prohibited inside. Fragonard is world's top perfume creators. Saw how perfumes are evolved & part of human life since ancient time. Ms. Lucie has explained us very well about everything. Then we have taken to fragonard shop where we have smelled 35+ perfumes with an art of distinguishing among them from Ms. Lucie. Bought my 1st souvenir a Perfume. All are given goodies as part of visit.
Then we have moved to opera center which is now a national museum of music.
As moved forward huger buds are showing their impact. Driver might have guessed it & stopped near an Indian serving restaurant. Had paneer & tandoori roti as taste wasn't Indian tough. Overall a good restaurant to try.
We will be staying at Movenpick Hotels all the time. They have good service & food I can say. Reached there finally to rest till evening.
As the evening passed by we went for walk around hotel clicking memories. I'm not kidding but even at 7 p.m. sun still shining like early evening. This you will experience in european countries as you are closer to north pole.
Found some colleagues they asked us for evening outing to nearest pub. I heard they are discussing about strip clubs. As I done my study beforehand ,told them about Pigalle-Famous for nightlife & for adult evenings in paris.
We took a train from nearest station -Anatole France. Its a best way to travel in city as they have wide network of trains & 2 min frequency with 6 lines.
Tip-1If you are travelling by train it's better to take train pass for 20 euros.
Tip2-Keep in mind to have city map always. Even though people are friendly there to help but sometimes language will be barrier.
Tip3-Don't carry your passport always with you. Carry a digital or paper copy with visa with you. Keep it safe at hotel.
Tip4-Learn some local words such as excuse me, thank you, way to, entry,exit..etc. this will help in travelling.
You will thank me later for this.
Reached Pigalle after changing route from Villiers. Trains & stations are not much crowded as its holiday time. You can expect to be India while travelling by both roadways & trains. Moved out watching many strip clubs ,sex shops & hot girls luring our eyes.. Me & vinay(only person I know beforehand) busy roaming around for photos.
As others fall back, we turned to station. Saw others talking to a guy who was offering them show with drinks for 45 euro's for all 10 of us. As they are getting ready easily I told others in Indian language about local rates & fraud scene. For this cheap, its seems the same. But they went in, vinay & I stayed back. Told them to meet around 1 hour at same street.
As we are roaming down the street saw many sex shops calling us in. Hey Indians we got a offer for you. Like stuff. We are laughing & moving ahead. We reached back there & waiting for them. As feeling bit hot by walking decided to pop the cans. It's much cheaper than water here.
Around 2 am, they came out with sad faces. When we found out about what happened,it's the same thing I told them before. They have paid 350 euros to rescue out. Vinay & I was ROFL.
As we reached station we get to know the train shut down at 1.30 AM by asking locals we reached local bus stop. As its late night people still roaming around but frequency for bus is too low. We got our bus after 45 mins, which left us around 1/3rd way. Nobody has network or map we are having trouble finding person knows english. We stopped a biker who luckily has GPS. We are 2 km away from hotel. We cant forget that night as the fun we had, stories we shared, pain in legs, reached hotel at 4 am.
11th July,2015
Wake up around 8 am vinay's is shouting due to headache. He is shouting as he is not getting water to take medicine.
Trivia-In whole europe, hotels don't serve different water to drink. You can drink normal tap water with the same water quality all over europe & with assurance to be healthy.
Reached the restaurant for breakfast. We've been laughing stock due to them. We did not reacted as an scrumptious breakfast made our day. Waffles, Different fruits, Pan cakes & many more...
Day 3 itinerary was simple river cruise, lunch & city tour end with leisure time. Reached the port for open deck river cruise through seine river.
The one hour cruise was amazing from start to end taken us through French assembly, TGV aka bullet train station in paris, Eiffel tower,notre-dame,& many other monuments. Special mentions were the bridges when each one has special significance & sculpted extravagantly includes love lock bridge which is emptied now. Its been crime to attach locks to the bridge...so aware don't be befikre. you aint #RanveerSingh though..
Get to know about infrastructure laws & asset cost in city while tour of city after lunch break.
Fact1-City designs are been decided by city council...you cant even have an extra window for breeze or of self design or colour..as its screw the view & you need to pay hefty tax amount for it. #Secret behind beauty of city.
Fact2-The corner flats are most expensive in whole building.
Fact3-Only business areas like La Defence can have taller buildings. You can see only black colour building over there standing still only because it became tourist attraction now.
Fact 4-The floor price in the city are so high with taxes. People cant afford the same. Most of population lives in suburbs came for work in city. Which concludes most of people you look around are tourists...haha....
Had a awesome dinner in Indian hotel..in a quiet alley of city. Feels like street from movies. Had machine baked …surprised to see papad being served. The restaurant by a gujarati family..get to know they import some things from India.#incrediableIndia.
Went to sleep after browsing TV after 2 days as they went in adrenaline & made us tired. The beds are so soft you literally wrapped in soft bed.
12th July,2015
On this day 4, the itinerary was filled with some heavyweights from the city. We have started with arc de triomphe...an monument made for a soldier died for France. It center for almost 8 roads can be seen from all 8 streets.
Some beauties had been captured on the way.
Oops these beauties too...
Then we moved to the famous & house to many artist's rare & beautiful pictures showcasing life of those times & how France was art lover from long time. We have given 3 hours to roam in the museum. Its quite a small time period for it. We decided to do it quickly go for important ones first.
Tip-Beware of your belongings from group of girls smiling to you on the entrance they can easily steal from you while keeping you busy talking. Same while looking at pictures. you might get theft within splash of seconds.
As we cross security checks we started searching for monalisa. As per map it's almost in center. We've been lucky as the original painting kept for display today as our guide told us. Original kept hidden to avoid deterioration from camera flashes. See few of the monuments ..
Then its a left...a big hall & voila...she is waiting for us since centuries. The Mona Lisa.
Lost our way while roaming in gardens. Asking was fail again-Language. When moved out of museum gate finally found the same street we came through luckily. We were not only who came late to bus.
Then after lunch we went to the one we came here for-The eifel tower
Went till level 2 by a criss-cross lift. The top was breezy & panoramic.
Then we retired to bed after dinner as want store these moments in mind for forever.
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13th July,2015
Got up early in the morning bit earlier than other days. You can say couldn't sleep whole night. As in the morning we are going to reach the magical destination of all. Disneyland-Paris....
Grand crowd at the entrance...waiting for us...As others not interested in rides. we both roaming solo...
Tip1-Don't carry heavy stuff with you. just water will do... Tip2-Enjoy all rides & views then go the shops on other side of park even though they calling you on the way to rides. Carry map so don't miss out anything...
Things to watch-Roller coaster ,pirate ship & mini train are a must even though you have to wait for 45 mins. Take part in events, click selfies with you fav cartoons
Shopped some souvenirs such as Disney candy ,Mickey hair bands & stuffed toys. They have everything from buzz lightyear to star wars merchandise. your heart might want to catch 'em all but keep eye on the bill...sometimes talking well with counter & sales girl help you get employee discount like we do...they are always there to help you find what you want.#NoFlirtZone period.
As five of us are bored of Indian food. want to try some local delicacies...we out of plan for some lone roaming..
As we heard of great place to shop nearby we both went there told others to meet at hotel at night. Bought the daily pass. We took a train from nearest station Gare de Marne la Vallée Chessy to Gare de Val d'Europe the next stop...the station was classy. we are walking towards mall few minutes from the station. Here you get trendy local brands with Paris label. we have list of things to buy for our female friends in India. As its national day nearby each shop some or the other promo going on saved us some money.
Next journey was long have to change trains. We have map but not google map. Here police & train counter guy helped us a lot. Good thing is that there EVM machine for ticket accept cards.
Boarded the train after 10 min. The train is double-decker but was full with people from disneyland. Was standing on the way but saw people even sitting on stairs to the decks..surprising. After sometime we only both standing was a situation...we have been called an US family offered us 4th seat with their family...they have done loads of shopping for their twin kids. All the way they are talking about US & asking us about India.
After around 40 min we reached Auber to switch train. Left the train after waving the hearty family. Was standing on the same platform unaware of was the train come on the same platform. We find a lady at last who knows English & ready to help. She told us she is going the same way.
We boarded the train from other nearby station Havre - Caumartin. I was talking to her on the way about paris. She is local working in la defense area was going home. We got down at Anatole France the station which is somewhat familiar to us. Three of us came out of station she told us she have to go now. We asked her she has to come this station only right. What she said was rather surprising to us. She lives other side of where we are came here to drop us safely. We thank her a lot for doing this for us.
Took some beer & snacks from shopping center on the way as it's the last day of us in the city.The cheapest stuff from local for 3 euros you get 6 beer cans but a single apple cost you 3 euros though the size was double of indian one.
Went out for dining to Champs Elysees famous for shopping (Louis Vitton with discounts) & Lido Club keep shining whole night. Had a pasta in local restaurant & oldie localite joined us telling us how girls fool alone men by asking for drink & leave before paying heavy bill..@warning signal...Had a pasta & wine left.
Was roaming around saw Lido club with high security & classy cars parked outside. Then seen Louis vitton shop with km long queue of ladies mostly to shop in at discounted prices. We too roaming in local shops checking out prices found them very high for quality as our guide told us.
Tip Most of cloth material was imported from India , Bangladesh , china etc... keep eye on prices before buying.
Bought a local beret cap as a souvenir from a Indian owned shop from New Delhi. Most of small shops owned by Indians and bangladeshis in marketplace. Again feel like hungry after roaming in.Rushed to the Mac'd calling us in. Had meal for 10 euros much larger than served in india. large bucket of fries ,burger& coke. Hamburger is also must try.
Three of us got a plan to roam the city more. Two of seniors left to hotel. This time royally reached to LoveLock bridge. looking awesome in night...clicking pictures. As we turned ahead a lighting big tower calling us in. Following the road reached to Eiffel Tower.
Took a cab back to hotel. keeping eye on meter increasing euros every passing second.
14th July,2015
Leave early to the airport as roads going to shut down due to French National day parade. Bag was packed with pressure due heavy shopping done. Many offers are there in duty free shops too. An offer at a shop was stocked up by us only. An Chivas Regale 1.5 l for 35 euros & that's too 1 on 1 free.
Tip-Spend the change on local soveniours if you don't want to keep them as soveniours.
On flight got a mother daughter duo from Australia. Started conversation as watching same movie when most of crowd watching Pretty woman on flight. Avengers made the day as the talks are interesting. Things going smooth watching movie. Suddenly one from our group started shouting on hostess. Went there to see. He is veggie being served with Turkey. He wants to sue the airline. I went ahead & exchanged my food with his & make him quite. Things sorted out & I got busy tasting turkey for 1st time. Otherwise I have to taste this again. Taken a vodka & went to sleep.
Reached Dubai & done shopping mostly chocolates from shops checked out while going & went back to flight to Mumbai.
That's how Romantic Paris went adventurous for me...….