Sunday 29.09.13
My first full day in Paris (for the second time, I'd done the first half of this Topdeck tour up until Rome in 2012). After breakfast, this girl Sarah, who I met at breakfast, and I planned to go into The Louvre together. Another two girls from our group joined us, then on the walk to the metro station we met up with another two.
So Sarah, Sam, Rhi, Ashley, Bec and myself all headed in to see Mona Lisa smile. We found the 'secret' side entrance to The Louvre, which lets you bypass the massive queues trying to get in through the main entrance, where the big glass pyramids are. Literally 15 minutes of lining up, going through security and finding where Mona Lisa was, we were right in front of her. I kind of expected her to be bigger, she is literally the only painting on this massive wall, with guards surrounding the area and that painting itself isn't very large. Though not all great things come in big packages.
After milling around for a while, taking in all the other works of art, we were all getting tired. Apparently if you were to look at every single thing on display in The Louvre for 20 seconds, it would take you more than a year. Thats what I was told. But have heard several variations so obviously I have no idea, just thought I'd throw that in there.
From there we walked down towards the Notre Dame. Now I have a really good sense of direction, even though it had been over a year since being in Paris for the one full day. I still knew where I was going. The other girls were really doubting my impressive skills though. Which was completely frustrating. Though I guess they had just met me, so why would they trust my instinct. It was just very frustrating and slow.
Finally they listened to me, and we were there within the next 5 minutes. We got the joy of waiting in another long queue to go inside the Notre Dame, there was a service going on at the time which was amazing to listen to though I'm not religious, I can still appreciate why people believe in a higher power.
I made the executive decision that we would go from the Notre dame, past The Louvre, straight through the gardens, past the Obélisque in Place de la Concorde, and up the Champs Élysées and finally to the Arc De Triomphe. My god it was a long walk, but so worth it. So much to see and nearly get hit by in paris. I'm pretty sure I nearly died at least 3 times on this walk while crossing the street. By the time we got to the Arc, I was exhausted. As were the rest of the girls, so once we had gone over, seen the tomb of the unknown soldier, we got back on the metro to go to the hostel. After 5 minutes on the train we got off at the right station, but somehow got lost. we walked in the wrong direction for a couple hundred metres before they would listen to me again. When they finally did, I lead them back to the train station, walked basically 20 metres further and just around the corner was St Christophers. These girls owed me a drink.
After a quick shower and a bit of reading, I got changed into the nicest clothes I had with me and went down to the bar. Feeling brave, I approached two guys that were on the tour with me, Bertie and Lindo. We had a quick chat but then they left to go get changed for the Cabaret show we were all going to. Once again it was back onto the dreaded metro system, and making our way to the Eiffel tower. We got to go on a double decker train, it was so exciting! off the train and walking again, the rain started. I love rain, so I really wasn't fussed, wasn't concerned at all about how much of drowned rat I was going to look like. Singing and dancing my way toward the rest of the group in the pouring rain is one of my favourite memories. People around me were so quick to judge, but why would I care, I would never see any of them again in my life, I was so happy being happy for that moment.
That night we all got to drink and have a picnic under the Eiffel tower, which is something that everyone should experience. Nothing quite like sitting in the middle of Paris in the pouring rain and watching the tower light up above you.
I once again ate some food, talked and laughed with new found friends then got onto the bus. We were going to Cabaret. Not the Moulin Rouge, a different show. This one is on the other side of paris, a hell of a lot cheaper and is basically the same show. Because Topdeck is a regular customer at this particular show, we got free bottles of wine! woo! after a couple glasses of red, the show began. And honestly, after a while you kind of tune out to the fact that they aren't wearing shirts and how much the girls chests much hurt from all the braless dancing. The more wine you drink the funnier it gets.
I thought our table had had too much, but as I was walking out I saw another Topdeck table had at least 10 empty bottles sprawled across the tablecloth. TEN! there were only eight people to a table. When we got back on the bus you could definitely tell how had been at that particular table, rowdy, hilarious bunch.
At the hostel bar, we played some drinking games, buffalo - which is where if you are holding the drink in your writing hand then you have to skull whatever remains in your glass - and the game of life(?) - which is where if you say the word MINE you have to do 10 push ups.
I didn't know this but I was about to become very familiar with the last game over the next 20 days.