Day 9: Paris

Bonjour from Paris! Man, this french language is tough. I (this is Kevin) have had the deer in the headlights look at least a half dozen times today when someone has spoken French at me. I'm wishing I had just a basic french course so I could pronounce the words I'm reading (e.g., on a menu). Ah well, we've managed to order food (pointing at the menu works, although I don't like to do it) and navigate the metro.

So not to be all gloomy, but I'll get the complaining out in the beginning. First, it took 3 hours to get to our hotel even though the airport is about 10 miles away. We found out on landing that the airport bus drivers are on strike. Then, 12 of 15 ticket booths at the metro were out of order, and the other 3 booth's credit card machine's were broken. Add in our inexperience, and it was heck of a travel day.

Our hotel is below our (pretty low) standards, smelly bathroom, overall dirtiness, etc. At least the staff has been very friendly, and more importantly, able to speak English.

Alright, if you made it through that rant, cool. Just like our day, things will eventually turn positive. Our first stop (after some wine, of course) was the Tracedero area, which opens up into an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower (see pic below). We got closer to check it out, and decided the queue was too long, so we took a Seine River boat tour. It was just what we needed. We could sit back and get acquainted with the city, and not have to expel much effort.

After being recharged a bit, we walked back and got in the much shorter line at Eiffel Tower. A half hour later we were on a (what Kevin would describe as 'freaky') 300 meter elevator ride to the top. It was worth the wait. Even though it's Brooke's 3rd trip up, we both enjoyed the breezy views of the whole city. We met a few Americans on the elevator (it's a long ride) including a WWII vet here for the D-Day anniversary. He was a paratrouper in the 82nd airborne. He made 285 drops, 3 in combat (Sicily, D-Day, and didn't catch the last one), with no broken bones. He was, as he put it, "lucky to be alive."

After coming down, we killed the next few hours eating in Tracedero and waiting for the Eiffel Tower to be lit up. While we were waiting, there were probably 50 sidewalk venders walking around trying to illegally sell mini-towers and other trinkets. What was entertaining was seeing a cop walk into the square and watching the vendors run like underage college kids at a party being busted.

That was pretty much it for day one. We didn't cross too much off our list, but given our late start at about 3:30 pm, not too bad.