MY PARIS
Sorting out old photos I plunged into nostalgia. Recalling long travels, I decided to devote some time to my emotions and form them into a story. And, in connection with the launch of my new website, I had to write articles about the countries I visited.
I visited France back in 2012, information about prices, transport and some things has become no longer relevant, so we will focus on my impressions and personal experience from visiting this country.
Let’s start with the fact that this was one of my first trips outside Russia. My level of English was limited to a couple of welcome phrases, I was the proud owner of a push-button Nokia, had no idea about navigators and WI-FI. And even a computer to prepare for the trip at I was not there, but the computer was there, then I did not know that I also had to prepare for trips)
I only knew that I wanted to visit Versailles and take my daughter to Disneyland. That was the main purpose of the trip. We got together for a week of November holidays, so that my first half-year Finnish visa, after a Scandinavian cruise, would not be wasted.
I did not even think about independent travel then, this thought terrified me, and people who knew how to do it seemed to be superhumans. In this connection, necessarily on the recommendation), I turned to a travel agency, in which they promised me that one would not leave, they will carry everywhere, pick up from the hotel and bring back.)
Before the trip, I was so nervous that I asked my friend to accompany me to the airport. He, apparently imbued with my condition, even took cognac with him. The cognac was not useful, but his presence probably warmed from the inside.
Upon arrival, at the hotel we were met by a nice young man of Arab appearance, and he gave me a lecture in English about the rules of the daily routine and breakfasts. I understood from it 20 percent, and firmly decided to study this language so as not to feel like … uh. .. stupid)
This young man took care of us almost all the time of our stay. He chose the most convenient places for us at breakfast so that the TV was in sight. He treated my daughter to dessert, and at the end gave her a gift collection of French fairy tales in a cardboard box, in French. In a couple of days. before leaving, he disappeared. And we immediately felt the difference. There were no more comfortable seats at breakfast, seating was according to room numbers, and the best seats went to French-speaking guests. The owner was kind to them, they were clearly dismissive towards us. But this did not affect In the next room there lived a Russian girl who came alone to celebrate her birthday. From her we got balloons and a flower in a pot, which we left to the owner. By the way, the owner hinted to her that it would be nice to buy a cake for everyone What she actually did, noting a little with them too.
In a room on the 4th floor, overlooking a public toilet and an overground metro line (there is also a spontaneous market on weekends), I opened the window and breathed in air. Am I in Paris? It was a very emotional moment.
By the way, the peculiarity was that if you are absent from the room, the maid turns off the heating. And you return to the refrigerator, turn it back on and wait until it warms up, otherwise it’s impossible to sleep. And once she forgot to lock the door behind her, and it was open all day. nothing was lost, because everything of value was with me.
On the second day of our stay, we had a meeting at the Grand Opera. It was then that I discovered that no one would pick me up and carry me. This was my first trip and I had no experience. I naively believed that they would tinker with us. I had to go to the street yourself.)
On the street I was struck by the abundance of garbage and a huge number of, how can I correctly call them, Afro-French?) The metro was nearby, but … ticket offices were available only at major stations, at all other machines. My interaction with this object ended in its benefit, and we went on foot. Somehow orienting ourselves on a paper map, on the way pestering Afro-French, who did not understand what I wanted from them and had no idea what the Grand Opera was. Everywhere I was not sent, then in one direction , then to another, all the time they tried to send me to the metro, but I stubbornly insisted on walking. When I performed a pantomime in front of another passer-by, he looked attentively without a shadow of a smile, when I was exhausted, he answered in perfect Russian.) a romantic walk through the dawn morning city, but the goal was achieved.
There also began the conquest of the metro. A few words about tickets. It is more profitable to buy a set of 10 tickets, it’s called, if my memory serves me right, there’s a substantial discount for it. There is also a discount for children. A set of such tickets is still with me. at home, the second of the bought, who needs it, I can lend it) The subway itself defies any logic. After 40 minutes of throwing around the passages and taking the train back and forth, I grasped its meaning. By the way, there are trains without drivers, you can watch through the front window, as the train rushes through the tunnel. Controllers stand closer to the exit and check tickets, but not at all stations. I saw them only once, as well as the fact that most Afro-French do not pay for the fare, jumping over the turnstiles.
Having mastered the metro, movement became easier. We took a boat trip along the Seine, passing by beautiful buildings, the Eiffel Tower, bridges.
Along the perimeter, there is an exhibition of bears – travelers who have visited many countries and arrived directly from Russia.
You can climb the Eiffel Tower in 3 ways. Free on foot, but very tiring. The elevator is paid to the first level, and for a fee to the very top. The top offers views of the whole city. The upper platform is completely closed. And there is a tape with distances to different cities of the world. All cafes are on the first level. And very expensive.
In the evening, the tower flashes and shimmers, but 5 minutes at the beginning of each hour. Electricity needs to be saved)
We paid a visit to the “Museum of Spirits”, where a very cheerful woman in broken Russian told what perfume should be chosen if you want to change your husband or get a promotion. The process of making them, both in ancient times and nowadays, was demonstrated here.
As for food, I found a restaurant with a menu in Russian. We tried onion soup there. Nothing special for me. In supermarkets there are microwaves and tables at the exit. You can also have a budget snack. In the Galeries Lafayette they took a salad with ginger, just by accident. Just poked a finger at the first one they liked.
In the center they sold long hot dogs with vegetable filling for 6 euros. Taps with sauces in unlimited quantities.
We climbed Montmartre with the Basilica of Sacre Coeur, the views from there are good at sunset, we visited the monument to Delilah, whose bust is rubbed to find good luck in love, and the monument to a man walking through the walls.
In the same place, below the Moulin Rouge and a cafe from the movie “Amelie”.
Montmartre
We walked along the Tuileries. The palace there, unfortunately, has not survived. Like the Bastille, a couple of stones remained from it. In the Luxembourg Gardens, a regatta of remote-controlled toy yachts took place.
In the same place, a local guide complained about the French government that they did not need such a huge amount and that they needed to reduce it.
The weather pampered with sun and warmth. It was very pleasant to walk, to feel a light breeze on your face, to catch the Parisian charm and atmosphere.
I remember how I struck Notre Dame inside. Huge, converging at the top, pointed vaults, stained glass windows. Gigantic volume, power, strength and extraordinary energy. Immediately imagined how people gathered here in case of trouble, came to solve problems, trade, lived.
We visited the Parisian water park. Liked it. Originally made slides in the form of mammals, not only for children, you pass under waterfalls. And what is important for a person who cannot swim and has fears of water, you do not come to the pool, but just stop at the end of the slide and get out .Ideally)
Here I had a difficulty with a locker for storing things. I could not figure out what was what and went to look for help. I came across an African-French cleaner. I started my speech by trying to explain myself in English. But when he began to answer me in English, I found out, that I don’t understand, and automatically began to speak Russian. What was my surprise when he began to answer me in pure Russian)
There is also an interesting system of dressing rooms: you enter from one side, close yourself, and then go out from the other side into the water park itself.
We came back late, and we were sent to the exit on the other side of the building. We had a little adventure with the search for the subway and communication with passers-by.
But the Oceanarium surprised by the fact that it had a huge amount of entertainment inside it, not related to the marine theme. We are accustomed here that the aquarium is an oceanarium, there can be nothing but fish. There was a cinema with usual feature films in French and English, not having nothing to do with the “fish” theme. An interactive zone with a chroma key, where you could become the presenter of the weather forecast, run away from a dinosaur, etc. And much more, which I don’t really remember anymore.) A full-fledged interactive entertainment center. No extra payments, on a regular ticket. The child was delighted. She barely took them away. And they even gave a discount to a local cafe. We took a medal with a clown fish in the machine as a keepsake.
Could not ignore the Louvre. The queue was huge, but it walked quite quickly. The Louvre was surprised by the lack of interiors and furniture. It turns out that they did not live there. The Gioconda was surrounded by a dense crowd of people. She was under glass and was quite small in size. represented) I also remember Venus de Milo without arms and Nika of Samothrace without a head. And the strange pictures of Giuseppe Arcimboldo with fruit faces and “The Seasons” with faces symbolizing them.
Disneyland.
We were all waiting for this trip, it was the main purpose of the trip. To my horror, I learned that there would be no transfer and we were going on our own. No one, of course, died, we got there safely, got out where we needed to, didn't pass (which is surprising for me)). And they found everything. Tickets were already given to us in advance, at the very meeting at the Grand Opera, which is just as beautiful inside Like outside. Two pieces. One in Disneyland, the other in the nearby Disney World. The park is wonderful, but very childish. There are many trains that carry on installations of fairy tales. You can dress up as a princess. Take pictures with the heroes. The park is divided into themed zones. And the main The highlight is the Sleeping Beauty Castle. You can go inside, wander around the rooms, climb Peter Pan's tree, visit the Pacohontas wigwams, etc.
Wander through the labyrinths of “Alice in Wonderland”, be splashed with water from the angry queen of worms, ride a boat through a small world with little creatures who sing songs and feed the ducks the leftovers of breakfast. Ride on various attractions, having previously stood in line. And at the end enjoy Disney Parade. It is opened by 3 fairies, decorated platforms with heroes roll behind them, to the music. Everyone is fun, everyone is waving. Mickey Mouse appears in a wizard costume. The fairy Tinkerbell closes the parade. On weekends, there is still a fireworks over the castle and a light projection on the walls. But to us. no luck we were on a weekday.
We didn’t make it to the second park. We looked in for a minute. It didn’t occur to me then that the ticket was valid for 2 days, but the second time I would hardly have gone. There was no time left, and I would hardly have such stress with an independent trip. survived)
Disney world
Then there was the hunting castle of Fonteblo, in the pond of which huge carps live, and Versailles. I really wanted to compare it with Peterhof, because it was after a visit to the French court that Peter, taking into account all the mistakes of the French, built his residence.
Fonteblo
I did not find anything similar to Peterhof. The interiors of the palace are impressive. Especially the tiny bed and Napoleon's throne. Carved ceilings, tapestries.
VERSALLES
We wandered through the hedge labyrinths, looked at the fountain.
There was not enough time to thoroughly explore the park during the excursion. Visit the village of Marie Antoinette too. There will be things to do next time, already on their own.
The Champs Elysees with the Arc de Triomphe was observed from afar, and never walked.
Have not yet found a mini-copy of the Statue of Liberty at the Eiffel Tower, on the river.
And did not visit the Museum of Modern Art and the Georges Pompidou Center.
Since the beginning of November, preparations for Christmas have been intensified in the city: decorations, trees, creating an atmosphere. It was unusual to see this in a rather warm autumn month.
On the last evening, admiring the night illumination of Paris and eating a hot dog for 6 euros, I had the honor to meet an aged French gentleman who introduced himself as Philip and started a conversation at my English level. a man in Russia. The next question was if I have a man in France. I refused to go to a cafe with him, which greatly upset him. I decided not to risk it on my last evening, all the more since I have practically no money left .However, he showed me the direction I needed, because. I had already managed to get lost, and left very upset.
Early in the morning, a transfer to the airport in the form of a small minibus came to pick us up. He left Charles de Gaulle in front of the airport doors and left. I was with a very elderly couple and a middle-aged woman. She was the only one from our company who was a little guided. such huge hubs have never existed. I was even confused. Somehow, having checked in our luggage, we started looking for the gate. It turned out to be not so easy, given the size of the airport with a small city. At the information counters we were given directions. An elderly couple screeched no matter what in any case, they did not leave, they alone will not survive here. As the guide said, they will have to ask for alms from Notre Dame for a return ticket. True, in her story, a person saved up money quickly enough, but not only did not buy a ticket, but rented a room and now he goes to Notre Dame as to work, changing into bad clothes, and is not going to return to his homeland, things are going so well)
Finding ourselves on the train, which was supposed to bring us to the desired terminal, we almost passed, since I listened attentively to the announcements of stops. Of course, after wandering through mazes, stairs, escalators, passes and trains, we found our gate. It took about 2 , 5 o’clock. We had time, and even had free time to have a snack and look around. There are microwaves at the airport, you can reheat the purchased food yourself. But, of course, everything is very expensive.
As a result, we can say that, on the whole, the trip was a success. The week was very eventful. I got the experience of independent travel. It turned out, albeit somewhat exciting, but not so scary. France left a very pleasant impression. Where not necessary, we did not meddle. Where we went, everything was fine. I managed to feel a certain special atmosphere, the soul of the city. Everything was new, everything was unusual, everything was interesting. Everything was for the first time. And this special feeling of the first time has survived to this day.
Now I try to travel only on my own. Filling maps into the navigator, making a plan and collecting information. Accumulating my experience. The craving for new impressions and emotions does not diminish, but only intensifies.) And each new city or country brings something of its own to it.
WALK IN THE CENTER OF PETERSBURG
