My Super Low Budget Trip to Paris
Jan 21st, 2009, 05:28 AM
#142
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Wonderful Apres_Londee!
Do you suppose the man who took the 10 out of your wallet didn't have change for the 50 and simply didn't know how to say it in English?
Can't wait to read about your report on Roma!
Do you suppose the man who took the 10 out of your wallet didn't have change for the 50 and simply didn't know how to say it in English?
Can't wait to read about your report on Roma!
Jan 21st, 2009, 02:53 PM
#143
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Eek! I wasn't expecting to see this topped up. I see now that I never even finished my report, lol. Thanks for the kind words.
>>>Do you suppose the man who took the 10 out of your wallet didn't have change for the 50 and simply didn't know how to say it in English?<<<
It's quite possible. I was just so shocked because most of the shop keepers I'd been dealing with were in the area around my apartment. Because it wasn't really a touristed area, they all had what I think of as being very Parisan manners- formal and very courteous. They'd probably rather die than pluck money out of a customer's wallet. And the guy didn't ask or make any gestures beforehand, he just all of a sudden reached in and took the money.
Oh well. I wear those earrings quite a lot, actually. They were a good buy.
I can't believe I didn't finish this report, because the ending is kind of exciting (well, for me anyways). Here it is in point form:
- I was very, very late getting to the airport the next day. I was very sick, and woke up that last morning with a high fever. I did my best packing and trying to tidy up the apartment. I couldn't get my thoughts straight on the best way to get to the airport. I couldn't deal with the metro in that state. I ended up walking over the the taxi stand at Republique in the rain. It's embarassing to admit but I was crying, not sobbing out loud or anything, but there were tears. I think I was delirious.
-I got into a cab and the driver, a young guy, was a godsend, my knight in shining armour. I told him the situation and he got me to the airport in no time at all. And he was really sweet, too.
"Vous etes malade?"
"Oui"
"les arbres?"
"No...flu."
"Ah" he said with sympathy.
At least I took it as sympathy at the time. Looking back on it, maybe he was concerned I was going to infect him with the plague.
- Got to the airport and was saved by the fact that the luggage belt at the AC check-in desk had broken down. There were still a ton of people to check in for the flight who had been waiting around for over an hour. Safety in numbers, I figured. Maybe I wouldn't miss my flight after all.
-I wasn't in line for longer than 10 minutes when word suddenly came down the pipe- they were evacuating that section of the airport. Someone had left a bag unattended and security was going to blow it up.
-I normally love stuff like that, but I was too sick to enjoy myself. All sorts of officers, young and old, uniformed and plain clothed, were running around. We were all instructed to plug our ears during countdown. When they finally blew up the bag, everyone broke out into applause.
-It was the shortest flight of my life. I simply passed out in my seat and when I woke up, I was home. The end
>>>Do you suppose the man who took the 10 out of your wallet didn't have change for the 50 and simply didn't know how to say it in English?<<<
It's quite possible. I was just so shocked because most of the shop keepers I'd been dealing with were in the area around my apartment. Because it wasn't really a touristed area, they all had what I think of as being very Parisan manners- formal and very courteous. They'd probably rather die than pluck money out of a customer's wallet. And the guy didn't ask or make any gestures beforehand, he just all of a sudden reached in and took the money.
Oh well. I wear those earrings quite a lot, actually. They were a good buy.
I can't believe I didn't finish this report, because the ending is kind of exciting (well, for me anyways). Here it is in point form:
- I was very, very late getting to the airport the next day. I was very sick, and woke up that last morning with a high fever. I did my best packing and trying to tidy up the apartment. I couldn't get my thoughts straight on the best way to get to the airport. I couldn't deal with the metro in that state. I ended up walking over the the taxi stand at Republique in the rain. It's embarassing to admit but I was crying, not sobbing out loud or anything, but there were tears. I think I was delirious.
-I got into a cab and the driver, a young guy, was a godsend, my knight in shining armour. I told him the situation and he got me to the airport in no time at all. And he was really sweet, too.
"Vous etes malade?"
"Oui"
"les arbres?"
"No...flu."
"Ah" he said with sympathy.
At least I took it as sympathy at the time. Looking back on it, maybe he was concerned I was going to infect him with the plague.
- Got to the airport and was saved by the fact that the luggage belt at the AC check-in desk had broken down. There were still a ton of people to check in for the flight who had been waiting around for over an hour. Safety in numbers, I figured. Maybe I wouldn't miss my flight after all.
-I wasn't in line for longer than 10 minutes when word suddenly came down the pipe- they were evacuating that section of the airport. Someone had left a bag unattended and security was going to blow it up.
-I normally love stuff like that, but I was too sick to enjoy myself. All sorts of officers, young and old, uniformed and plain clothed, were running around. We were all instructed to plug our ears during countdown. When they finally blew up the bag, everyone broke out into applause.
-It was the shortest flight of my life. I simply passed out in my seat and when I woke up, I was home. The end
Jan 21st, 2009, 08:15 PM
#144
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Apres, last summer I came back so many times to look for the ending, but when it never appeared, I figured maybe since the sightseeing part was over, you considered the report finished.
Thanks again for the introduction to the 11eme and rue JP Timbaud!
P.S.-- Here's a souvenir for you:
http://images45.fotki.com/v1310/phot...11B5923-vi.jpg
Thanks again for the introduction to the 11eme and rue JP Timbaud!
P.S.-- Here's a souvenir for you:
http://images45.fotki.com/v1310/phot...11B5923-vi.jpg
Jan 21st, 2009, 08:42 PM
#145
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Good shot, fifi!
Those were good stairs. Not such a difficult climb, since they aren't steep and it feels so...I don't know, Audrey Hepburnish to be running up and down a wooden, spiral staircase in Paris
Those were good stairs. Not such a difficult climb, since they aren't steep and it feels so...I don't know, Audrey Hepburnish to be running up and down a wooden, spiral staircase in Paris
Jan 22nd, 2009, 09:15 AM
#146
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Well, I, for one, am glad it took so long for you to finish posting you travel report! Without the recent entries, I might not have found your enchanting report. I've just spent a couple of lazy hours enjoying my morning coffee and reading over your report from start to finish. Wonderful! Your writing is very entertaining! I'm taking my 3 kids (ages 10, 12, and 16) to Paris at the end of March. Your post has made me even more excited -- is that possible? I'm also appreciative of the fact that I'll be turning 50 a few weeks before we leave and no longer need worry about being hassled by pesky & persistant men. There are advantages to aging!
I also enjoyed your photos -- the image of bightly-colored guitars in a store window really stood out for me. Your pictures are not the standard touristy photos, and yet, they really transported me to the streets of Paris. I look forward to future trip reports from you!
bon journee
I also enjoyed your photos -- the image of bightly-colored guitars in a store window really stood out for me. Your pictures are not the standard touristy photos, and yet, they really transported me to the streets of Paris. I look forward to future trip reports from you!
bon journee
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