Rest Day

Date: 1st Feb

Today was very much a rest day, and a real rest day at that. Nothing specific planned, nothing to pack for tomorrow, no big journeys the next day, just rest. It's also the start of the slower pace of the rest of my trip. From now on I spend at least two full days in each stop, and for a few stops, I spend 4 or more whole days. It's almost a holiday!

But today was spent in Ferney-Voltaire, a small French town that borders Switzerland. Being in France, it's a lot cheaper to do, well, anything. Switzerland is so damn expensive. A basic small burger at a pub is NZD$30. A pint of bitter is NZD$12. I'm not even going to calculate how much a glass of Lagavulin would have cost, I didn't buy it as I'm fairly sure my bank would ring up the next day demanding payment or they'd go under.

A late lunch was at an Italian restaurant, I know it sounds terrible to do so, and I should have been at a French cafe, but the cafes were either closed or had more beer than food.

I've found in my travels here that the best food for a region is found outside that region. Best French food, Italy. Best Italian, definitely France, best bangers-and-mash, Switzerland. I haven't had haggis, but I bet the best version would be in Netherlands or Germany or something.

Tomorrow we head to CERN.

Paris wanderings

Today is the full day in Paris, a rather tasty breakfast and then the bus dropped almost everyone off at the Eiffle Tower. Unfortunately the top (3rd floor?) was closed, but I walked up to the 2nd. That was 600 steps to the 2nd floor. It wasn't that bad of a walk, though I'd advise against it for anyone afraid of heights. 

(TODO insert photos 😝)

The view would have been good if it weren't so cloudy. Whilst it's probably great in the summer, the queues are longer, one person said it was usually 20min queue for the stairs, and 1.5hrs for the elevators in the summer(!!).

I then walked around Paris, down the river, through some beautiful parks. Paris really is beautiful (shame it's full of the French 😛).

I did of course visit the louvre, which is only slightly less required visiting for tourists in Paris. I did not see the Mona Lisa, because that's what everyone sees, and no one says it was worth the queues. I did try and see the oceanic exhibit, but, after an expedition rivalled only by Jules Vern, I found it, and it was closed.

They say it would take you over 70 days to view every piece of art there, due to the number. I have another theory; the maps of the place are so damn awful and seemingly deliberately confusing that it takes 70 days to find every section.

Whilst I'm exaggerating, it's not by nearly as much as it might seem. There were numerous signs pointing to dead ends, including one delightful "Exit" sign that pointed downward, with no stairs in sight. 

Speaking of exiting, I reveal to you the stairs to the exit in the main foyer;

Yes, the exit was closed. It was another expedition to find another exit, it really did feel like the place was designed to trap people in - I've found casinos easier to get out of.

Anyway, I continued my walking around Paris, and tonight is a burlesque show with the group.

France Post Day 1

Forgot/too-tired too post last night. Have a group dinner at the Hostel, then did a night tour of France.

The tour was quite good, but photography was quite difficult at night. Spoke to Chelsea on the drive around and learned a lot about Victorian and early 20th century history. 

Earlier yesterday I also met Mickie who works at a expensive resort in Australia (I'm being vague about the precise details to avoid actually identifying the innocent :-D), she's doing the round the world for similar reasons to myself, likes her job, but it's a bit boring so needs a distraction for a few months. 

Anyway, about to arrive at the Eiffle tower for the tourist thing. It's a required thing to do before you're allowed to leave France. :-)

Time: 0930

Location: 5 mins from Eiffle Tower

Temperature: 7°C

Effile Towers Seen: 1