Last day in Paris
So on the last day in Paris I FINALLY perfected how to order coffee the way I like it. What a shame that by the time I come back to visit I will probably have forgotten and have to learn it all over again…
I thought I was going to spend my last day checking out the shops and department stores along Avenue des Champs-Élysées, but while on the subway there I had a sudden change of heart. Instead of feeding the economy I decided to feed my brain. So mid-subway ride I decided to go see le château de Versailles.
I hopped off the subway to transfer onto to a RER train, bought a ticket and walked to the platform. By then the train was supposed to arrive in 4 minutes. It was meant to be! Or maybe not… Stupid train was late so I ended up wasting precious time hanging out in the less than scenic train station. Grrrrrr! After waiting for about hour and 15 minutes, I just about gave up on the whole thing when the train finally pulled up. Thankfully the ride was only about 25 minutes so I didn’t loose the day.
The stop you want to get off at is called Versailles-Rive Gauche. The estate itself is actually a short walk from the station but not to worry, just follow the stream of tourists and you will end up at the palace. Versailles was beautiful and I ended up spending the afternoon there. Here’s a few tips should you decide to go check it out one day:
- There’s a freakin’ lot of walking! If you decide to wear high heels, stop reading right now, I can’t help you. But as far as comfy shoes go, don’t wear flop flops or open toe sandals either. The grounds and paths are mostly sand and gravel.
- Lots of websites tell you to buy your Versailles tickets in advance, but because this was a last minute decision I didn’t. It turned out that the lineup wasn’t too bad. I waited for maybe 15-20 minutes? Mind you I’m sure it’s worse on certain days.
- The day-pass I bought also included audio headsets for you to wear in the palace. The audio tracks tell you a bit about the rooms in the palace which is nice. However they don’t drown out any of the inane chatter of hundreds of other toursists. If I would’ve known I would’ve brought my ipod with me to listen to my own music.
- If the weather is nice don’t bother eating in the dining room area inside the buildings. There’s lots of nice places to sit and have lunch around the gardens and the Grand Canal. If I had planned my trip I would’ve brought a little picnic with me.
- Bathrooms by the main entrance and near the palace are always packed! If you can hold it wait till you at the Trianon or at some other area in and around the gardens. There’s hardly a line there at all.
- I did make a special trip to go see the Grand Trianon (Marie-Antoinette’s estate) but it’s a bit of a walk to get there and back. If you’re like a lot of the lazier tourists you can take a ride on the tram (€3.50 each way) or rent your own go-kart to drive around in (€200 and up). Just for the record I walked there and back.
- If you’re not a dawdler you can pretty much do the whole thing in about 6 hours. I did it in about 4 (always the over achiever). Mind you I skipped a few of the audio tracks inside the palace ‘cos a lot of it brought back fond memories of history classes (yawn!). I didn’t explore every nook and cranny in the gardens either, after the first few hundred beautiful flowers you get a little desensitized.
After Versailles I dragged my tired little butt back to the apartment to check on some last minute travel details and to start my packing. When it started getting dark outside I headed over to the Effiel Tower. I read somewhere that instead of getting off at the closest subway station to the tower (Bir Hakeim), you should get off at Trocadéro and take in the view of the tower from the marbled platform. Don’t worry, you’ll find said marbled platform by again following other tourists off the subway.
Just like everyone else I’ve seen hundreds of movies, pictures, postcards and stock photography of the Eiffel Tower. I’ve seen it so much it’s become almost a cliche. But let me just say that the real thing is more beautiful and awe inspiring than I could’ve ever imagined! The view from Trocadéro was breathtaking and definitely worth getting off the subway for.
From the marbled platform to anywhere close to the tower you will encounter pesky vendors selling souvenir crap. There’s nothing more distracting while trying to take in the moment than to hear “good price? Very nice?” buzzing about your head. Just swat the vendors away like flies or bring your ipod with you. Some vendors were even selling knock off purses. Nothing says Paris like a knock off purse?
I spent about an hour or so hanging around the marbled platform just looking at the Eiffel Tower. It was so pretty I didn’t want to leave. Once every hour there’s this pretty light show that comes on that makes the tower look like it’s covered in diamonds. It was the perfect end to my trip.
So anyways that’s it. I’m home now with my kitty and The boy. It feels good to be home though I did leave my phone off the hook over the weekend ‘cos I wasn’t ready to get back to work just yet. I’m still kinda walking around in a haze (or is it jet lag?). Going to Europe is kinda like going on the Space Mountain at Disneyland. As soon as you get off the ride you want to go again!
Categories: Field Trips.
Tags: Effiel Tower, le château de Versailles, Paris, travel tips, Trocadéro, vacation.
Subscribe to the comments feed if you like.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.