LOST IN PARIS PART II

LOST IN PARIS (PART II)

Last story was In the middle of night getting lost in Paris to reach the hotel. For your information, I had this trip together with my friend. She and I had never been to Paris, even Europe before, so this was our first trip there. Ok let me continue the story. My friend decided to phone police when we found a public phone. She dialed the police number, and the police asked us to stay where we were because they would come in ten minutes. I had a feeling that the hotel wasn’t so far from where we stood, so I told her to just finding the way rather than waiting the police to come. The arguments among us started to begin…

While having debates, a drunken guy crossed. This made my friend’s argument to stay still and wait the police was more reasonable. But I still persisted with my argument since ten minutes had been away and the police still didn’t show up. Fortunately a young woman crossed, so I asked about our hotel. She didn’t recognize it, but when I asked about the Japanese restaurant which is before the hotel, she knew it. Yeah by her guidance we finally found the hotel.

The next day in Paris was the time to exploring the city. This time we really promised ourselves to seriously mark our paths so we wouldn’t get lost anymore. Our main destination is Louvre Museum, we found it but it was Tuesday and it’s closed on that day. Although we couldn’t see the famous “Monalisa Painting” which has been storing there, but still there were many objects to be captured by our camera namely, the big Napoleon statue, Arc de Triomphe, Musee D’ Orsay and many more. Every single object in Paris is good to be shot because of their historic value. Besides touring the city, as tourist I didn’t forget to buy souvenirs and clothes since my bag where I put my clothes was lost. For your information, it’s not easy to find the cloth especially trouser for me there, because the different size between Paris and Jakarta, but honestly the sold clothes were really stylish, as Paris is the city for fashion. Tiring for shopping and walking every where, I told my friend to be back to the hotel. But she had different thought; she wanted to visit the luxurious palace, Chateu De Versailes. At that time we decided to separate and went through our own preference. So I went back to hotel alone.

After cleaning my self at the hotel and eating “Saorma” (like kebab) at the Turkish Restaurant, at the evening I planned to visit the famous university in Paris, Sorbonne University. I went there alone, asking the officer at the train station the way to Sorbonne, I followed his instruction. The confusing came again when I stopped at destination station. Since all the buildings look similar and I think I stopped on the wrong station. I have walked quite long and got lost (again)J. This time I wasn’t too panic, although really alone, since it’s not too late and there were still many “normal” people around. So I decided to enjoy my self sightseeing the city. It was in Notre Dame. Paris is really such a “live city”. It was 10 pm at that time, and there were some people actively jogging, walking and rushing around. It’s a different view to see in my city or even my country.

The next day was the day for us to go back to our country, but we need to stop by at Krakow first. When we reached to the boarding locket, surprisingly we found that our ticket number couldn’t produce the boarding pass ticket at the automatic machine. We asked the officer what’s wrong with our ticket. Her answer really shocked us. She said that we were one day a head to leave Paris. Because the time difference between Indonesia and Europe, and we were too exciting enjoying for this travel, we didn’t notice the days and dates, then we realized we should stayed there for three days, in fact it was just two days, what a joke!!! J

Knowing that we still have one day to stay in Paris, we decided to book a hotel near the airport. The airport officer on tourist information was really helpful. He recommended us the suitable hotel and places to be visited that we haven’t seen. While in airport, I took chance to check my bag, they had found it, the bag was stuck in Frankfurt airport, they promised by night I already could get it. It relived me a little.

My friend and I really used the time wisely this time. We went to The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica, a popular landmark; the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city, as informed by the airport officer. We could see the view of the whole city from here, and it was really beautiful. And we didn’t regret at all for being one day left in Paris because we can visit this place.

From there we went back to the central city. Again there was different preference destination to be visited among us. My friend wanted to have a boat tour while I wanted to go to The Grande Mosquée de Paris (English: Great Mosque of Paris), located in the 5th arrondissement, is one of the largest mosques in France. So we were separated and on the way to our destination respectively. But we had to be back to the airport before 12 pm, since it’s the latest for the bus from airport to the hotel.

This time I didn’t get lost, I found the mosque and met a nice sister there. We shared each other about Moslem community in our country. I also told her about my losing bag. She gave me a scarf as sympathy to my problem. It’s a touchy moment…. After praying I left the mosque to the airport station, I fell sleeping on the train, and when I woke up, I found only me alone on the train. Hurriedly I reached the airport and went to the baggage claimer. Finally they gave it back. Thanks God.

The next day was really the day to go country home. After receiving the boarding pass from the automatic machine, we tried to find the gate to board. Seems the lost curse was still with us, because we got lost again in the airport. For your information, Charles De Gaulle Airport is so big and not easy to be adapted. But actually it’s due to taking wrong turn so we got lost againJ. The panic came again, because we were afraid the airplane already took off, then we asked the information center after queuing for some minutes. Rushing to the boarding gate, and we were already close to the boarding time. But we made it, the plane hadn’t left yet. Otherwise the story would be longer…J. So it’s time to say good bye for Paris, a wonderful city with lots of adventuring moment that we wouldn’t forget and would be a good story to be shared. I hope I can visit Paris again one day, but with different situation and different story as well J

The end..

Stories of Europe Trip

LOST IN PARIS

Paris is a city in Europe which has millions of attractive view offering to tourists. Why? Because one of the reason that Paris is the landmark of Europe. People said you haven’t gone to Europe if you haven’t visited Paris. By that reason I insisted my self to put Paris on list for my Europe Trip. It wasn’t a long trip, only three nights there, but it has many stories to be shared. Prepare your self for reading itJ.

Ok, let’s start, at the first time I stepped my feet on Paris was at the airport, Charles De Gaulle, a big one and for a new comer (especially Indonesian) like me, must prepare to observe it previously to avoid the confusions.  I did it by browsing the internet, got the information from some blogs and websites. Some travelers tell their stories about their trip, and it helps me, so I follow their acts now. Therefore by the time I arrived there, there’s not a problem with it except I lost my bag (Ow-Ow).

I was taking a connecting flight from Copenhagen to Paris, transit in Frankfurt. I brought one bag to be checked in the airlines. In short, my bag was missing. Straightly I claimed to Star Alliance, the airline network that in charge of baggage report. Calmly the officer said my problem, the baggage missing or delaying, could happen to any one and they would keep trying to find and send it back to me, either to my hotel in Paris or my house in Indonesia. First strike for me… I would travel Paris without my bag in which all my clothes and foods are there. Fortunately I still have my hand bag which save all important documents in it. At that time I was so up set and disappointed with the airline’s service. But directly I changed my mind, and tried to think positively. I travelled to Paris for enjoyment and fun, I wouldn’t let any problems distract it. So I kept moving on and told my self…”Paris here I come”.

Taking RER (Paris by Train, which I’ve learn it from the blogs how to use it) to the central city was also a story, I didn’t know how to pay the ticket, because the machine for issuing the ticket was in French, and I didn’t know any words in it except mercy and we which means thanks and yes (hehehe), that’s why needed a help. A girl helped, and immediately I entered the station to catch the train. By the way, the ticket needs to be validated before entering the station (by machine, not an officer like in Indonesia).

Base on the map I read on the hotel’s given I would stop at Laplace station. So when I already in this station, I asked a station officer how to reach my hotel from there after telling him the address. It’s on Malakoff, and he said he didn’t recognize it (ow-ow, second strike). But he gave a hint to take a bus from there to that street from the bus stop across the station. The confusions got bigger because the officer couldn’t speak English. At the bus stop I met a woman who carried a big vase with flower. I asked her about the hotel address, at beginning she’s also unfamiliar with it. Although her English was limited, but she tried to help, then she called her friend to get detail information, and you know what, she helped me by taking me to the hotel although she had different direction to go. At this moment all rumors about French people that dislike and unhelpful to the tourists were vanished from my mind since I’ve found a sincere and kind one. So, don’t worry about language, although we can’t speak French, we would be still survive thereJ.

After arriving in hotel and cleaning my self, it was started at night; I decided to use my time well and chose Eiffel Tower as my first target to be visited. Getting information how to reach the nearest station to go there from the hotel receptionist, I rushed to the station. The locket officer helped me to use the machine and guided to read the map of Metro. For your information, Metro is the internal or subway train in the city which has 14 lines marked by different colors. Again for beginners like me it’s confusing. But I sorted it out by keep telling my self “you can do it” and yes I can.

On the train and station, there were warnings about be aware of pickpocket. I started alerting my self and my hand bag. I put it inside my jacket so not seen from out. In the train there was a guy stared at me and talked to me in French, his gestures seemed unfriendly. So I moved my self to other spot and when I arrived in the destination station, Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel, hurriedly I left the train. Outing from the station and walking to the Eiffel Tower.  While walking I met a weird guy again who stopped me and this time was really frightening, why? Because he insisted to shake my hand.  First he greeted me by “Assalamu’alaikum”, probably of my scarf he noticed me as a Moslem woman, but he spoke French and the tone of his words sounds forcing. I was so afraid, because I didn’t see any people around to help me, and in my head at that time he could be a bad guy who wanted to steel or hypnotized a tourist. And that what happened? I replied him by say “thank you” and tried to avoid him and run as fast as I could. At this moment, I realized the important to know about French.

Having Eiffel Tower for my eyes was really an amazing experience; the light of the tower was so bright and awesome, especially when I already reached the top of it by lift. Since visitors could see the view of the central city and Paris was so beautiful at that night. It was supported by good weather as well. Yes, all my frightening was suddenly gone and the feeling inside was only happy and fun to be there, I was standing on one of the miracle building or statue in this world. It seems all the efforts done were not useless and worthy. Eiffel…you are really something; no wonder many tourists around the world come to see and praise you. I felt so lucky at that time…and until now tooJ.

Leaving Eiffel Tower and getting back to the hotel, with the same Metro route I was already on the train and again I met a weird white guy who stared at me, and he also had the same stop as mine. Along the station I made my walk faster so couldn’t be seen by him. And because of it, I took other road to my hotel undeliberately, and when I realized I was already taking the wrong road. I tried to walk back to the previous road but I couldn’t find it and all the roads and buildings look same. I started panic, because it was over mid night, and alone in the foreign city for the first time. In another word I could say that I was lost in Paris….Ooh NO !!!!

to be continue…..