Friday 27 September - Singapore

What a slow start to the day .... .... ....

We woke at 10.30 am - and missed the breakfast that is included in our five-star hotel booking  :(

We caught a taxi to the Singapore Zoo.  What a fabulous place it is.  The animals are up so close and personal.

Any family resemblances?!

A cab ride back to the city and we ventured to Charles Quay for some tapas and a drink by the waterside at "Octapas".  We watched the sun go down and the lights of Singapore light up and the bumboats with their garish lights go by.

A quick shower and change and we did what "must" be done in Singapore - we went to Raffles for a Singapore Sling.  If you are ever in Singapore, don't bother doing the same thing.  Here's the bill!

We paid off the national debt (oops! we would have if they had one!) as you can see, it cost $63.55 for two drinks.  YES - $63.55 for two Singapore Slings and the hosties on the plane made ones that were far superior.

That price didn't include dinner - or tapas - it was just for two drinks. Here's me before we knew the slug.

So we headed for our hotel for an early night - but passed by the bar - and just had to have a couple of dances to the wailing singers.

John's grizzling that I'm keeping him awake - it's 1.00 am - so I'm off for some shuteye - we've got a big day tomorrow - the Grand Final!  Good luck everyone who is barracking for the Hawks.

Thursday 26th September - Singapore

Finally - we made it to Changi Airport.  I admit I did have thoughts for Van Tong Nguyen who was executed here (in ~ 2007).  I went to his funeral service at St Patrick's in Melbourne - I know, a drug dealer and all, but he was such a young man, and I feel that he just made a mistake.  I didn't want to come to Singapore in protest but ...

Pam and her daughter, Georgie, met us in a taxi at Starbucks at Raffles.  It was a beautiful morning when we arrived, about 29 degrees and a bit overcast, but a few hours later, it absolutely bucketed down and the rain set in for several hours.

After checking in to the Grand Park City Hall Hotel, we had a quick shower and change and headed out with our two personal tour guides to see the sights.  Pam and Graeme have just been posted to Chenai, India.  Georgie and Liam will be boarding at Caulfield Grammar - so they may have John as their maths teacher.  Who knows?!

We toured downtown Singapore, and ventured to the buildings with the big ship that sits atop - the MBS Skypark Observation Deck.  We had lunch at a little hole in the wall that's owned by a couple of Aussies.  We've booked a couple of pews for lunch and to watch the Grand Final on Saturday.


Pam and Georgie on the Skydeck

We took loads of piccies of Singapore - the views were fantastic.

A train back to the hotel - and we were all tucked up and fast asleep by 8 pm.


.

Wed 25th September - Paris - Singapore

Au Revoir Paris

Au Revoir France

We booked a taxi for 9.00 am to take us to the airport this morning - no pickpockets on the 'Charles De Gaulle' line for us today. (We should have done this the first time around, although John reckons it's better we had the experience with the urchins as it made us far more aware of the pickpockets during the rest of our time in Paris.)

We were all loaded up in the taxi, then about 100 metres down the road, John noticed the metre had a reading of 16 Euros.  He questioned the driver and was told, "It was because I had to wait for ten minutes for you" - well amazingly, this was ONE time when we were actually ready before schedule.  We were waiting for the taxi in the lobby.  So that answer didn't work.  And it was only 9.01 am anyway!

"No, it is the booking fee", he claimed.  No, it's not.

Then he came up with a third option that was just as lame.  "It is for the time it takes me to get to the hotel".

So John asked him to either remove the 16 Euros from the metre or pull over.  After much arguing, he eventually pulled over.  Not a happy driver, but we weren't getting taken for a ride - figuratively!

We got another taxi and paid just 45 Euros.

Safe and sound at the airport, we waited in the queue for Singapore Airlines for over an hour.  It was so slow.  In fact it took us till 11.55 am to board the plane - no shopping - no loos - just queuing.  The plane was due to depart at noon, but we were delayed by the long queues for checking in and security.

The flight was fabulous - long but a good flight.  The cabin crew made fabulous Singapore Slings, so that probably helped.  Three seats out of the four middle seats were occupied, but the third person commandeered the extra seat - even though I had all of my stuff on it!!!  John and I managed to wade through about five films each and got about an hours sleep.

An uneventful flight actually - I'm not really sure why I'm even bothering to blog it.  'Ooroo.

Tuesday 24 September - Versailles and Escargot!

We thought we were so smart working out the Met and train system here in Paris (the Met is the subway system and the train is the above-ground train system).  We headed for 'Port of Versailles' - then we had to retrace our steps and head for the "C" line for the Palais de Versailles.  So back on the Charles de Gaulle line and guess who we met?  Two of the little urchins who pickpocketed us on our way in to Paris last Friday!

They recognised me/us and we recognised them.  So I raised my arms high into the air and pointed to them both - one standing on either side of me and I warned everyone in our carriage and the next carriage and said, "Watch your bags everyone - these two are pickpockets".  "Watch your bags, watch your bags", they mimicked.  They jumped off at the next station - ready to jump back on another carriage or train and target some other poor unsuspecting tourist. We have heard they are targeting Asian tourists in particular as they don't complain, don't make a scene (unlike me), and wish to save face. 

So we got back onto the # 12 line then the #6 line, then the "C Line" to Versailles Rive Gauche and the Chateau de Versailles.  "An adventure" - that's what John called our morning - "Just look at it as an adventure" he said!

We finally arrived to the most spectacular view high up on the hill in front of us.  Gold glittered in the bright sunshine - gold upon gold upon gold. 

View of Palace of Versailles from inside the compound

We ventured inside and joined a queue - a long, long, long queue.  We had museum passes which get you to the front of the line - but not in this case - almost everyone else had a museum pass and the line snaked its way back and forth across the huge quadrangle. There would have been at least two thousand people in the queue. We surmised it would be hell on wheels once inside with so many people, so we went through a side gate to the museum gardens. Versailles and the gardens form one of the most famous world heritage monuments and they're considered to be one of the most complete achievements of French art in the 17th century. 

Anyway, for 7.50 euros it was a good call to catch a ride on a train, as it took us to various parts of the estate, which was huge. "Further building works took place in the 18th century under the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI until the monarchy left Versailles in 1789 after the first days of the French Revolution."

We visited Marie-Antoinette's garden and her village; her theatre and the Temple of Love with the statue of Cupid and his bow.  They have all been preserved and it was a thrill to walk the pathways around the Petit Trianon and the English and French gardens knowing she had walked those paths, as had Napoleon I.

The Temple of Love

Versailles - opulence in its extreme - it's no wonder that Louis XIV bankrupted the country which ultimately led to the downfall of the French monarchy.

We thought that the women must have been very, very short - the beds are quite small in length - but the royals slept sitting up - only the dead lie down.  A fascinating fact we didn't know.


Bedroom of Madame Du Barry - 1772.

The ceilings are simply stunning - painted by famous artists they reminded me of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

There isn't a photo, amongst all of the photos we took that truly does Versailles justice.

Ceiling in the Grand Trianon

The brochure on the Grand Trianon says that, "One cannot help but fall under the charm of this building with its elegant proportions imbued with intimacy, gentleness and grandeur".  We felt totally overwhelmed with it all.

We departed with sore, tired feet and legs and found a bar that served nice big glasses of icy cold beer and tapas.  Just what we needed. 

After showers and frocking up we went in search of a table at "Lazare Restaurant". I decided that when in France, one should do the French thing regarding cuisine and it was time to try escargots.  We bought a nice bottle hermitage to help with the transition - and I very generously allowed John to eat an extra one of my share.

(Photo has gone missing :( for some reason.)



I did manage to get two down but a little bit of grit in the second snail did it for me.

(And this pic has gone AWOL too  :( not sure why.)

A glass of burgundy helped wash my escargot down the hatch.

A burgundy to wash down those snails!

An early-ish night - an early start in the morning - and a long, long flight ahead.

 

Monday 23rd September 2013

After a late night we had a sluggish morning ... but we managed to Skype Melanie and Michael and the kids which was great.  Olivia and Connor were obviously excited to hear from us - it's one of the few occasions we've been able to get a half decent connection via Skype so we had a bit of fun!

Then we headed off to the Louvre by the met.  We've become very adept at manoeuvring around via the subway here in Paris, it's really quite simple, and when compared with Melbourne's subway - it's far, far superior, hard to believe when you compare the years in which they were built.  The Paris subways have layer upon layer - it's a bit like a Sarah Lee cake.  On the way, I stopped at a shoe store, I know, quite unbelievable, but true and bought a pair of shoes.  Onwards we went towards the Louvre, and when we turned the corner ... WOW!!!

The Louvre Museum

At the Pyramid - the main entrance

The Louvre is all it's cracked up to be ... spectacular architecture, brilliant layout, amazing works of art ... it's all I thought it would be and more ...

A corner of the ceiling in the Rez-de-Chaussee

It's not possible to see it all of course, particularly in one day, or in just five hours, but it's a start.  As we say, you've got to leave something to come back to!  We did enjoy the Roman Empire exhibitions and the Greek and Etruscan antiquities.


The Mona Lisa by Leonardo de Vinci

The Mona Lisa was a struggle to photograph. There was a huge crowd around her and people were pushing and shoving - we weren't sure whether it was just the throng of the hustle and bustle or the Romanian urchins.  There were many messages given over the PA system to watch out for pick-pockets and we were surprised - we didn't think they'd have any problems in the Louvre, but we learnt afterwards that the staff of the Louvre recently went on strike due to the problem with pickpockets. But we were resilient - and we got our piccies of the lady!

We departed the Louvre after about five hours (there's always next time) and walked through the Tuileries Garden, the oldest and largest public garden in Paris, which is now part of the Louvre Museum.  The Gardens connect to the Musee De L'Orangerie.  Here we enjoyed the masters, Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso.  There were others too ... but these were our favourites.

Monet's Water Lilies

Monet designed the vestibule where these works are displayed to create a space between the "hustle and bustle of the city and his works" and donated the Water Lilies to France after the First World War.

The brochure from the Museum states that Monet wrote, "Nerves strained by work would relax in its presence, following the restful example of its stagnant waters, and for he who would live in it, this room would offer a refuge for peaceful meditation in the midst of a flowering aquarium."

We were thrilled to see Renoirs works ... they are simply exquisite.

Renoir's "Two Fillies" c1890
(at least that what I think it's called)

From here we walked along the pavement and watched some locals enjoying a game of petanque.  I enquired as to whether it was petanque, boules or bocce, but of course we're in France so it was petanque. A woman was playing against four men and we enjoyed a bit of banter; in the end she lost and I claimed responsibility for "putting her off her game".  They all enjoyed that and some koalas were given as 'gifts' which they appreciated.  (Lame, I know, but they all seem to love receiving them.)

Then out of the blue, as we were enjoying some time looking at the Seine River a woman approached and said she'd found a ring that we'd dropped.  Here we go again!  We said, "No, merci".  But she persisted and wouldn't go away.  So I told her that she was a "bad woman" and told her to go away.  She slapped her bum, mocking punishment, and continued provoke us more and more, so in the end I yelled out to everyone that she was a pick-pocket.  She and her "mates" exposed their bums to us and made out like they were dogs peeing! They're classy these pick pockets! We continued to warn people but made sure they didn't upset out time there, along that beautiful part of the world.

We had some icecream at a vendor - exquisitely made to look like tulips.

"Tulip" icecreams at Tuileries Gardens

We then we made our way back to the hotel via Gare Saint-Lazare Restaurant for a cleansing beer or two.  The maitre'd remembered us from two days ago (we were very concerned then for two young women from the States who were not feeling any pain.) Anyway, as time was passing us by - we decided to have a meal there and an early night. 

Sunday 22 September - Paris

Silke and Jean Claude met us for breakfast at our hotel at 9 am and then we set off for some more of Paris' delights.

It's 2.15 am on Monday morning, and I've just finished yesterday's blog - so this will be a very quick post - till I get to update it later.


We went to Saint Lazare, Havre Caumartin and Trocadero - to the Eiffel Tower, and the Invalides Hotel  We went up the Tour Montparnasse - a building with 360 degree views.  We took three trains to the Galleria Lafeyette but it was closed - Sundays, Paris shops are closed - it brought back memories of decades ago in Melbourne and it warmed my heart somewhat.

Spectacular views from the top of Monparnasse

So we headed to the Opera House and had lunch at the Opera restaurant.  Roast lamb again - who's missing home?!

Silke and Jean Claude left at 4.30 pm to return home to Belgium.  What a wonderful time we've had with them - and how generous of them to come to Paris to show us the sights.  We feel very blessed.

We made our way back to our hotel and encountered a huge 'flock' of inline skaters who had taken over the street - there were hundreds of them, and then tagging along at the back were probably 50 cyclists.  Shame we didn't know about this - it would be the safest way to cycle the streets of Paris.

We ventured out again at 9 pm and headed for the Arc de Triomphe via the met.  It was a long, long way up the spiral staircase, but we made it and the effort was totally worthwhile. 

The spiral staircase of the Arc de Triomphe

Magnificent night views of Paris greeting us - and the Eiffel Tower was even more spectacular than during the day.

Eiffel Tower all sparkling

The Eiffel Tower is lit up with lights for ten minutes every hour - how fortunate we got to see it.

(We overheard some people speaking about pickpockets and we mentioned how we'd been pickpocketed earlier.  A young girl from Washington State, Megan, told us how she'd been caught a few days ago and lost 400 Euros.  She was clearly still shaken from the experience. The scam is from the same young people; this time they ask you to sign a piece of paper, like a petition, then while you're filling in your details, and you're concentrating on that, they ask for money.  When your wallet is open, they make their move and steal your money.  Megan realised what had happened, but another girl had already moved in to take the money away.  Megan yelled out and some French people came to help her, but the urchin threw an empty bottle on the ground as a signal for her accomplices to come to support her.  They created a huge diversion and they got away.  If you come to Europe, just be aware that these are the ways they try to trap you.  We've asked why the police don't do something about cleaning it up, and we've been told, "there are too many of them"!  Such a shame.)

We are thoroughly enjoying Paris - it's a stunning city, and simply beautiful.

Saturday 21 September - Paris

After trying to book the Eiffel Tower tour and the Jardine Musicale at the Palace of Versailles till the early hours of this morning without success we decided to try our luck at the FMAC - the sort of equivalent of 'Half Tix' in the States.  We bought a four-day museum pass which we reckon we'll put to good use.  A recent story in The Age stated that museum visits for the over 60's are free - not true! 

We headed for the Opera House figuring we'd purchase a ticket to a ballet or an opera whilst here in Paris.  And for 300 Euro, we could have bought a ticket to tonight's opening performance of a ballet - else, if we came back at 4.30 pm we could be in the line (hopefully at the start of the line) to buy the tickets they start to sell at 6.30 pm for a 7.30 pm performance.  We'll see.

We had arranged to meet Silke and Jean Claude, Myriam's parents at the front of the Opera House.  We were there - they were there - but we didn't see each other.  Why?

We were at the "front of the Opera House where the tickets are sold:

What we thought was the front of the Opera House

However, Silke and Jean Claude were AT the front of the Opera House:

Now, that's the front of the Opera House!

So we each waited for over half an hour, then Silke sent a text message saying we'd meet at our hotel at 6 pm.

John and I ventured to a huge store - Lafeyette Galleria - the true "fashion capital"!  What a gorgeous experience.  The ceilings are absolutely magnificent and it brought back memories of the Theatre de la Scala in Milan - each floor had beautiful gold embellishments and intricate ornate ... it's hard to explain.

Lafayette Gallerie

We went upstairs to the rooftop and saw the magnificent views of Paris.  It was simply spectacular.  And finally, I managed to buy a black evening clutch that I've been searching for since Prague. It's my birthday gift from Louise, Robert and Stephanie - thank you! 

We met Silke and Jean Claude at the hotel at 6 pm and we were off!  Silke made a booking for a restaurant at 10 pm, the earliest we could get in.  So in the interim, we went to the metro and trained to Mont Martre and saw the magnificent Sacre Coeur.

Sacre Couer

At the Sacre Coeur fountain

Back on the met line we headed to the Arc de Triomphe and saw a beautiful sunset through and under the Arc.  This is Paris! From there we walked to see the Eiffel Tower at night, all lit up like nothing on earth.  We walked to Mont Martre, we walked down the Champs Elysees past the exclusive shops; Louis Vuitton, Mont Blanc, Mercedes, Peugeot ... they were all there.

We walked along the Seine River - past the Grand Palace and the Petite Palance and the Charles de Gaulle statue.  On to the Metro line again to paris Central.

At 10 pm we made our way to "Le Train Bleu" which is in the Gare de Lyon Station and was built as part of the major building program that was launched for the Paris Exhibition in 1900 - as were the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais and the Bridge of Alexander III.  The façade of the old station building bears some of the features of the style of the "Belle Epoque", but the most striking of the period has been preserved inside the building in the dining rooms of the Buffet.


Le Train Bleu

Ceiling

The décor of the rooms is almost overwhelming, every detail including the chairs, seats and coat racks is in the vain of the "Belle Epoque" design and it's a bit over the top, but simply stunning.  The paintings are beautiful, brightly coloured, and they have been truly well preserved, especially when you consider the fumes from the old steam trains of those days. 

We enjoyed some roast lamb and potatoes and salad.  Then some blokes decided to hop through the window door onto a balcony.  They all seemed to be employees of the restaurant.  Then a dreadful noise - someone fell from the balcony, through the glass roof, onto the concrete below.  The blood drained from the maître's face and security people came running with phones to their ears.  What a shock.  When we asked later how the bloke was, we were told, "nothing to worry about, he's fine, just some scratches".  It reminded me of Brian - "it's just a flesh wound"!  We didn't hear an ambulance.  And Silke said she hadn't heard anything on the radio this morning but it's not what they want tourists to hear.

Three trains to get "home" to the Opera Hotel - we're definitely feeling like pros with the Met, but it's all the work of Silke and Jean Claude.

What a day we've had!