After a very uncomfortable 7 hour bus ride, we arrived in paris at 6:30 a.m. I think when I'm writing about time, I'm going to start using the 24 hour clock from now on. Okay. So we arrived at 06:30 and it was freeeeezing cold. We walked up from the bus to the metro and stood there, nervously wondering how to buy a ticket. Anna lost and had to ask her for a day card, but she gave us only one for 2 days instead of 2 for 1 day.
We got off at Opera and saw the Opera house where the phantom of the opera lives. Our bellies started grumbling so we tried to find a McDonalds to get a delcious mcmuffin. No luck. And I had to pee. We ducked into the train station at Saint-Lazare because there was a sign that said toilettes. OMG. Worst idea ever. at 07:30 the train station was packed with commuters on their way to work. It was like a swarm of bees slamming into us over and over again. We ran out of there and into the open arms of a starbucks. I felt bad drinking coffee there but, you know what? It was the best starbucks coffee i've ever tasted. Ever.
After we starbucks, we found a mcdonalds (I know. So bad, but I did have a pain au chocolat from a little stand earlier) and Anna got us 2 bacon and eggers. So fucking gross. I ate a few bites then realized that my egg hadn't been cooked! The yoke was all runny and the white part was all sticky. Sick. Serves me right for trying to eat McDonalds in Paris!
Okay, now we had food. It was time to get the day started. We started by walking down Rue de l'Opera towards the Louvre. I thought we were going to go inside but that thing is HUGE! It would probably take about 2 days to cover everything. Instead, we took pictures of the glass pyramids and made our way to Notre dame. We ended up walking the wrong way, so we walked to the Eiffel Tower instead. On the way there, I noticed that everyone smelled like Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique. So good. I miss me smelling like that.
Our legs were going to fall off, so we stopped in this little park in front of Hotel Les Invalides and shared a beer. It was 10:30, but since we had been up pretty much all night, we didn't totally feel like alcoholics. Plus, it was so pretty there. Even the pigeons were pretty.
The Eiffel tower seemed smaller than anticipated until we got really close to it. We took the regular pictures, but we didn't go up because we would've had to wait in line for about 4-5 hours. I did buy a miniture Eiffel tower statue, which is something I've wanted for a long time. Whenever someone I knows go to Paris, I'm like, "Get me a miniture eiffel tower statue!" and they never do. Now that I know they're like 2 euros I realize my friends are cheap bastards... or should I say, basterds.
We took the bus to Champs Elysees and go off in front of this street market. I found one booth that was all Quebecois. They had no curds, so we kept walking towards the Arc de triumphe. We stopped to see a movie at this old theatre that had a balcony and everything! We saw New Moon and it was so bad. Soooo bad. But, I can see why teens love it. We had to keep our coats and gloves on during the whole film because it was so cold in the theatre. Tee-at-truh.
Anna and I were cranky and hunger which made us HANGRY at each other so a few fights ensued on the Champs. She took a picture of the arc and then I took one and she's all, "WHAT! MY PICTURE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!!" We knew it was time to go to our hotel and go to sleep.
hotel and next day to be continued
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Planes in hell part 2
Okay, so I'm in London, and I have to catch my connecting flight to Frankfurt, but I really don't know where to go. I followed the crowd of people until I saw a sign that said "Terminal 4 - contintental." I made my way over there, took my shoes, belt, and jacket off, emptied my pockets, took my lap top out of my bag and went through security only to be told that I had to go to Terminal 1, and I best hurry because the bus was leaving soon!
Once I was on the bus, I noticed something was wrong with my coat. I took my back pack off and discovered the back button had fallen off somewhere (who knows what country) and the piece of fabric that was attached to it was left dangling. Great.
I got off the bus and went to security for Terminal 1 which was about 5 times more busy than security at Terminal 4. I went through all the motions again with removing the shoes, laptop, and belt but for some reason--I beeped. The security guard called me over and told me to spread 'em. Without disengaging in her conversation with the other guard, she felt me up, every single inch of my body. I was hoping that the first person to touch me like in 2 months would've been my wife but plans change. I grabbed my stuff, feeling somewhat dirty, and went to the lobby.
Now that I had slept a bit on the plane, I was able to understand my ticket. My plane wasn't arriving in Frankfurt at 11:45 a.m. it was actually leaving from London at that time. Shiiiiiiiit. I exchanged my american and canadian dollars for a measly 8 pounds. It took 4 pounds to call Anna and tell her that, then my nose started to bleed again.
The plane to Frankfurt was a medium sized one. I had a whole row of seats to myself. There was a screaming baby five rows away from me and the couple behind me had a screaming baby which made my fear of flying evaporate. All I wanted was for that fucking plane to be in the sky so I could put my ipod on and just zone out.
My nose started to bleed again.
After 26 hours, I finally touched down in Germany. Seeing Anna was amazing. Home is where she is. After all that, seeing her face made it all worth it. Let's just hope I don't have to go through that huge ordeal to go back to Canada because there will be no Anna waiting for me there.
Once I was on the bus, I noticed something was wrong with my coat. I took my back pack off and discovered the back button had fallen off somewhere (who knows what country) and the piece of fabric that was attached to it was left dangling. Great.
I got off the bus and went to security for Terminal 1 which was about 5 times more busy than security at Terminal 4. I went through all the motions again with removing the shoes, laptop, and belt but for some reason--I beeped. The security guard called me over and told me to spread 'em. Without disengaging in her conversation with the other guard, she felt me up, every single inch of my body. I was hoping that the first person to touch me like in 2 months would've been my wife but plans change. I grabbed my stuff, feeling somewhat dirty, and went to the lobby.
Now that I had slept a bit on the plane, I was able to understand my ticket. My plane wasn't arriving in Frankfurt at 11:45 a.m. it was actually leaving from London at that time. Shiiiiiiiit. I exchanged my american and canadian dollars for a measly 8 pounds. It took 4 pounds to call Anna and tell her that, then my nose started to bleed again.
The plane to Frankfurt was a medium sized one. I had a whole row of seats to myself. There was a screaming baby five rows away from me and the couple behind me had a screaming baby which made my fear of flying evaporate. All I wanted was for that fucking plane to be in the sky so I could put my ipod on and just zone out.
My nose started to bleed again.
After 26 hours, I finally touched down in Germany. Seeing Anna was amazing. Home is where she is. After all that, seeing her face made it all worth it. Let's just hope I don't have to go through that huge ordeal to go back to Canada because there will be no Anna waiting for me there.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Planes in hell part 1.
I couldn't sleep the night before I got on the plane. I tried to but each time sleep would overcome me, Preston would snore cough and wake me up. By 3 a.m I figured it was useless and just started gathering my things.
I took a cab to the skytrain station and when I jumped out a familiar transient came up to me. In a bad australian accent, he asked if he could ask me a question. "I can't. I have to catch this skytrain or I'm going to be late!" I said and walked away. "Wait! Just let me ask you something!" He said and followed me to the escalator. Obviously he didn't want to ask me anything about where to go in Vancouver or a good restaurant or he would've coughed it out. He wanted to lay some sad sob story on me in order to give him money. Well, I've given him money before! Like four years ago! "Sorry. If you're from Australia, you understand how important it is to be on time for your plane so no, I have to go." I said and went down the escalator. He totally flipped out. Started screaming FUCKKKK! FUCKKK! AHHH!!! Day not starting off too good, I thought.
Hanging out in the Vancouver aiport wasn't too bad. Except for the bird that almost gave me a heart attack. My plane loaded on time, and I was seated next to a nice woman with braces, and we had the middle seat free! Okay, maybe this won't be too bad. Except it was. She had to bladder of an infant and made me get up 5 times during our 5 hour flight to go to the bathroom. The flight hit turbulance 1 hour in. At first it was just moderately bumpy--I could deal, but then it got crazy. The plane was going left, right, up, down. I looked at the flight attendents and even they looked worried. They remained seated for most of the flight too. It didn't help that the captain kept coming on and telling us that he was trying to get through it. TRYING??? It was the hugest relief when the plane touched down, twice, on the runway. Seriously, the plane bounced when we landed. Now I had 5 hours to prepare myself for the next flight.
I couldn't find my flight listed anywhere, so I went to the gate where it was supposed to be and nodded off in an uncomfortable position. I decided to try to give updates on my computer, but I knew it was almost out of juice so I'd better plug it in. Too bad I left my adaptor at Preston's house. Then I went to get something to eat since I refused to cereal they tried to feed us on the plane, but my bank card wouldn't work. I was so tired that I couldn't help stop my eyes from welling up. Fortuantely for me, it was just the bank machine and I was able to take out 20 dollars from another one. I got some gross wendy's and went back to my gate.
At around 5pm, one hour before my flight was supposed to start boarding, a woman came over the PA and asked if anyone was waiting for a flight to Frankfurt. I went up to the counter and she told me that my flight had been cancelled. She found me another flight to London with a connection to Frankfurt that was leaving in half an hour. She apologized and gave me a 12 dollar food voucher which I used to buy the biggest jamba juice ever.
The London flight was alright. I had a tv in the back of my chair, and I watched Up, Back to the Future, Bonnie and Clyde, and Mrs. Doubtfire. I shared the aisle with an old couple who didn't bother me at all. For dinner, I had chicken and rice with salad and some delicious cookies. I couldn't get wasted on the plane because you had to use your interact or visa--no cash. The flight was pretty swell until I sneezed and got a bleeding nose that wouldn't stop. Other than that, it was smooth flying.
to be continued... must eat cold donair now. It is 5 a.m. I have been sleeping since 8pm.
I took a cab to the skytrain station and when I jumped out a familiar transient came up to me. In a bad australian accent, he asked if he could ask me a question. "I can't. I have to catch this skytrain or I'm going to be late!" I said and walked away. "Wait! Just let me ask you something!" He said and followed me to the escalator. Obviously he didn't want to ask me anything about where to go in Vancouver or a good restaurant or he would've coughed it out. He wanted to lay some sad sob story on me in order to give him money. Well, I've given him money before! Like four years ago! "Sorry. If you're from Australia, you understand how important it is to be on time for your plane so no, I have to go." I said and went down the escalator. He totally flipped out. Started screaming FUCKKKK! FUCKKK! AHHH!!! Day not starting off too good, I thought.
Hanging out in the Vancouver aiport wasn't too bad. Except for the bird that almost gave me a heart attack. My plane loaded on time, and I was seated next to a nice woman with braces, and we had the middle seat free! Okay, maybe this won't be too bad. Except it was. She had to bladder of an infant and made me get up 5 times during our 5 hour flight to go to the bathroom. The flight hit turbulance 1 hour in. At first it was just moderately bumpy--I could deal, but then it got crazy. The plane was going left, right, up, down. I looked at the flight attendents and even they looked worried. They remained seated for most of the flight too. It didn't help that the captain kept coming on and telling us that he was trying to get through it. TRYING??? It was the hugest relief when the plane touched down, twice, on the runway. Seriously, the plane bounced when we landed. Now I had 5 hours to prepare myself for the next flight.
I couldn't find my flight listed anywhere, so I went to the gate where it was supposed to be and nodded off in an uncomfortable position. I decided to try to give updates on my computer, but I knew it was almost out of juice so I'd better plug it in. Too bad I left my adaptor at Preston's house. Then I went to get something to eat since I refused to cereal they tried to feed us on the plane, but my bank card wouldn't work. I was so tired that I couldn't help stop my eyes from welling up. Fortuantely for me, it was just the bank machine and I was able to take out 20 dollars from another one. I got some gross wendy's and went back to my gate.
At around 5pm, one hour before my flight was supposed to start boarding, a woman came over the PA and asked if anyone was waiting for a flight to Frankfurt. I went up to the counter and she told me that my flight had been cancelled. She found me another flight to London with a connection to Frankfurt that was leaving in half an hour. She apologized and gave me a 12 dollar food voucher which I used to buy the biggest jamba juice ever.
The London flight was alright. I had a tv in the back of my chair, and I watched Up, Back to the Future, Bonnie and Clyde, and Mrs. Doubtfire. I shared the aisle with an old couple who didn't bother me at all. For dinner, I had chicken and rice with salad and some delicious cookies. I couldn't get wasted on the plane because you had to use your interact or visa--no cash. The flight was pretty swell until I sneezed and got a bleeding nose that wouldn't stop. Other than that, it was smooth flying.
to be continued... must eat cold donair now. It is 5 a.m. I have been sleeping since 8pm.
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