Arc De Triomphe - Paris
Stopped at Air national guard museum in Minneapolis to look at the Blackbird airplane. At airport I exchanged $106 for FF500. My plane left for Boston at 14:30. The DC10 was about 60% full. We arrived at 18:00 and the continuation did not leave until 20:00. So I took a short trip via subway to downtown Boston for 85c. When I got there the Aquarium was closed so I went down to the Market. There are no Cars allowed but unfortunately they allow beggars, I had some taco's. Returning to the airport I exchanged $100 for SF120. The flight to Paris left at 20:00 still flight 36 and still a DC10 but a different one. It was about 75% full. The flight from Boston to Paris took about 6 hours, I had a snack, a chicken dinner and a dumb movie, anyway I rested.
Arc De Triomphe - Paris
We arrived at 08:30 and had the gate broke so we had to go down the stairs and then into the building where I went through passport control and customs. Next I got on a Air France Bus to ARC de Triumph. From there I took the RER to Gare de Leon and there I bought a ticket to Geneva. I then took a CAB to the Hotel Ballidens the cab driver did not know where the hotel was but was able to find it quickly. Hotel Ballidens is a new hotel a little off the beaten path. It is about a 5 minute walk to the Metro though not so nice neighbor hood. My hotel room was nice and it had a balcony. The view was lousy with a construction site one way and a truck stop the other. After a bit with the clouds clearing I took the metro to the Eiffel tower and for F53 I bought a ticket to the top. The elevator first goes sideways up a leg and then you transfer to a vertical one with glass walls The view from the top is spectacular. On the very top you are in the open (they do have a fence) and you can feel the wind blow. The trip down is also exciting in that as you go down the second elevator they let it free fall a bit. Nothing like falling sideways. I took the metro back to the hotel and arrived about 1700. After watching TV a bit I tried to find some place to eat, there was none so I ate some cookies I had brought.
I woke up late and missed breakfast. I took the metro to Notre Dame and went inside and viewed the stained glass windows. Next I walked to the Louvre and bought a ticket for FF55 and I visited all the major exhibits. the crowds were light and I walked up to the Mona Lisa with out even knowing it. After about 3 hours (15:00) I left and walked along the Champ Elsees to the Arc de Triumph. The first part of the walk was through a park and the second half was commercial, high priced shopping. I returned to the hotel via metro at 16:30. The train broke at the Chevolet station so I had to get off and wait for another. I arrive back at the hotel at 17:00, it was getting dark.
Fountain at Verailles
Statue of Louie - Verailles
I had cereal for breakfast , I then left for Printemps Department store for a fashion show. The metro is very efficient but it makes many stops each station is about 1/2 mile and the trains tend to run for 45 seconds and stop for 15 seconds at each station. The signs also are not always clear. When I got to Printemps I went to the 6th floor restaurant where the fashion show was held. The restaurant has a large glass copula over it, it is spectacular. The fashion show was excellent, the models were very professional. The female models were very tall and skinny and had flat faces. Next I took the metro to Invalids station and the RER train to Versailles. A short pleasant train ride out of town. The buildings and grounds are fabulous. I took a tour of the insides and found the Hall of Mirrors very impressive. I also toured the grounds and found that very well maintained and beautiful. After stopping at Mcdonnalds I took the train back to Paris and transferred to the metro and stopped at Grand Arc La Defense which is a modern building designed in an arc that is Frances version of the Pentagon it was built in 1988. I bought ticket to the top (16 stories) and it is a wonderful view. I also visited the Tibetan exhibit. I then left for my hotel which was 25 stops away on the metro.
Eiffel Tower - Paris
Catacombes - Under Paris
After breakfast I headed for the Eiffel tower where I crossed the river and I visited the Marine Museum. I had many fine models of ships. I then went to the Ecole Military building and on to the Hotel Invalids where Napoleons tomb is located. I also visited the Army museum located there. This complex was the first of its kind, it was built as a place for retired, injured solders could retire to. Next I took the metro to where the catacombs are located at. After buying a ticket and going round and around a spiral staircase about 100 feet down you arrive at the catacombs where in the 1700-1800 they dug up the cemeteries and transferred the bones into these man made caves. In this complex of tunnels are over 6 million human remains all neatly stacked. After walking along ways in the tunnels there was another staircase that brought you back to the surface. I did not know where I was, I ended up on the other side of town! Actually I ended up a little over a mile south of where I had entered. What you do when lost in Paris is to find a metro station and from there you can get anywhere. So after I found the train I returned to the hotel. During my trip it was mostly cloudy, however that night it cleared up so at 19:00 I took the metro to see the Eiffel tower at night, it was worth the trip. I also stopped at the Arc de Triumph on the way back.
I checked out of the hotel and went to Gare de Leon train station for the TVG train to Geneva. The train hits a top speed of 180 MPH. The first part of the trip is flat country so we really motored. The second part was through valleys and some small mountain areas where we ran at normal train speeds of about 60 MPH. We arrive at 14:00 in Geneva. I the proceeded to the Euro Car to rent a vehicle What I got was a little box called a Renault Twingo. After driving through Geneva I headed back into France and a town called Chomonix it was getting late so I found a hotel just outside of town for FF200. This was the Hotel Ibis and there was a McDonnell's and a supermarket there which I visited.
Old Building outside Aosta - Italy
I drove toward Martinique and turned back before the border. I then proceeded to the Chomonix tunnel to Italy, it cost FF135 or about $27 to go through the tunnel. Coming out the other side in Italy I went went into the town of Astora. Driving was difficult and twice I ended up in the town square. I went walking through the downtown area and got something to eat. After finding my car I headed back toward Switzerland. I took the St Benards tunnel into Switzerland, the over land route was closed. It cost L32,000 or about $22 to go through the tunnel. After coming out in Switzerland I drove to Martinique and got on the freeway. I can really make time now. I stopped at the city of Montrex and made my why to Castle de Chilton which was closed. Next I drove to the city of Lausanne and then onto Etoy where I found a motel to spend the night. At 18:00 I went down to the restaurant attached to the motel and I had the most wonderful pizza a Roy Richard's which had salami, cheese, and black olives. There was no TV or radio in the hotel room so I listened to Radio China and Radio Tel a Viv.
I had breakfast at 8:30 and I then drove back about 60 miles to Castle de Chilton, I got there right when they open at 10:00 just before the Japanese tour group got there. I visited the dungeon and torture rooms. Next I saw the banquet rooms and bed rooms. I also made my way to the top for a good view. Next I drove back to Geneva in the rain. I arrived in Geneva about 12:00 and I returned my rental car, I had driven 604 miles in 2 days. I took my luggage and put it in a locker at the train station. I walked up to the United Nation building but found it closed (diplomats don't work weekends) Across the street however was the very interesting Red Cross museum. After that I stopped at a cafeteria and a convenience store. I also went into the shopping area across from the train station. At about 16:00 I went back to the station and went through French passport control and customs. I then boarded the train and it left at 16:50. It was a full train. A normal train has about 15 cars and an engine on each end, the train from Paris was 2 of there the one back to Paris was only one. I made it back to Paris and the Hotel.
After getting up early and having breakfast I took the metro to Arc de Triumph and the Air France bus back to Da Gaulle airport. While waiting for my flight I watched many Aeroflot and other planes land and also watched the Concorde take off for New York. After taking off we passed over the Normandy Peninsula and over a bit of Ireland on the way to Boston. After arriving in Boston I took the Subway again to down town and visited the aquarium. I made it back to the airport and got back on flight 37 at 16:30 for Minneapolis. Well I made it back just fine.
steven_t_engelhardt