22 Dec - Eiffel, Errands and Exhaustion

Posted on December 22, 2008

I actually woke up in time to grab breakfast this time, in le First, the Boudoir Restaurant in the Westin. Again everyone was so very helpful and nice to me, and I think I’ve figured out what it is: politeness, and a sense of place. Essentially, manners go so very far here. Breakfast was available as an assortment of juices, croissants, various thin sliced meats, fruit, yogurts, scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, bacon, potatoes and button mushrooms sauteed in wine. You could also order something specific if desired. A couple of things I definitely love about Paris - Omelets, beer and fresh bread are pretty much available from ANY place any time, including bars. And how perfect is that? But today was a day for errands and getting things done! I think a lot of people manage everything from their hotel - they buy on the street or from local vendors or from the gift shop of a hotel, ave the concierge mail things for them, etc., but I wanted a different experience. I looked up the location of the nearest post office and off I went, first to pick up things to send home and then to La Poste, a totally new - though really not very foreign - experience. Today turned out to be full of new experiences.

I walked up and down Rue de Rivoli and through a few side alleys looking for the perfect things to send home to friends and finally found them in a small shop on the main street and from a small street artist outside. The style she was painting was common but she has something about her that was just…it’s hard to say. She was pleasant, always smiling and happy to work with you. We haggled a bit, mostly because I liked several of the paintings and couldn’t decide. She offered me all three for less than I expected and I couldn’t refuse. Really, I wanted all three anyway. I bought a scarf as well since I’d left mine at home, some post cards and a Coke. I found the Post Office after only a couple of tries and was surprised at how well it went. They had all the mailing things I needed and I was happy to learn the envelopes I bought were prepaid up to 100 grams. Score! Everyone has been so nice to me.

From there it was a quick walk across to Place Vendome again and around the corner where I grabbed the Metro for the first time. It took me forever to figure out the chart but once I did, it all made sense and I really didn’t have trouble with it again. In no time I was helping others who asked. I’ve also been asked to photograph people, a LOT. It’s kind of nice, especially when they get the camera back and check the screen (always a point and shoot digital, which is cool) and they express some exclamation of happiness. One little family even gasped in delight since I got both them and the monument behind them lit. It’s a great feeling to feel like you’ve captured something that makes people happy.

The Tower…the Tower was extraordinary, though by the time I got to the very top it was cloudy to the point of not being able to see much most of the time, and the clouds were very damp. A friend called me from the states while I was at the top and and we talked for a little while. It was so strange to think about…standing atop the Eiffel Tower having a conversation with someone in Atlanta. It’s easy to become disconnected from home when you travel to someplace you love.

I decided to catch the metro back before dark since I was new to it and then check out the tower on a clearer day. I grabbed some food on the Tower and, well, it was pretty bad. Except for the fries…they make awesome fries here.

I got back just after dark and was exhausted because I didn’t sleep well at all the night before. Probably a combination of jet lag and time shift and all the excitement. And caffeine. God do these people know how to make coffee. I will never have Starbucks again. So room service it was…a perfect spaghetti, bread, and French beer, which I may love enough to give jewelry to and CSI on tv in French. I slept like the dead after that.