Paris: day ONE

Two updates in two days…who is amazed? I am! So remember to read and comment, because I like knowing I’m doing this for a purpose!

Day one in Paris. Lork it took me forever to get motivated and out the door today. But I did, with two maps of Paris in tow. I had a goal, make it to the particular train station I needed, to buy the ticket that I will use on the TGV (lit. translation: Really Fast Train) to get down to Poitiers. This station, or “gare” in French, was pretty much on the other side of the city. And Paris has something like 14 metro lines. But I worked it out! And I got the ticket!

And then I went to L’Hôtel National des Invalides, aka the tomb of Napoleon! Yeah! So, for those of you who don’t know, I’m a big fan of Napoleon, I find him a fascinating historical character who did some very interesting and innovating things. And man did he make an impression on France. They followed him, they loved him, and they still do. His memory lives on. You walk in, and it’s no standard tomb, its in the huge domed cathedral, you walk in and can stand above and look down onto his coffin thing…which is massive! Then you pass behind this huge golden altar, and walk down the set of stairs…the doorway into the circle around the tomb…eagles. On the floor, and eagle rampant, a crown on its head. Napoleon was the eagle, it was his symbol, and it is everywhere. Also, the return to “civility” is shown by his representations as a Roman emperor. His tomb has an inlaid marble olive wreath all the way around it. It’s incredible.

Also, this museum has a huge collection of medieval weapons and armor. Yeah, I spent an hour oogling swords, crossbows, and full plate armor. And really vicious looking spear weapons…yup. It was great. And you will have to go see it yourselves, because I forgot my camera. Which was actually very liberating.

Yeah, not much to say really. The Paris metro is much less intimidating than I remember from four years ago, but it helps knowing how metros work and how to read the map…hmmm. Things progress decently well. I know that no matter what I get to be on a train to Poitiers soon! Where I have set myself up for a very intimidating time… actually being in France has definitely made me see the gaps in my knowledge. Sigh.

Though I am good enough to talk my way into l’Invalides without having to pay or my ticket…! It was supposed to have a discount for students, and free if you were a student under 25. Well, I am both, but I don’t have my French student i.d. card yet…and the deal is only for EU student. Of course.

So I go up to the desk, hoping I can talk my way into the discount…on the “but I am a STUDENT” argument, waving my UO i.d. card…which worked at the Vatican. So I get up there, smile at the guy behind the desk and ask for a student ticket. He asks for identification. Frick…there goes my chance. So, in minor desperation, I just start talking; “I am a student, but I’m here from the US and my University hasn’t started yet, so I don’t have id…” and I pass the ball to him. He looks pensive, I smile and make the “baih…” French noise/motion that means, something like “that’s all I’ve got.” He still looks pensive, but smiles a bit and asks for my passport. I pull it out, and he looks at my visa…my STUDENT visa…and lets me in for free! Damn. I was amazed I pulled this off. A nice smile and better French than I knew I could pull out of nowhere saved me 7 euros!

A brief shout-out here to advice from the best sibling a girl could want! You give me courage to wander around with a map in my hand! Thank you kiddo, I love you muchly.

Still on the list: Louvre, Versailles, and the Monet museum if I can figure out how to get to it. Or if I get sick of museums (very possible in this city) I will do Notre Dame and a day in café instead.

Arrival in Poitiers: 4 days!