Not used to the inflight services especially in terms of entertainment & food. No personal TV! But the 12-hour turbulence-free journey was a good compensation. The returning flight was worse... their inflight audio system broke down. Not only did all the passengers cramp in our seats for exactly 2 hrs, we had to endure the loud irritating noise (sounded like when we're tuning the radio) throughout the 120-min repair process!! The speaker was just above us so can you imagine it??? And no audio entertainment at all because our control panels weren't working!!! I was like watching mimes while hubby enjoyed himself in the slumberland. What to do? Their airfare's the cheapest. But actually SQ wasn't that ex too.. just top-up a total of $200+ but there's no more seat on our departure date. It's a big pity!! Say whatever you want but am still happiest being a Krisflyer
Arrived @ Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam slightly past 5am which was ahead of the scheduled time. Was feeling a lil lethargic at 1st... all in all zZz for about 5 hrs while my honey was snoooozing next to me most of the time onboard except makan time....! But the thought of reaching our destination in no time just enlivened me! Went through the immigration checks & waited for about half an hr more before boarding the connecting flight which took about 50 minutes to reach Paris.
While waiting for the next flight @ Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport
Touched down @ Charles de Gaulle Airport & expected to join another looong Q @ the immigration counters. But surprisingly the signage led us straight to the luggage conveyor belt & the exit was just next to it. Only then I remembered just one immigration check is needed in Europe (how could I've forgotten what I've been telling my clients?! Though mine's ocean-based info, it'd be the same at the customs).
Passed through the exit & we're both so excited to take in the 1st breath of cold air. But then we're not totally sure was it the air-con (we're still indoor) or from the morning Spring breeze, ha! Something happened then which I could only say it's God's wonderful arrangement... Were standing on the long travellator leading to the métro station & I gave way to a lady who came up from behind. Had a glimpse of her when she passed by & suddenly I recognised her as my late boss' wife! It couldn't be more coincidental right!?! I've been thinking about her & the rest of his family often especially because we're going to Paris. The 1st time I went to Paris in 1998 my late boss' children took very good care of me & I lost touch with all of them soon after returning. In 2003 I tried calling them in Paris but to no avail. So we exchanged contact nos but as we didn't expect to meet each other, we couldn't manage to arrange for a meet-up eventually.
We reached our hotel smoothly. The hotel was a 10-min walk from the station for both metro & train - Gare de Lyon. Intentionally chose that area so it's easier for us to catch a train at the same station to Lyon the following day & convenient for us to collect our train tix. We also thought it's a good idea to stay in a different place from the last 4 days. Good thing we weren’t too lost & only took us a short while to locate the hotel with the heavy luggage. However the room would only be ready @12pm, which was exactly an hr later, so we left our luggage at the hotel & went exploring. Enjoyed just walking around. The interesting part was that after walking for about 30mins, we thought we’re quite far from the hotel but before we even decided to make our way back, we realized we’re back at the cross junction next to the hotel!
Finally checked into the hotel and we're not happy at all to see what came in sight. Yes… I did it again… the room was without air-con! Knew Vince was quite taken aback but he tried not to show it to upset me further. The room was clean (phew!) but it’s so small that we could reach from one end to the other with 1 leap if the bed wasn't there! The bathroom was pathetic. The shower cubicle was not only strictly meant for 1 person but it’s best for 1 stationary user, perhaps the best method to use it is to soap ourselves outside then enter the shower cubicle... stand below the shower head & just let the water rinse the soap off our body! The toilet bowl was also fixed at a weird corner, just next to the shower cubicle (forgot to take a pic!). There’s this pillar-like concrete piece next to the bowl which was not perpendicular but slanting towards the bowl. So when I did my business, I had to tilt my head a lil in order not to have my head gana knocked! Same for the basin so I could never stand too close to it. Funny design huh?! Think their other rooms aren’t like that. We had a peep at other rooms & it seemed bigger... or maybe psychologically thought so?? If without air-con can open the window right? Since the weather was cold. But they’re doing part of the exterior & just so happened a scaffold was built right outside our bedroom window. Actually upon checking in we’d requested the receptionist to give us a room which was not in that row where the scaffold was & she gave us right that! Perhaps we shouldn't have even mentioned it. We still kept the window pane ajar throughout the night eventually but didn’t feel comfortable at all. The surround wasn’t bad though… there’s an open-air market less than 10 steps away, quiet, near metro & train station.
After settling our baggage, we just wanted to get out, of course also because we’re so excited to hit the town! However we’d an important task to complete before we could really relax & that’s to find a good hotel for our return stay in Paris after Lyon. We had secured a room in TWO hotels, both very near to St Lazare train station (Gare St Lazare), 1 for all 4 days & the other only last 3 days as no availability on the 1st day. And we could cancel the reservation before 2359 on that day (27/5). After seeing what kind of room we got ourselves, the more we’re convinced to adopt the theory of “seeing = believing + assuring”.
So we started our day’s journey… let’s say the 1-hr walk before checking in was an appetizer. Please be informed that the whole traveling was made by foot except from from the very 1st destination to Gare St Lazre & the very last destination back to the hotel.
First visited the 1 with cheaper room rate. As expected, it’s not very appealing… was better than where we’re staying in terms of size but seemed much older. If given a choice, we’d not stay there. Then while we’re on our way to the 2nd 1 @ Boulevard Haussmann, we chanced upon this hotel that looked very presentable from the outside. Visited their rooms & they’re good due to the recent total revamp. They’re left with only 1 standard room during the period we wanted & the rate was €145… very ex… Visited the 2nd hotel, it’s as good & cheaper by €20. It’s a pity the 1st nite wasn’t available. After much consideration, we chose the €145 1 as didn’t wish to waste time packing/unpacking again & moving around. Then came to the final part when we searched for a internet café to cancel our 2 reservation. Phew! Done & we finally could enjoy our sightseeing!
The weather was great without any rain but not consistent.. in the morning was very cooling, noon time onwards was not cold at all… till later in the afternoon the temperature went down again.
Covered the whole Boulevard Haussmann, then headed for Champs Elysées & we got to visit l’Opéra Garnier, La Madeleine, Place de la Concorde which were all on the way. Not forgetting the Arc de Triomphe @ the end of Champs Elysées! Having lotsa fun just chatting, enjoying the great views of the historical monuments & buildings, the weather, the people…. & simply the thought of holidaying! But everything’s expensive there. Even a Mac meal set exactly the same as in Singapore costs slightly over S$13 (€6.50), so a lunch @ Mac costs S$27 for 2! In the afternoon we bought a sandwich from a boulangerie & paid €4… a takeaway sandwich from a bakery you know… Nothing's cheap. Yes something, beer & wine. REAL cheap!
After Champs Elysées, we started to feel the soreness in our feet. By then we’d already covered an 8-hr tour on foot. Amazing. Perhaps because of the long day light, we were reluctant to call it a day & carried on to River Seine. From there, we’re near to giving up & gotta stop a few times to rest. When we walked, we’re somewhat swaying sideways especially when we crossed the road…. & it’s like Charlie Chaplin!! I’m serious! Reached hotel around 10.15pm & the sun wasn’t completely set yet, like 7pm in Singapore?
Only had the strength to shower & we’re totally knocked out in the bed.
If you are interested, we'd be delighted to invite you to join us in a summarised Paris tour for Day 1.
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