Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Spent my last day in Europe in a really morbid but pretty interesting way.
First stop was Belleviere Markets which has a heaving middle eastern influence. Kept hearing 'Yalla' (Arabic for 'hurry up'), which I learnt in Dubai and that gave me some flashbacks. They have some huge as fruit and veg as well as mean looking fish. Clothes were pretty cheap, for example shoes for 3 euros, can't confirm the quality of the goods though.. sort of reminds me of night markets in asia.
Next stop was Pere Lachaise Cemetery where a couple of famous people are buried. Edith Piaf (famous singer who sang La Vie En Rose), Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Bizet, Jim Morrison (singer from The Doors), Marcel Marceau (mime) and heaps more. Thought Jim Morrison's grave would be real rock and roll but what a let down, Chopin's was WAY better. Go classical music.
Next stop was the Catacombs of Paris which is an underground ossuary. Its so crazy the amount of skulls, femers and any other type of bone that lies in this place. Tunnels and tunnels of bones line the underground route and by the end of it I was starting to feel a little sick... (but that could be because I had a big lunch of pizza, tiramisu and cappucino topped with cream... yummm).
The Pantheon was next and the crypt below holds the tombs of the more famous and influential people like Voltaire (French philosopher), Jean-Jacques Rousseau (another French philosopher), Victor Hugo (poet and playwright), Louis Braille (inventor of braille), Marie and Pierre Curie (the famous scientists) among heaps of others. I was way too tired by now to go around seeing all these people so had a quick look and left. The sculptures and paintings inside of the Pantheon were pretty amazing too.
Went back to the hostel and on the way went to Monoprix to buy some baguettes and tuna. I think tuna in french in Thon... well I hope it is because I sure hope I didn't eat dolphin. Spent the rest of the evening talking to my roomies.
Tomorrow I am off to Bruges where I will eat Belgian waffles, Belgian chocolate and drink Belgian beer. Sure sounds real healthy doesn't it. Don't worry Mum, I am eating fruit and salads too.
All in all, Paris is pretty cool, I think if you stay out of the touristy areas its way better as you get a much more authentic feel of the place. They say French people can be rude to foreigners, which I think some are, but not all as I have bumped into very friendly French people). One bad experience was where I asked a lady at Societe Generale (bank) 'Bonjour, Parlez vous Anglais?' and she rolled her eyes at me... at least I made an effort to speak French but I guess your going to get people who are going to be rude no matter what.
Sorry I have not uploaded any photos of Paris. I will try to do it now, but these computers are a bit wierd so I'm not sure if I can.
Oh and I can confirm that Italian food in France is awesome!
Vicky
- comments