Europe June 30-July 6

This is my stuff from my nights on the train and hostel reports...I am going to put on some pictures later....but here we go

June 30th

Had a very easy day for me I think. Got into London 1 hour late and it took a fairly long time to go through customs.. Did not write down where I was staying so they had to grill me a little longer. And the lines are longer than in the Jing. Then went to the Maple Leaf Lounge and had a bit of a breakfast as well as a shower as it was hot in the airport and I have a heavy bag…I hope it gets lighter…it should after I eat all the candy. Then I spent about fifteen minutes trying to figure out if I wanted an Oyster ticket or just a regular one…chose the regular one…and made my way from the airport to Kings Cross and then transferred to London Bridge and then took the train to Greenwich and arrived here about 1230….we were to check in at 2…so I left my stuff and went on a bit of a walk about
Got to take my picture on the Prime Meridian and bought a hat at the first shop in the world….well sort of ..and a coin…if I keep this up, I will be broke by Rome….ah well my kids will look after me I hope. Got a couple of emails from Vivian and have responded…..she is funny…I call her my CD…China Doll…took a couple of pictures and will keep taking lots and then delete them…got a couple of good ones….met a couple from Australia and a couple of young men from Canada….talked them in to going to Canada day at Trafalgar Square tomorrow…am a little bagged as I have some jet lag…
Had Fish and chips for supper….nothing to write home about but they were in England so that made them special…watched a little bit of ball this day….the hostel is actually in the bar…actually in the upper floors…it’s ok but is hot…and it was unusually hot here today…31or 32..did not have a beer but a vodka….everything is expensive as I was told….a medium soft ice cream cone is 2 pounds…

July 1, 2009…..Canada Day

Got up bright and early and went for a run…well not so early…about 6:30…didn’t want to wake the neighbours in the other beds too much….ran without a shirt so that I wouldn’t sweat too much and I would be able to show off my massive chest and tattoos….hahahaa…a good run…a little cool

Back for a shower and the water came out in bursts and I was told they were cold…not so cold and a good wakeup….had a breakfast (toast, milk, and a coffee!!!)…then off to the city …got another day pass…if you wait until 9:30 you save about 2 pounds…..so I did….the subways system is a little more complicated than Beijing’s because there are so many more lines…..but I was able to get into my destination…Piccadilly ….took a couple of pictures…..a fellow from Australia took one for me and I reciprocated…..was able to find the information station after I asked…holy Toledo not a male…they don’t do those things do they…

Decide to take the Eurostar to Paris….under the English Channel….what the heck…an experience and for only 66 pounds…don’t even know what that is in dollars but will find out….125 dollars…man I am going through the cash…it’s only money right Jack…..then off to Travalgar Square where the Canada day celebrations were to take place…..had an hour wait until noon when it all started so I took a walk around and took some photos….came back…met a young guy from Saskatoon and another from Labrador….

A very hot day and I had a Steak Burger and some water and just enjoyed the atmosphere….entertainment and ball hockey games….stayed there most of the afternoon…not a lot to see but was interviewed twice by some TV station and also by the CBC….cool….so I took their photos too…went for another walk around and saw the big British Airway’s Eye …think I will take it next time I am in London and a-in the evening if possible as it would give a neat view of the city…came back and got a good seat at the back for the rest of the evening and performances….met a former Calgary Stampeder cheerleader and her British husband and a fellow from Ottawa …we spent the rest of the evening shooting the breeze and listening to the music…bought a few beers….1 for 3 pounds, 2 for 5 and 5 for 10….so I asked the lady if I took 100 would they be free as they seemed to come down dramatically when you bought lots….got home at about 11:30 and went down the street to get something to eat….a lamb Shish kebab….was good and for only 4 pounds…in bed by midnight and asleep fairly quickly after answering emails and checking them as well...also charged up the computer for tomorrow’s trip…

July 2, 2009

Got up early….ok 7:15…did not go for a run but had a shower…and yes this one came out in burst and yes it was cold …and no I did not have a heart attack….but it was a wake up call I will tell you …

Had breakfast….new people there and had Rice Krispies and toast and a drink and another coffee…it was instant….and not that good…..tried to get my phone registered and the store wasn’t open and the guy eventually told me how to do it but I am not convinced will try it later in Pareeeeee….got back to the hostel, checked out ..got a ticket to Kings Cross one way and boarded the train…made a connection to the subway for Kings Cross and got to the station….made it through the baggage check…started to the wrong end of the train ( the bag is heavy) and then got onto number one coach and seat 18…with about 10 minutes to spare…not a good margin of error but I did make it…..unlike the time I made Vivian miss hers. Typed the last two days on the train as it was leaving …have an empty seat beside me so may stretch out a little…
Have forgotten almost all of what has transpired on these days.

France is different…Arrived in France and now I truly am in a foreign country again….language…signs etc…. got off the EuroStar and then needed to take the subway to the Hostel…..let me tell you it was not easy…but I went to a information station and started there….I bought a two day pass as that is what everyone else was buying or a ten ticket bunch….then got directions to the Hostel subway stop…thank goodness it wasn’t too far…got off at Barbes-Rouchechaort and there are 4 streets joining at that point….walked around the roundabout until I asked and then saw the hoster…it was hot…I was tired and a little stressed….and I got there…….

Jenn at the desk was a Canadian and was very helpful…..said it was a good idea for the pass…decided to see the National Assembly, Arc de Triomphe, the Champ de L’Eysees and the Eiffel Tower (at night)…a sbusy day…..but off I went….camera in hand and going all over the map in terms of getting on the right subway…it is more confusing than Beijing and I was frustrated at times…..Arc de Triomple was big….they say that the Chinese do everything in size to impress…well I am not so sure that the French don’t do that as well….strolled along the Champ d”Elysees for a couple of hours….this is for high society people I think…lots of shops and expensive places to eat….lots of pictures….then to the National Assembly…and the Notre Dame Cathedral…got them all in ….there was a ceremony in the Church so they had a full house and not just tourists….walked along the Seine and then took the subway to the Eiffel tower….spent about 5 hours there….going up tot the middle level for 8 Euros and then to the top for another 5 (8 dollars)…lot of pictures and then a other adventure getting home….and a late day ended wanted to sleep in and did ….had decided to go to Dieppe as part of my tour so will go to the railway station for the tickets tomorrow

July 3rd

Got up early and tried to find a Tim Horton”s for breakfast….,,,,hahahaha…ended up buying 3 apple turnovers and a hot chocolate to go with my Vitamin C tablet…..after about 15 minutes of watching what others were doing…..then back to the room for instructions and then off to the train station…I got into three different lines trying to get my tickets…was not sure but ended up asking so I didn’t lose more time…now get this …I was there for 2 and ½ hours getting my ticket….I told those standing with me that this would not be acceptable in Beijing….and they move a lot more people than France…they could learn a thing or two about timetables and reservations I think …one lady got pissed at a guy trying to butt in and she was in the wrong line but both of them left with a lot of harsh words …then another lady got our of our line and went to another and got her ticket about ½ hour before us ….a very slow process in our line anyway….some people were making on the spot changes and planning their vacation….got back and had another shower…..now had to stay another day in Paris because of travel time and went to the Internet café to try to find accommodations and did not…well got a hotel…yikes in Bordeaux and am still looking for a hostel in Pamplona….may just take the train out of there and head straight to Lisbon and spend a few days there…funny thing….I went to the internet café ….2.50 Euros per hour….about $4….and their keyboard is different….did a lot of typing and untyping....made a reservation for Lido….a nightclub famous for topless dancers…..apparently Elton John used to go there….

Went to the Stade de France …it is an 80,000 seat stadium but get this…they don’t have a football tem playing our of it…they just use it for concerts and international matches…this is France…could not get in to take a picture as it was closed and the they were checking out the sound system for a concert…you could hear it about 2 blocks away……Don’t need to go to the darn thing,…….I tried a food called couscous…it is an Algerian food….sort of a stew soup with rice like bowl to put some of it on….not all that good but filled a gap…off to Champ d’Elysee to do some people watching….was going to buy a lot of souvenirs but then I would have to carry them all over so I decided to be selective…….went to Lido at 9:30 and it was a show. Costumes were fantastic and it was a show…dancing and singing and yes boobies…all tastefully done …..another late night …got home at aabout midnight and did not have supper…..setting the alarm for tomorrow….3 ladies 2 guys in the room…hot and muggy all nights…

July 4th

Got up a 6:10 and was going great…departure time was at 7:55 then I got outside and looked at my watch and it said 7:12…MY ALARM HAD BEEN ON ENGLISH TIME…..ok panic mode …well not really…if I was late I was late but what a bugger…onto the subway to Gare St Lazare and hoping I will get there in time….good thing I allowed for about 1 ½ hours for my travel….got there in time…actually about 10 minutes to spare…class 1…found out this was their best car for travel… Met a young guy from France who had been a few places…South Africa…China….studying to be a financier…..wanted to speak English …not French…interested in Canada and Quebec….Changed to another train….bullet like shape…. Bombardier….through small villages and more peaceful places….small farms…. Got to Dieppe and took some Euros out of a ATM …….then went to a Market garden where bought some cherries, peaches, milk, apricots….ate them at the beach which was not stand but stones and fairly big ones at that so no Jan I could not bring back that to you.….one Canadian regiment lost 553 of 600 on the beach during the ill fated Dieppe invasion….no wireless….found a little about Vimy and Beau Brummel…will see it on way back…needing to get some sleep…stopped and had a pizza and a 5 dollar coke….yep it is expensive here…..just had a quiet day with not a lot going on but am glad I came here to see where the Canadians died…..there was a poem I used to read to my Grade Seven English class called …This Was My Brother….and it talked about the Dieppe attack…caught the train back to Rouen and then transferred to another and got back into Paris at 10:00…a good day and I hope it is cooler in the hostel…man I haven’t been able to get any sleep because of the heat…..and tomorrow the Louvre

July 5, 2009

….ok….so I didn’t get up as early as I thought but I did have a good sleep and when I got up , I paid for my extra day that I was going to stay here…met Elvira from Poland…she was a roommate….there are female, male, and both dorms…..doesn’t matter which one I have…she was on a 3 day holiday and is going to be a doctor…..she was gone before I got up….had my vitamin C and a water ahd headed for the trains….
Just an aside here….man a lot of women smoke…it is truly noticeable….not so sure I trust some of the men…seems like they are in groups always….the ones at the subway stop are greasy and look like mafia guys….and seems like they are “dealers” of almost anything…..extra subway passes, Marlboro cigarettes, and who knows…. but they were always looking around…people told me that the women here were good looking…well not so much…..notice one thing the skin is definitely darker, tempers are shorter as are most of the people….not a ringing endorsement of living here….but the shopping would be marvelous for the women I am thinking….if you have money….Cokes range from 1.5 Euros to 3.60….so about $2 to $5….woudl like to know the wages here…I think this place is inefficient…it definitely is dirty but there were clean parts of Paris….up by the stadium was ok….paid .50 Euros to have a pee at the train station….

The Louvre was all that it is cracked up to be….man what a museum…and they say that the Chinese go overboard on their stuff…this is a truly amazing place….only got lost about 8 times….and I had a map….what would Vivian do?....sometimes she gets lost on a one way street (just kidding)….but it was very interesting……lots of paintings (duh) and statues (duh) of all sorts of famous people….or events….the size of some of the painting is immense and the details are very fine and refined…tried to get that captured on my camera…..Sunday was free so I thought it would be a good day to go….well so did everybody else in Paris…..the place was packed by about 11:30…didn’t buy any of the touristy things…just walked around and people gazed or decided about various poses to take for photos….

Left after about 4 hours…the lineup at the Mona Lisa was about 15 minutes and they kept moving you on….I tried to take a picture of the people taking pictures but one of the security guards gave me shit….so I went around to the other side and did the same thing…..old bugger…..

Went back home and decided to try internet to get some hostels and then book some trains…before I did that, I phone and booked a ticket to the Moulin Rouge so that I could compare it to the Lido the night before….(yeah right)…..found an internet WiFi….and sat on the bench and made my connections….all the way to Barcelona….a little later than I had planned…may not stay on the French Riviera as long since I need to be in Rome by the 18th…. After I got that done, I went to the train station to try and get my dates for the travel….another exercise but this time only took me about ½ hour…that too is booked to Barcelona and I even have some overnight trains so that saves with hostels plus it gets me where I want to go…. Had a small dinner at about 5:30 , then went home an had another shower and straightened up my luggage so that it would be ready to go when I woke up the next morning…would just be able to leave…took my time getting to the Moulin Rouge…..got in line behind of some Oriental and a fellow from Australia…he thought I was American and apologized….we laughed and talked a bit…he was “entertaining” a group of Malaysians…he is an engineer for airports…..he actually worked on the one in Beijing….while we were being called in he told me to just join his group….and off I went…got in for free….he had a package for 12 I guess and he only had 9, then added 2 more and then added me ….and that included two beer….

The show was as good as the one at Lido….lost of costumes and topless ladies almost to the point you hardly notice….would recommend it over Lido….probably just for the reputation….good entertainment for an hour and a half…he even invited me out for some drinks with the boys but I said I needed an early start so bade him farewell….but gave him my card and asked him to email me…..I would like to send him something for his kindness….about $150 touch….Aussies are still good in my books…..

Got home and 2 Chilean were in the room and I had a quick tooth brush and was off to bed…..with some help form Lorazapam, I had a good sleep.

July 6, 2009

All right Versailles, the palace of Louis XIV…wanted to see this…took a 2 hour trip to get to it….out of Paris…..never got lost but took a couple of train too far…even sat in one until I got kicked out…thought it was going direct…obviously not as I needed to transfer to another…no place to keep my luggage so I pack it around all day…it is a little heavy..

Another aside….I am sitting in the railway station and was just passed by what looked like army boys….machine guns and fatigues….must be wanting to hide among the tourists in the camoflauge outfits…

CLOSED….ON MONDAYS…Oh, well I will walk around the yards and the area…still a massive building or set of buildings….I will get some pictures of the inside from the tourist booth…oops it was closed too…well the souvenir stand….finished that early and decided to eat here as it was probably less expensive than in Paris….well whatever I ordered was Palace of Versailles prices….21.90 Euros and that was about $30….I had a beer…..or part of one….and water…and an actual dessert…..serves me right….oh well….what the hay…

Got on the train and headed back….took about 15 minutes to get to the train station that I am leaving from for Bordeaux ( on a fast train too)…get in too late for the manager to stay up so he has given me the password and told me which room and now I just have to get there and find the place…wish me luck…just finishing this up while at the Gare de Montchauseme (train Station)…..so long to Paris..

I think someone has been a good publicity person for Paris…..lots of things wrong with the place and I saw it …guess there are lots of good things too but….like the Mona Lisa…it is a picture but if you build it up to be something big, people will come to see it…guess that is why you need history to attract people…our legislature building is fantastic, a good piece of architecture but we live so far away from the “centre of the universe” wherever that is, Sask will take forever to get that kind of exposure…I like Alex Colville and yet didn’t see a mention of Canadian (Group of
Seven) art at the museum….we are just not important…..another philosophical point…...after being in Beijing and now in Europe, a person begins to realize how insignificant you can be in the world…..and when someone does get to the top aka Wayne Gretzky or our Rowing teams or whatever, it is something to be proud of as Canadians because we are really small in the world and perhaps don’t say enough or boast or make people aware like some of the others…guess that is a Canadian trait…like Dieppe or Vimy Ridge …we just get in and do it. …a Sask trait as well…
Oh yeah,,,,checked and saw the Riders had won….like the comment from Coach Miller when someone said it was an ugly win……he said “A win is a win, we will work on pretty next week”!!!!
Over and out….