Paris! We left Dublin at 8:30 PM and landed in Paris at 10:30. What we didn't account for was that Paris Beauvais is one hour outside of the city. So it was after 1:00 AM when we got to our hotel.
I had picked a hotel in the Montmartre region, but didn't realize our hotel was outside the arrondissement, North of the freeway! We decided to change hotels the next day to something more convenient. Our new hotel was near the Tour Eiffel which made that the focus for our Parisian visit this time.
Our second day was spent trying to find a Metro office open to sell us a Navigo Découverte metro card.
The Navigo is the French metro pass for locals, the Navigo Découverte is a short term pass with local pricing. You need a passport photo and to pay €5 for the card and then you need to find someone to sell it. After 3 hours we had been to
Porte de Saint Ouen, Gare du Nord, Gare du l'Est, and we finally found it at République. After such confusion and running around, we walked up to the window and asked for Navigo Découverte and he give it to us like it was not a problem. Three minutes later we were gone with our super train passes.
Because of the three hour delay we were now late for Disneyland. So we decided to go on Thursday. We had already had breakfast so we took our bags over to the new hotel by the Eiffel Tower. It was just after 12 when we arrived and he let us check in immediately. We emptied out our Packs picked up all our laundry and went to find a laundromat. While our laundry was washing we sat at a cafe in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and ate lunch.
I was planning to go visit my cousin Lexi in Amsterdam on Wednesday. So on Tuesday I confirmed with her that she was still available and went onto the train website to book a train to Amsterdam. €400 later, we decided that as she only had four hours free, €400 for a train ticket was crazy. I was very disappointed as it has been years since I have seen Lexi, and even though I am planning to visit her Mom and Dad in Abu Dhabi next year I probably won't see Lexi as she is off at school. Next time for sure!!!
