After the blast of Day 1 I still didnt have the inspiration to write. It was the second day that brought the inspiration on like a fire.
So like a normal day we get up. I get up in the end. We get ready and head out. First on the list is the most awaited Eiffel Tower. Yes it is just as beautiful as the pictures show. The closer you get to it, the more you begin to appreciate what an outstanding piece of work the tower is. The intricacy of the work that has gone into it is mind boggling. So my sister asked me, how do you like the Eiffel Tower? And I came up with one of the inspired one-liners that only things like the Eiffel Tower can bring out "I love it, but I am still not judging it. After all its the City of Lights, how can it be judged during the day?"
So we spent over an hour idling around the Eiffel tower. Posing for pictures. Looking at the Chinese people posing for pictures. One good thing that came out of the day came when a Chinese family asked me to take a picture of them posing in front of the Eiffel Tower. The only problem was they just asked me to take a picture. So I barely contained my laughter and took more than one picture of the Eiffel tower. Its what they wanted, just that they might have wanted a little more than just their hair in the picture. I handed them the camera and turned and scampered before they could take a look at the picture.
We strolled to the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, took a few more pictures. Thankfully no one asked me to take a picture for them. What many people do not realize is that the Eiffel tower is more about the base than about the top. Sure its pretty high but without the exquisite base of the tower, its just a normal high rise radio tower. The closer you get to the base the more amazed you are. Its human architecture at its peak. But wait, thats not interesting. So lets move on to the more interesting part of the day. Lunch!
For lunch we decided to visit this restaurant that was a single subway stations away. It was some Thai restaurant that is supposed to be really good. So we go to the station and as we are about to enter the platform the train comes in. So we start running towards the train. My sister and Jaspreet get into the 1st compartment. But its really packed to the brim so being a Mumbai person, I look for a comparatively less packed compartment. Its not difficult, its right next to the compartment that the others got in. So I run to the next compartment and jump in as the door starts to shut. Now there are these little girls. I did not see their faces but they were small in size. So a couple of them were trying to get out of the compartment before the train could move. One of them had a hand stuck between the closing doors trying to pry it open. Finally it opened and they got out.
What I did not know was there were a few more girls in the next compartment trying to do the same. And all of them ended up getting out. My conclusion was that these girls had left someone behind and hence did not want to take this train. The same conclusion my sister and Jaspreet arrived upon. In fact Jaspreet helped them get out. Nice guy that he is he helped the girl stuck between the doors out by prying the door open. As soon as the train restarted there was a commotion. My sister looked at me and the look of horror made me realize that these were pickpockets. I was pretty sure of my wallet. Enough Mumbai local train experience, nevertheless I checked and yeah, my wallet was still there. I thought that someone in the next compartment got robbed. When we got down at the next station I realized it was no other than my two fellow companions.
Head in their hands they sat, as all the money was gone. So we stand there for 15 minutes.. Nothing can be done, once Paris takes from you, it doesn't give back. Think you have heard that before? Yeah, similar to the Bangkok line, if you haven't seen him since last night, then Bangkok has him. Hangover 2.
Nothing could be done. We decided not to withdraw money as long as I had money on me. So finally they dragged their heavy legs into motion and I said a silent prayer for those idiots in my compartment who would take a little longer to realize they had been robbed too. It was kinda funny prayer with all the laughter in my head.
So we go looking for the famous Thai restaurant that lost us so much money, and voila its closed! Yeah, had that coming. This is the point where it all starts getting more and more hilarious. No turning back. We know we are in the middle of a pickle. No hunger, little money, Terrible luck. Sounds exactly like the movie Euro Trip. Maybe would have been more fun had I lost all my money too. On the other hand my inspiration would have been lost. So worked out well. The Paris underground took our money, but not from me. And yet I got the much required inspiration.
It gets you thinking, how little girl gangs are so good at taking your money. And they leave you in a state that you cant do anything about it because you are in the train and they just got out of it, and in some cases like Jaspreet's; you are the one tha helped them get out. Thats like assistance to theft. Just that you are assisting theft of yo own money! Now surely this must be a big gang with big control players who have these kids to do the stuff. Or I have been reading too many novels. Anyway, with money gone and no restaurant we started looking for cafes. All cafes that served vegetarian were full or closed. All that served less expensive food were closed. Only ones open were the ones that were mocking you for losing all the money.
In no mood to eat, so we decided to go grocery shopping and finally put the kitchen at home to use. And which grocery store has barbecue sauce on the ground floor and milk on the second floor? Obviously must be the only store in the world that does so. And obviously we entered that one. And ya, we didnt need barbecue sauce, we needed milk. Took us 30 minutes to find milk. I know you French prefer your coffee black but milk on third floor is ridiculous!
And whats with the French pronunciation! R-O-M-E is Rome as in Italian Rome. NOT KHOUME!
Thats how they pronounce the subway station. And worse part is they do it twice. First time its a fast one the second time its announced, its as if they are pointedly asking you to get down. Lets look at one more place, Cite.
How would normal people pronounce it?
Just how its written.
On the subway there seems to be a different world.
To all those fimiliar with the Hindi version of Ramayan will know that Ram wife Sita was affectionately reffered to as Site..
On this subway, its Ravan (the villian of the story who kidnaps Sita) calling out to Sita.
Siiiteeehhh...
Second time its even worse.
Siiiittteeeeehhhh...
Ok, I got it!
Anyway, we got home and made some food. Decided what to do with the rest of the day. Decided to accept the challenge of roaming Paris as paupers with credit cards for emergency. So we set out to see the Eiffel tower at night. But before that we decided to take a look around the Arc de Triomphe.
As we walk back from the arc to the subway station, we are approached by an Indian couple. Around 45 years of age. So they come up to us and say, "Hello, we are from UK, we came to Paris in a tour, now our bus has left us behind."
So I look at Jaspreet, he looks at me. What are we supposed to do? Go find you bus? That would be a funny thing to ask. What else? Money? That would be funnier. That would be like going to a beggar and asking him to give you half of his collection.
So we as them what exactly they want from us. So turns out the problem is, they have lost their tour group. Both their phones are almost dead. They have the contact details of people belonging to the tour on the phones. They cant use pay phones because they only have pounds. So all they wanted to do was make a phone call. But the point of telling you this is that we realised that, though we got robbed, we at least werent the most stupid people in Paris. Nowhere close to being the most stupid people in fact. Anyway we directed them to the mcdonalds where they could make a call and left. With their genius I am sure they found a way to get lost inside the McDonalds.
So next up, Eiffel Tower at night. nothing looks better in the night than the Eiffel Tower. Or so they said. With our luck we went at a time when the entire city was in power saving mode. The French were celebrating South African week. Dunno what South Africa did to get the French to celebrate South African week but thats how it was. And in this honor they had lit up the Eiffel Tower in its ugliest possible colours. Dont believe me? Eiffel tower can not be ugly? It can be when you expect it to look this
And in turn it looks like this
Get my point?
That was enough for the day. We decided that we had taken enough beating for a day and found an Indian restaurant, went in to have food. Only to find that the rates were ridiculous. So we had our free papad. Drank some water. We were informed it was really late and hence no starters would be served. Gave us a perfect excuse. We said we came for the starters only and left.
Enough craziness for a day wouldnt you say?
We found another Indian restaurant, with an eccentric waiter who adressed himself as big boss. Had decent food. Watched as the big boss roamed around his castle hugging and shouting hellos and goodbyes to French people who only came to the Indian restaurant to eat Naan and drink wine and probably for the big boss show.
That was it from day 2.
Stay tuned. Coming up tomorrow day 3. Crazy punk rock freaks, subway shut down, and the bus ride with zombies.
Signing Off,
Buckchod
Lock and Load
P.S. This is the best trip of my life, please do not put off Paris on my behalf. But do make sure to watch out for little girls. At least take a look at their faces. But be careful, you might get sued for child abuse.
So like a normal day we get up. I get up in the end. We get ready and head out. First on the list is the most awaited Eiffel Tower. Yes it is just as beautiful as the pictures show. The closer you get to it, the more you begin to appreciate what an outstanding piece of work the tower is. The intricacy of the work that has gone into it is mind boggling. So my sister asked me, how do you like the Eiffel Tower? And I came up with one of the inspired one-liners that only things like the Eiffel Tower can bring out "I love it, but I am still not judging it. After all its the City of Lights, how can it be judged during the day?"
So we spent over an hour idling around the Eiffel tower. Posing for pictures. Looking at the Chinese people posing for pictures. One good thing that came out of the day came when a Chinese family asked me to take a picture of them posing in front of the Eiffel Tower. The only problem was they just asked me to take a picture. So I barely contained my laughter and took more than one picture of the Eiffel tower. Its what they wanted, just that they might have wanted a little more than just their hair in the picture. I handed them the camera and turned and scampered before they could take a look at the picture.
We strolled to the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, took a few more pictures. Thankfully no one asked me to take a picture for them. What many people do not realize is that the Eiffel tower is more about the base than about the top. Sure its pretty high but without the exquisite base of the tower, its just a normal high rise radio tower. The closer you get to the base the more amazed you are. Its human architecture at its peak. But wait, thats not interesting. So lets move on to the more interesting part of the day. Lunch!
For lunch we decided to visit this restaurant that was a single subway stations away. It was some Thai restaurant that is supposed to be really good. So we go to the station and as we are about to enter the platform the train comes in. So we start running towards the train. My sister and Jaspreet get into the 1st compartment. But its really packed to the brim so being a Mumbai person, I look for a comparatively less packed compartment. Its not difficult, its right next to the compartment that the others got in. So I run to the next compartment and jump in as the door starts to shut. Now there are these little girls. I did not see their faces but they were small in size. So a couple of them were trying to get out of the compartment before the train could move. One of them had a hand stuck between the closing doors trying to pry it open. Finally it opened and they got out.
What I did not know was there were a few more girls in the next compartment trying to do the same. And all of them ended up getting out. My conclusion was that these girls had left someone behind and hence did not want to take this train. The same conclusion my sister and Jaspreet arrived upon. In fact Jaspreet helped them get out. Nice guy that he is he helped the girl stuck between the doors out by prying the door open. As soon as the train restarted there was a commotion. My sister looked at me and the look of horror made me realize that these were pickpockets. I was pretty sure of my wallet. Enough Mumbai local train experience, nevertheless I checked and yeah, my wallet was still there. I thought that someone in the next compartment got robbed. When we got down at the next station I realized it was no other than my two fellow companions.
Head in their hands they sat, as all the money was gone. So we stand there for 15 minutes.. Nothing can be done, once Paris takes from you, it doesn't give back. Think you have heard that before? Yeah, similar to the Bangkok line, if you haven't seen him since last night, then Bangkok has him. Hangover 2.
Nothing could be done. We decided not to withdraw money as long as I had money on me. So finally they dragged their heavy legs into motion and I said a silent prayer for those idiots in my compartment who would take a little longer to realize they had been robbed too. It was kinda funny prayer with all the laughter in my head.
So we go looking for the famous Thai restaurant that lost us so much money, and voila its closed! Yeah, had that coming. This is the point where it all starts getting more and more hilarious. No turning back. We know we are in the middle of a pickle. No hunger, little money, Terrible luck. Sounds exactly like the movie Euro Trip. Maybe would have been more fun had I lost all my money too. On the other hand my inspiration would have been lost. So worked out well. The Paris underground took our money, but not from me. And yet I got the much required inspiration.
It gets you thinking, how little girl gangs are so good at taking your money. And they leave you in a state that you cant do anything about it because you are in the train and they just got out of it, and in some cases like Jaspreet's; you are the one tha helped them get out. Thats like assistance to theft. Just that you are assisting theft of yo own money! Now surely this must be a big gang with big control players who have these kids to do the stuff. Or I have been reading too many novels. Anyway, with money gone and no restaurant we started looking for cafes. All cafes that served vegetarian were full or closed. All that served less expensive food were closed. Only ones open were the ones that were mocking you for losing all the money.
In no mood to eat, so we decided to go grocery shopping and finally put the kitchen at home to use. And which grocery store has barbecue sauce on the ground floor and milk on the second floor? Obviously must be the only store in the world that does so. And obviously we entered that one. And ya, we didnt need barbecue sauce, we needed milk. Took us 30 minutes to find milk. I know you French prefer your coffee black but milk on third floor is ridiculous!
And whats with the French pronunciation! R-O-M-E is Rome as in Italian Rome. NOT KHOUME!
Thats how they pronounce the subway station. And worse part is they do it twice. First time its a fast one the second time its announced, its as if they are pointedly asking you to get down. Lets look at one more place, Cite.
How would normal people pronounce it?
Just how its written.
On the subway there seems to be a different world.
To all those fimiliar with the Hindi version of Ramayan will know that Ram wife Sita was affectionately reffered to as Site..
On this subway, its Ravan (the villian of the story who kidnaps Sita) calling out to Sita.
Siiiteeehhh...
Second time its even worse.
Siiiittteeeeehhhh...
Ok, I got it!
Anyway, we got home and made some food. Decided what to do with the rest of the day. Decided to accept the challenge of roaming Paris as paupers with credit cards for emergency. So we set out to see the Eiffel tower at night. But before that we decided to take a look around the Arc de Triomphe.
As we walk back from the arc to the subway station, we are approached by an Indian couple. Around 45 years of age. So they come up to us and say, "Hello, we are from UK, we came to Paris in a tour, now our bus has left us behind."
So I look at Jaspreet, he looks at me. What are we supposed to do? Go find you bus? That would be a funny thing to ask. What else? Money? That would be funnier. That would be like going to a beggar and asking him to give you half of his collection.
So we as them what exactly they want from us. So turns out the problem is, they have lost their tour group. Both their phones are almost dead. They have the contact details of people belonging to the tour on the phones. They cant use pay phones because they only have pounds. So all they wanted to do was make a phone call. But the point of telling you this is that we realised that, though we got robbed, we at least werent the most stupid people in Paris. Nowhere close to being the most stupid people in fact. Anyway we directed them to the mcdonalds where they could make a call and left. With their genius I am sure they found a way to get lost inside the McDonalds.
So next up, Eiffel Tower at night. nothing looks better in the night than the Eiffel Tower. Or so they said. With our luck we went at a time when the entire city was in power saving mode. The French were celebrating South African week. Dunno what South Africa did to get the French to celebrate South African week but thats how it was. And in this honor they had lit up the Eiffel Tower in its ugliest possible colours. Dont believe me? Eiffel tower can not be ugly? It can be when you expect it to look this
And in turn it looks like this
Get my point?
That was enough for the day. We decided that we had taken enough beating for a day and found an Indian restaurant, went in to have food. Only to find that the rates were ridiculous. So we had our free papad. Drank some water. We were informed it was really late and hence no starters would be served. Gave us a perfect excuse. We said we came for the starters only and left.
Enough craziness for a day wouldnt you say?
We found another Indian restaurant, with an eccentric waiter who adressed himself as big boss. Had decent food. Watched as the big boss roamed around his castle hugging and shouting hellos and goodbyes to French people who only came to the Indian restaurant to eat Naan and drink wine and probably for the big boss show.
That was it from day 2.
Stay tuned. Coming up tomorrow day 3. Crazy punk rock freaks, subway shut down, and the bus ride with zombies.
Signing Off,
Buckchod
Lock and Load
P.S. This is the best trip of my life, please do not put off Paris on my behalf. But do make sure to watch out for little girls. At least take a look at their faces. But be careful, you might get sued for child abuse.
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