Paris: Au revoir! [Now with added Blood!]

The alarm went off at 5am. By 6:30 we were at Joinville-Le-Pont RER for the last time.

We got to Charles De Gaulle in good time, and so we sat for a bit before saying our goodbyes.

From Charles De Gaulle, I went to La Défense, to see the Grande Arche and ended up sitting there for a while utilizing a WiFi hotspot I found. The whole défense area is pretty nice, if you can see it through all the suits. On the train to La Défense, I was the only one in the carriage not suited up, by the end.

After, I headed to porte maillot, to find out the times of the bus and also buy a ticket. The metro stop is a lot bigger than I remember, but last time I was there, it was packed out with frustrated italians.

Once I had my ticket, I went to Musée De L'Armée, which was only €7. It was pretty cool and most importantly, killed a few hours... Oh, and while there, I managed to get myself another bloody nosebleed. Ended up wandering around half the 1900's with a blood soaked tissue.

Paris, you have not been kind to my nose.

After that, I hung around the carousell de Louvre and used its many free WiFi locations, killing time until I got the bus.
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Now, I wrote all of the above, while still sat at the Louvre, charging my phone. I figured nothing much else would happen and I'd end the blog with something about how I had enjoyed my time, but that I was now super tired and thankful that my mum had come to pick me up at the airport, instead of having to wait even longer for a train home.

That's not exactly how things went down though.

I headed back to Porte Maillot at around seven, and got a bus out to Beauvais at around half past, getting me to the airport for around 8:20pm. All straight forward, so far.

I decided, once I arrived to take the opertunity to change my tshirt. I had a clean one in my bag and I felt kind of sweaty, so I figured it was a good decision. I went to the toilets and did that and started making my way to the security line.

On the way, I felt something, it felt like my nose was running -- but given what happened earlier, and what happened on Saturday night, I kind of knew better. I reached up and sure enough, more blood.

I made my way back to the toilets to grab some tissue, and got it seemingly under control. At least, enough to make my way through security -- still holding a tissue to my nose. It wasn't until after I was through the metal detector that one of the french security people asked if I was OK.

Well, that was the jist of what he asked. First he asked if I spoke French, to which I told him no. Then he asked the woman behind me in line if she spoke french, she did. Did she speak English? Barely. But she was able to translate enough to ask me if I wanted someone to have a look at my nose. A first-aider. I was given a seat and the guy went off to look for the first aider and soon enough, he came along and took me into his first aid room.

He was also French and had limited English. So he went off to find someone to be a translater for him, coming  back with a woman from the airport.

I was asked if I wanted to go to hospital, but if I did that, I knew I'd miss my plane. So, I said I'd rather just get home. Which they were understanding of. However, when the nose bleed still hadn't stopped properly after over half an hour, they started to get more concerned. Suggesting that I may not really have an option but to go to hospital.

If the bleed didn't stop, I wouldn't be able to fly, because, if anything, the pressure in the cabin would only make it worse.

While none of that is a good thing, it's only made worse by the fact that the next flight I could get on wasn't the next morning, it wasn't even the next night. It would have been two days later.

I asked them for a cut-off time, a time by which, if my nose hadn't stopped bleeding, I would have to stay and hoped that it would stop bleeding.

The first aider guy was on the phone to the hospital, essentially getting an ambulance when he asked me to take the gauze away from my nose, to see if the situation had improved. I went into the little toilet, and took it off over the sink. And...  Nothing. There was a little bit of blood, but it wasn't soaked. I shouted out, "Wait!"... and wandered out of the bathroom, almost confused. He looked at the lack of blood on the gauze strip and canceled the ambulance.

He let me sign the refusal of assistance form -- I say let me, because he had talked about it earlier and asked me if I'd be happy to sign it, when I had said I'd rather go home than go to the hospital, when it was looking like I had a choice, but I didn't see it again, until after I'd produced a blood-free gauze strip.

In the midst of all this, he took my heartbeat, which was apparently at over 120bpm. Which, considering I hadn't been running around or anything, is very high. I suggested that it was probably, in part at least, something to do with the fact that I was being told I might not get home and would be stuck in France for another two days.

His English wasn't that good though, so I don't think he understood.

Anyway, after all that, he let me go back through to my gate, accompanying me through security -- To which one of the security guys remarked "look who's back!" -- I'm guessing he'd radioed through to them about me possibly not making the flight. He left me saying that if it started to bleed again, even a little bit, that I had to find him again.

Thankfully, it didn't (and hasn't).

All the staff I interacted with at Beauvais with regards to the all the blood I was leaking were really nice though, the translater for the first aider kept reiterating that they weren't trying to keep me, that it was for my own good. Blood loss is never a good thing.

I got back to Glasgow late (the plane was late in taking off from Beauvais) and my mum drove me home - She was already half way to the airport (a 4 hour journey) when I was told I might not be getting back to Scotland. I ended up sleeping in the car on the way home, which is something I never usually do, but I was exhausted, then I went to bed pretty much as soon as I got home.

Where I still am just now.

Still blood free.

Paris: Mona Lisa's smile

I woke up, happy to see that I wasn't in a pool of blood, and waited for Emily to finish getting ready before getting ready myself. Once in the bathroom, I looked in the mirror, decided my hair was fine and threw on my clothes.

The plan for today was to go to Notre Dame, the Louvre, get some pictures at the Moulin Rouge and Sacré Coeur, then go to Père Lachaise cemetery before hitting they Eiffel tower.

A packed day, sure...

We got to Notre Dame, and joined the line to go inside. There was a service going on, and I always find it kind of were that they allow people to go arouse taking photos and film when that's happening. It's also jarring to see little shops at the side of the church.

We then letter with the aim ode joining the queue to go up the towers. The queue stretched the length of the cathedral nd eventually, we decided against it.

We then walked across the river and visited Shakespeare & Co. Bookshop, which was pretty cool. Emily played some piano before we left.

From there we headed to Saint Michel metro, stopping briefly to take pictures of the fountain, before going to The Louvre.

We made our way to the pyramid, only to be met with a queue that stretched from the pyramid entrance, through an arch, into the other courtyard, through another arch, and put onto rue de Rivoli. There was no way we were joining it, so I went onto my phone to see if there was another entrance.

A couple minutes later, we had found it. Through the shopping mall.

Once we found they entrance to that, we strolled into the museum, no line, nothing. Ending up under the pyramid like everyone in the massive queue above us.

It was a free day at they museum (hence the massive queue), so we just made our way to the Mona Lisa (obv), grabbing a drink and a snack en route.

After seeing Lisa, we continued down the Grand Gallery. Then went room they food court for does food and free WiFi.

After food, we went to check out the Egyptian stuff, seeing the medieval part of the Louvre too.

My memory card became full mid-egypt, 4gb/845 pictures. I swapped it out with my video camera card, as I've barely taken anything on that the entire trip.

We exited the Louvre through the pyramid. The queue was still going on as far as they eye could see, and we headed for the big red windmill.

The metro was crazy crowded, so after some photos of the mill, we walked down to Sacré Coeur.

It was busy, but not too bad. The string guys did try and force their stringy ways on me.

We then tried to go to Père Lachaise, but we arrived just as it closed. Who knew cemeteries closed?

We walked until we found a metro, which ended up being Voltaire and got off at Trocadero, where we sat for a while.

We left at around 8, and elles along they river toward a metro stop. Getting the metro to étoile and then to joinville le pont. Emily was hungry, so we went in search of somewhere that would serve food.

There were several restaurants on they street we walked down, none of them open. Which was useful. Eventually we found a vietnamese place or something and she got some takeaway.

Back at the hotel, I put the tv on and we watched Finding Nemo in French, followed by what it turned out a CSI marathon - also in french.

Needing to be up at 5am, it was perhaps silly of us to stay up talking about the inside and outs of tv and film...

Oh well.

Paris: The Macbeth of Traveling Companions

Well, its official, Emily MacAgy takes the longest to get ready of any one I know...

We left the hotel and got out to Disney just after 10. Because I was hungry for the first time since arriving in Paris, we went for some breakfast.

We opted for Annette's diner, because it appeared to be the only place actually serving breakfast.

After Annette's we headed into the main park. There was no queue at all for tickets allowing us to walk straight in. Using our Paris Visite pass, we got the park hopper ticket for 55€.

We wondered around the park for a bit, one thing that stood out was the amount of characters just wondering around (throughout the whole day, we didn't see a single photo op line).

After seeing what was on offer, we went to phantom manor and then got a fast pass for Space Mountain. We passed Big Thunder on the way to Phantom Manor, but the queue for fast pass tickets was so long that we didn't bother.

After getting the space mountain fast pass, we went to Mcdonalds to use the WiFi, and get something else to eat. From not being at all hungry, I was suddenly starving.

Finishing up there we headed back iron the park and to space mountain, and when that was done, we walked into Captain E.O.

Captain E.O was an... Experience...

From there, we went to the studios park Nd, again, explored what it had to offer, passing Crushes Coaster, we went to the new toy story land. Which was pretty cool. We then headed to Rock'N'Rollercoaster. For some reason, once we got past Aerosmith, and into the part off the queue where you can see three Coaster take off, they were sending empty train after empty train. Eventually though, we got on and in a pleasant change to tradition, it wasn't 'Love in an Elevator' that was playing.

From there, I rode the tower of terror alone, while Emily went to some show. Then we met back at the Mickey & Walt statue, before going to queue for Crush. It was already approaching 7, the time the movies park closes, but they let us into the line anyway.

We got out of Crushes Coaster closer to 8, and headed back to the main park for the last 2 hours. We went on some of the rides in fantasy land, before walking onto Pirates of the Caribbean. With the choice of Buzz Lightyear's laser blast, Big Thunder Mountain, or Star Tours, we opted for Buzz, as neither of us had been on it and it was a shorter line.

Disappointment.

It was a pretty lame ride, I really don't see why people love it as much as they do. We had decided to try and get onto Big Thunder before the park closed, but we got distracted by the dragon. When we got out of its lair, the announcement came that he park was closing. We stuck around as the crowds poured out, taking some pictures. The sun was setting behind the castle and as it got darker the lights of Main Street came on, which was nice.

Getting out, we were sore, tired and in Emilys case, hungry. We checked the times of the RER and went into Disney Village to get food. On the way to the station, we saw a drunk guy getting escorted off the premises.

Once back at Joinville Le Pont, I grabbed some juice from a nearby shop and we went back to the room where I proceeded to have an epic nose bleed. Like a tap, it was.

Once I stopped the gushing blood, I got into bed nd promptly passed out. My feet still aching.

Paris: Very Bad Trip 2

Woke up at 9:30am, I'd woken several times before that, but figured that the alarm was due tps go.off in half an hour, sp there was no point in going back to sleep.

I lay in bed for a while before getting my phone, to finish the previous days blog and then publish it.

After that, I tackled the shower. The hotel is nice, nothing fancy, but definitely comfortable. The shower has a mind of its own though. Spraying water out of multiple locations, causing me to soak myself (and the bathroom) long before actually getting into the shower. Once I was done, I got dressed and woke Emily, who had hit snooze too many times.

When we were both ready, we headed to the RER station. Made easy because the taxi driver had dropped us there last night. We missed the first train, as it looked to be going in the wrong direction, but got on the second.

We were aiming for Versailles, and got as far as invalides, where the train, rather promptly stopped. The lights went out and... Yeah, didn't go any further. Apparently, the RER likes to do that sometimes, just remonstrance trains for no apparent reason. It's really helpful.

The timetable screen said the next train wouldn't be for another half hour, so we grabbed something to eat and headed to the surface.

When we went back under, we went back to where the timetable said the.next train would be, and waited. Nothing.

Eventually, we went back out and onto another platform, where again, it said the train would be, only for it to finally appear on yet another line. All the messing around meant that we arrived at Versailles pretty late in the afternoon.

Once there, we booked ourselves onto a guided tour. Groups of 25 are taken around the private apartment of the king. It was interesting and some of the stuff was really amazing to look at. A lot of walking though.

Because we arrived later than planned, we missed put on a lot of he gardens, we were out there for around 20 mins before the tour, but they closed at 4, and it was well after 5 before we were finished with the inside.

We stopped for something to eat/drink at a place near the station, before getting the RER back into Paris, getting off at the Eiffel Tower.

I had said when we were looking at it from across the water that despite how big it looked from there, it still didn't do justice to just how big it is up close.

I remember from the first time I was in paris just how struck by the sheer size of it I was. When you eventually round the corner and see it in full for three first time, you can't help bit be in awe.

After taking some pictures underneathe the tower, we walked up the path by the gardens, hopping the fence at the far end and taking a seat.

And so began over an hour of taking creepy photos of strangers...

Most were unaware, making it, arguably, less creepy. Others noticed, despite our best efforts at subtlety, and soon we had to move. The sun was setting, so I suggested a trip to the Louvre, part to see the sun set over the Louvre pyramids, part to continue being creepy.

Which we did, to what is in our opinion, great success. We even made some friends, post-creep.

At around 10 - the end of any creepers day - we headed back to our hotel. Making it on to the RER this time, so no need for French taxi drivers. Boom!

Paris: a car, two planes & some trains.

I some up at around 5:30am, which I wasn't that happy about, given that it was long before my alarm. I went online for a bit though, and generally woke myself up before getting out of bed.
Once up, I showered - new haircut doesn't do well overnight - and got all my stuff together with the aim to fitting everything I needed for the weekend into an averaged size rucksack.
Everything includes, but is not limited to...
- Shorts
- 6xtshirts
- 2xshirts
- 5xsocks
- 5xboxers
- Hoodie
- 3xchargers (a photo camera, a video camera, and a phone.
- 4x euro adapters
- Glasses (case)

The list goes on.

Once all packed, and once everyone was ready, we set out for the airport. Inverness airport first of all. We arrived super early, so we sat and had something to eat before my mum and granny left, leaving me alone to get though security. Easy.

Once through, I bought some water and got a free paper. I started reading it, bit stopped soon after. Stupid free paper.

The flight, according to the couple sat next to me was 20mins late in leaving, but it arrived 10mins ahead of schedule - there was a severe lack of fanfare upon arrival... I miss ryanair.
Sitting at the airport, watching all the people mill around me, reminds me of Tampa airport times. The cold opening of Friends, and other geeral hilarity. There's a lack of L. Ron Hubbard merchandise here though (probably for the best).

Emily arrived at the airport a little after 5, and we went to check-in. Or, at at least I want to check in, if I had known she'd already checked in online, I wouldn't have waited. The queue was massive, so it took a while and, by the time we were through ee were told that we were running crazy late and if we wanted to get through security we would have to go with the priority line, which cost money... A grand total of £3. £3 to walk, pretty much, straight through security - I can deal with that.

Once through through we rushed to a departures board to find what gate we were at.

19:00 Charles De Gaulle
Wait in lounge

Wait in lounge? What lounge? It remained 'wait in lounge' for another half hour or so, before eventually telling us the gate number. Easyjet say 'if you're late, we won't wait!' -What if YOU'RE late, easyjet, what then?!

The flight to Paris was short and we landed on time. We made our way to the RER station and bought our travel passes for the weekend. We were promised a free shuttle, I can only imagine it was free because it didn't exist.

Travelling into Paris, I thought it'd be nice to go into the city before going to the hotel - we had 24 hour check in, so it didn't matter if we were a little late. The first stop took us to Notre Dame, from there we could see the Eiffel Tower, so we then headed to Trocadero to take some pictures of that and then, being as we were already on the right metro line, we headed a couple of stops to the Arc de Triomphe.
Emily was hungry, so we went to the closet food place, which is Mcdonalds. On leaving there, it was already getting really late, so we headed to the RER, aiming to go straight back to the hotel - I say 'back to'...

We walked down to the platform, which was all but empty, the TVs were blank. The sign not lit up. From across the.platform, a guard shouted. In French, but his hand motions made it clear, we had missed the last train.

Fuck.

We looked at the night bus maps and timetables, but considering I barely understand buses in the UK, knowing which one to get, and where we were going made it near impossible. So, we opted to walk and look for a taxi, figuring we could ask how much it would be before getting in.

We walked. And walked. And walked...

And walked...

And walked.

Eventually, we found a taxi rank, and waited. We didn't walk to move any further. Even if the taxi was going to cost €100, I didn't care any more, eventually, after a lot of waiting, a free taxi came along. I opened the back door.

"Parlez vous Anglais?" I asked hopefully.
"Non..."

Fuck.

I pulled out my phone and showed him the address, and asked him how much it'd be. He pointed to the meter. I then used some hand motions to signify a rough guess, which surpisingly worked and he wrote down '20-30' - given that I'd talked about being okay paying whatever at this point, that guesstimate seemed very reasonable.

By the time we got to where we needed to be, it came to a little over 20€, and given that it was now around 3am, it was, to me, 20€ well spent.

We got to the hotel, the doors were locked, but there was a night bell. We pressed that and someone took a leisurely stroll over to open the door for us. Before checking us in.

The hotel is nice enough, nothing fancy, but its clean and has beds. Upon getting into the room, I really wanted to just pass out on the bed there and then. I didn't though, I managed to squeeze in brushing my teeth and taking my clothes off first.

So, yeah, all in all, a pretty eventful start to the trip.

Paris: We Meet Again...

Tonight, I booked flights to Paris (as well as paying a deposit on somewhere to stay). The last time I was in Paris was back in 2008, with Ryan. We managed to  pack a lot in that weekend, as well as spending a day in the park getting wasted. I say wasted. I don't drink, so that wasn't really a factor for me. It was, however, for Ryan.

This time around, I'm going with Emily.

Emily's currently in London for a couple of months, and during that time I had thought about going down to visit her, however, when she mentioned wanting to go to Paris, I offered to go with her, be her guide (though it's yet to be seen how well that'll work out).

After making sure we could both afford it all, we finally got around to booking today. We leave in 9 days. Short notice to be booking a trip like that. Especially in the height of Summer. Our options for reasonably cheap accomodation were limited and flights getting more expensive by the day.

However, as I said, it's all booked now.

I'll be flying out of Inverness, down to Luton, where I'll meet Emily and we'll fly to Charles De Gaulle airport, all on the Thursday, then on Monday, Emily leaves first thing and I leave at night. Which'll be interesting. I opted for a cheap flight back to Glasgow, instead of flying to Luton and back up again. Because of this, my flight doesn't leave until ten at night. Meaning I'll have a day to kill in Paris by myself. I'm sure it won't be too hard though -- I actually already have something in mind for me to do.

We've got a list of things that we, or rather Emily, wants to do -- I'm mostly just along for the ride, having been to most of the big things before. It should be fun though. It'll also be the first time being in Paris with a video camera that's practical to be using all the time, so hopefully I'll be able to come back with some good video (as well as the copious amounts of photos I'm, of course, going to be taking). As well as the cameras, I'll also have my phone, meaning I'll be able to, in theory at least, blog while I'm over there. Which I'm looking forward to. When I went in 2008, I used my phone to write notes, which I then compiled into one big blog when I got home, but being as it was a N95, typing all that I typed was very time consuming.

Any way, until next week!