8th July 2011 - After 3 days in London and 2 days in Oxford, it's time we're going back to Paris again. Yes, we're dumb enough to book the flight to and fro Paris, which explained our money wasting Paris-UK-Paris routes. I should have booked the ticket back to Kuala Lumpur from Stansted,UK instead. The price to pay? 44 euros per person (RM190) for Eurostar train to Paris again.
Then again, other than the money, we were very happy to travel on Eurostar. Its speed is unbeatable that it shorten a six hours journey to merely two and half hours. Plus, the seats are comfortable and we get to enjoy the scenery.
As we booked the section with seats for four, we had a 'dining table' which we made good use by buying a lot of snacks and food before leaving St Pancras station.
A little side review here : the Greek Style Yogurt, equipped with extra cherry paste, is heavenly rich and smooth. The 'innocent' smoothies have yucky color but taste good too. On right hand side is CS's favourite breakfast while we we're in UK - light choices prawn mayo sandwich. My BLT sandwich? I wolfed down within minutes.
Strawberries from Korea are nothing compared to this. These are the ones that changed my perception on strawberries. They're so sweetttttttt...
While we're in picnic mode, our neighbour, a French gentleman who was travelling with a female companion went on 'fine-dining' mode. He pulled out a bottle of wine, two wine glasses, a basket of bread, pastries and butter for a romantic lunch with his lady.
A while later, we decided to check the cafe which is a few coaches behind us. I was longing for coffee but decided to postpone it until I reach Paris. I'm not an ardent fan of English coffee.
Then, I saw this on the menu. Miso soup! I was longing for something asian and this certainly was a cure although CS wasn't too approving that I paid 1.30 pounds for it.
Finally, we arrived at Gare du Nord, again. Based on my earlier experience, I was a little apprehensive to face the summer crowd in this Europe's busiest train station.
The arrival hall (or should I say line?) in Gare du Nord.
We took a metro to Hotel de Blois in 14th Arrondisemont. It was a last minute booking so we were left with little choices of hotel. For 75 euros per night, its rate is on high side. I love how they decorated the lobby like a personal study and next to it is a tastefully designed reading room.
The reading room.
Oh.. my trusty Samsung backpack in the background again.
The biggest disappointment is that the hotel does not have a lift and I don't really like spiral staircase. Plus, our rooms was on the 3rd and 4th floor.
As like other European hotels, Hotel de Blois is not fitted with air conditioners. This could be a problem in summer afternoons. Fortuitously, temperature dropped a lot more at night that we are able to sleep comfortably.
I like the view from our window. Except that I'm not in a 5 star hotel room, the view reminded me of the movie 'The Tourist'.
There's nothing more leisurely than taking a walk along Seine River. I guess it was a Brazilian football match day that there's a cruise full of supporters, cheering about.
One of the many bridges of Seine River. Think Blair Waldorf and Prince Louise. Surprisingly, it's a location for 'love locks' too.
Chinese love locks on French bridge?
Back to Musee de Louvre again.
Loads of rubbish under the water feature at Musee de Louvre. No wonder they said "Tourists are animals".
Fontaine St Michel
We walked to St Micheal area and hell, my legs hurt! I had been walking for 14 hours everyday for 6 days!
St Michel area is a good area for food hunting. Most of the restaurants here offer 3 or 4 courses meal from 10 to 20 euros depending on the menu. Somehow, this place looks like Petaling Street.
Notre Dame is less majestic than I imagined that we did not pay to get into it.
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