I usually travel solo. I do what I want when I want.
I’m planning a cruise with a friend in January. She’s a very detail-oriented planner. That’s fine. But I’m learning I have a very different traveling style from her, and it’s likely different from most people.
She sent me her flight plans and asked me what flight I was taking.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I might catch a flight from MSP to Miami, but I might hop through Atlanta or Detroit, depending on how it looks at the time.”
Obviously my friend was kind of stressed by this. My traveling style of completely easy going and skewed by non-rev flying.
I went through the list of flights. Detroit was not even an option. The direct flights were pretty full, so it looks like I’ll be going through Atlanta.
Some people probably don’t understand how someone can plan a trip and not know on which flights they’re flying.
When I went to a little Chinese restaurant in the Colonel Fabien area in Paris. It was another rainy day (yes, there were many this trip), so I was the only customer in the restaurant.
It was newer, open for less than a year. I noted it when I went for a few days in August, but I didn’t get a chance to eat there.
This time, I took the liberty of adding it on Google Maps, a strange thing I do for many new small businesses.
I also took a couple of snapshots to add to the Google Location.
My photo has received 119 view last week and 1,017 views since mid-June.
I generally like to be useful and helpful, and even on vacation, I love small businesses.
Here’s the thumbnail that was in the Google email:
After checking in, I decided to go to my favorite place, the Seine River. Naturally, I would love to waltz under the bridges of Paris, so I set out on my adventure to find a waltz!
(Those of you who are not familiar, there is a waltz called Under the Bridges of Paris. It’s one of my favorite waltzes, but it’s never played at any ballroom dances because it is short and too slow for most social ballroom dances)
Under the bridges of Paris…. See? Several bridges!
(This post is silly, and it is primarily or solely to showcase my some of my photos from the first part of Day 1 in Paris in my 2015 trip)
Once I got checked in, the first place I ventured was Châtelet, which is a big metro HUB, but it’s also right by the Seine (between Notre Dame and La Louvre).
I got to the Seine and took some pictures.I saw a woman who said she had a nice camera and knew how to take pictures. So after passing the “let use my camera” rule (“I could definitely outrun this person, therefore I can be nice and accept their offer to take my picture”), I gave her my camera to take some pictures. I’ll post a couple pictures. The second is out of focus, but I like how she coached me to line it up (and yes, that is my passport and cards around my neck. I’ll make a post about traveling safety) Then I went on my adventure to find my waltz!
There are stairs to go by the bank, and there’s a nice sidewalk all along the river. It closes at night, though.
Along the sidewalk, there is a naturally occurring beach with nice sand.
I then saw something that was peculiar and kind of cool. I figured he was a street artist, and I was pretty entertained. They were just setting up when I arrived.
This is what Santa Claus does in the off season
After about 10 minutes, I saw the believed street artist leaving. It turned out wasn’t a street artist at all, but it was just a guy who had an idea for a crazy-fun picture. His friend was wearing a Santa hat. I wonder where they were heading to next!
…. but I continued…..
Next, I saw what was certainly an international Foosball competition. Well that was a sport, and I see a large wooden floor, but that’s not waltzing…. so I continued….
I got distracted by the wonderful views, especially from down low, and I did have a camera in my hand, so I took a couple of quick snapshots. But as I kept walking…. I found it! I found a place where they have dance lessons Under the Bridges of Paris! They were closed, but I can come back later, right?
I looked at their schedule. I was wrong the whole time. There is not waltz under the bridges of Paris, at least nothing organized.
I’ll have to bring a partner and sound system with me next time I go.
So ended my search for a waltz Under the Bridges of Paris.
Luckily, that was only one of several adventures in Paris. I’ll tell more stories and post more pictures for a while. While I was only in Paris for 3 days (plus travel), I have a lot of stories to share.
Most city metro systems are pretty awesome. I even took the Blue Line to MSP. But the TC are nowhere near some cities (which is fine because it’s not nearly as big and doesn’t have awesome historic sites, Le Tour Eiffel).
However, there is one absolutely necessary thing needed when using and light rail.
I use hand sanitizer whenever I’m leaving a rail station, once I’m done touching things.
Now I’m not the most germaphobic person, but think how gross that is:
Everybody holds that pole; not everybody washes their hands; and everybody isn’t prefect and rubs their eye, picks their teeth, or whatever.
The waiter, after taking an order right behind me, nonchalantly and probably out of habit, just quickly straightened the fork and flipped it upright. He didn’t even slow down his very fast pace. It was very French.
On the other hand, he was patient when I ordered in French.
Also, I ordered a fresh squeezed lemon juice. It was lemon juice half filling a glass, and a glass of sugar packs and a bottle of water to make lemonade to taste.
Once I got checked in, the first place I ventured was Châtelet, which is a big metro HUB, but it’s also right by the Seine (between Notre Dame and La Louvre).
T
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I was wrong the whole time. There is not waltz under the bridges of Paris, at least nothing organized.
