Paris - Day 1

     Man, I am tired. Obviously planes are not the best place to try to get some sleep - especially if you are in the aisle seat and the flight attendants have a game between themselves to see how many times they can hit that lady from Vermont with a beverage cart before she pitches a fit. So with tiredness and and having wasted time waiting for a train at the bus stop I changed my plans for today. I was going to go to the Louvre first but I would have been too tired to enjoy myself so I'll do it another day. Also, it is not my fault about the train/bus thing. I asked a car rental guy where to get the RER B and he said Gate 34 and when I got there I stayed with the crowd instead of turning a slight left. Well, now I know the train to the train is as easy as turning left at a sign that is clearly marked on the OTHER side, taking an elevator to level 2 then taking a train to level 3 then going into the Metro train area where you sure as heck better already have a pass because there was no one around to offer any help. Thank you high school French that I pretty much failed anyway. 
     
     I checked into the hotel that I had read the reviews about it so I was prepared for the tiny room. 8' x 10' - I kid you not, but it's great. I only need a bed and a shower anyhow.

                                          My very own 8x10


     I think in the future I will plan a nap or just an afternoon detoxing from the traveling and not make any plans what so ever. Or plan to get to know the neighborhood. That's what I did tonight. I walked up Rue des Abbesses and followed the signs to the Funiculaire. It's the train that takes people up the hill to Sacre-Couer. I took the Funiculaire up and saw some great views of the city.

                                            Sacre-Coeur

                                          Shadowy me, but me and Paris 
(special thanks to the American who took the picture and didn't laugh too hard at my self portrait attempts).


     I went into the church to look around. Pictures not allowed and sluttily dressed girls will be escorted out. Really, there's a sign that says so, sort of. As you can see I was dressed as a Parisian from my stereo typical brain - black pants and a black turtleneck. And some people who know me might be amazed I didn't ignite into flames stepping in to a church, but I'm pretty sure if there is a god he's ok with me not being on his side.


     I will say, however, that I lit a candle for my grandmother because I think if she were still alive she would have wanted me to do that for her or someone else. Every time I go in a church I light a candle for my grandmother. It's weird because I never understood that as a kid - still don't really, but I look at it as me bringing her back for a little bit. Wow, I miss that old lady.


     I checked out the crypt under the church and you can take pictures there - or at least I didn't see a sign telling me not to and I was the only one down there with the dead people and they weren't about to tell me to stop. As I was walking down the steps to get there I wondered if the walk back up was going to be worth the sights of the crypt and said so to the lady walking back up. She said it was but the 300 steps to the Dome probably weren't considering it's pretty much the same scenery there is out front of the church. I thanked her and bought a ticket for the crypt only. For being a place full of dead people I wasn't at all creeped out. 

                                           Probably ashes to ashes

                                            The guy is holding his own head. Badass but weird.

                                                    One of the door knockers for the church.


     As I was coming back into the hotel a Frenchman stopped me and introduced himself as my "neighbor". He lives next door to the hotel and wanted to take me to the cafe on the corner for some wine and to "learn about each other". If I weren't so tired I would have appreciated that even though he's a dawg he thought I'd be a nice choice for him to go howling with. Sleep! I need sleep!