I was on a Business visit to Europe recently covering Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, UK and Ireland. In between we had a Weekend which our European counterparts usually enjoy with their family and friends, and hesitate to accommodate/ entertain us, so, I decided to spend the weekend, (Saturday and Sunday) in Paris. Friday, 27/4/07, I was in the Netherlands near the Luckgestel for a product demo and then retired at my usual Hotel room.
Next day 28/4, early morning, at 5.35, I took a country side train which was like a Shatabdi exp. which took me to Antewerpen bordering Belgium, where within 7 mins I had to change to a connecting Train to Brussels, the capital city of Belgium. I arrived in Brussels- Midi ( The central station of Brussels as it is called ) on time at 7/25am. From here the real fun started: I had chosen the Fastest Train Thallys over the Flight from Brussels to Paris. Tickets were booked just 2 days in advance for just Euro 98.
My Thallys Train was at 8/42, I went to the Counter in the basement and collected the boarding Card and was guided to the Platform. The train it self is so attractive to look at with a dolphin shape nose. It has an in House Bar, Restaurant. And a Top speed of 340 Kms. Per hour. We covered a distance of 336 kms (210 miles) from Brussels to Paris Du-Nord (the Central part of the city) within 1 hr. 25 mins.
(The same distance of Bangalore to Chennai is covered by Shatabdi in 4 hr. 45 mins.)
The main advantage of this train to Paris is, It takes you to the Central Part of the City avoiding 2 extra hrs. from the International Airport to the City. I went to the Hotel it was just near the Gare – Du Nord station, Hotel Paris De-Rocroy. (though I took a taxi which was very expensive at 12 euros, and that was the only time I used taxi in Paris.!!!)
Most of the Hotels in this central area follow a check in rule of either 1 pm or 12 noon, offcourse the luggage can be kept in the cloak room before check in or after check-out. The hotel was good, carpeted, Clean well maintained and furnished rooms, with heating arrangements, a shower closette, hair dryer, etc. (What extra I can expect for a 85 euro per day room!!!)
I started the sight seeing trip, and I asked guidance from the hotel receptionist, a french, She was very helpful, handed me a city map, which has Metro, Bus, RER routes, and the list of Sight seeing spots. I took a brief walk for lunch at an Indian Restaurant, Bangalore Palace, the owner, is a Bangalore guy, who again guided me to the nearest metro station: Paris has more than 22 sectors on the underground metro and so many stations, covering entire central city and outskirts/ suburbs. In addition they have city busses /Sight seeing specials which are much better than Volvos. Metro ride from Grands Baulevards to Trocadero (The Eiffel station) was very nice and I was amused to see the metro system, their punctuality, cleanliness. Every where we can see the sign posts to guide us to the correct platform / counters or the Exits.
Eiffel Tower : I cant find words to describe this huge tower built by an Engineer nick named as the “Magician of Iron”, Er. Gustave Eiffel, ** It is told that this tower measures 300 mtrs. height, has around 1650 steps to reach the summit (top) level, was built in 1889 within 2 years. It requires 35 tonnes of paint. Surprisingly, On the banks of the River Siene and down below the Iron Tower, there were some teens and young girls mostly French with “ Free Hugs” placard in hands… wanting to hug all men around !!!! (Offcourse I did not try any..!!!)This place is also called as a Lovers paradise, We look anywhere and every where, on the lawns, on the Siene bank, young couples locked in arms and more often lips locked for a long breathless kiss (I think that is called a French Kiss..!!!). We can observe the latest fashion in ladies attire here, or more so in the entire city of Paris.
As mentioned elsewhere, shopping, collection of Souvenirs in and around Eiffel is costly affair. Still we can find some Indian hawkers with the souvenirs in hands all around the tower and on the bank of Siene, who, if you happen to speak in Hindi, can offer at a bargained and comparatively less price, than the shops.
Then a brief stroll around the Palais de chaillot, and Arc de triompe etoile followed by Opera and some shopping in Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and the day came to and end.
Next day, Sunday, 29/04. I checked out the Hotel, after the complimentary breakfast in the Coffee shoppe, left the luggage in the Cloak Room. Studied the metro map, Took the metro from Gare-du-Nord for the best connection for the Disney land, reached Disney land well within 1 hr. 20 mins., with one change of connecting metro (RER) at Gare-du Lyon station. It is very convenient mode of transport in Paris.
Disneyland is spread across into two parks, each park if enjoyed with family or friends can take one full day. I asked ticket for both the parks, The lady at the ticketing counter asked me when I wanted to go back from the park, I said I have 4 hours to spend here. She insisted to go for only one ticket… i.e. One park, adding that, I could n’t cover even one park in 4 hrs. Well, I settled for 1 park for 46 Euros.!!!.
The Adventure Island, Rides, collection of souvenirs, glass articles, imitation jewellary etc. are very nice, I can agree, yes, 4 hours are nothing there… and if you are alone you cannot really enjoy the Disney. (Or Paris I can add !!!.) I had to take a flight from Paris to East Midlands in the UK, at late evening.Came back to hotel by the Metro again, collected my baggage ( Now some extraaas from Paris…!!!) took a walk to the Nord station, and the RER metro service to the Charles-de-Gaulle International Airport. (at 8.10 Euros. Not so expensive) It takes 40 mins. For this Fast Metro train to reach the Airport, which again is completely on the out skirts of the Paris City. This train stops at both the terminals 1 and 2.
Then we can take the Airport’s internal transport tram service to reach our departure / arrival launges. CDG is one of the busiest and biggest Airports in Europe, connecting to almost all the major Business / Tourist destinations around the Globe. We need to be careful with our belongings in the Metro, and Non EU visitors should always carry Passport during Sight Seeing also... Continued in Comments Section....