PERCUTIAN KE PARIS - Chapter 3

 The train ride will be longest we had in Europe at 560 km, in 4h using TGV bullet train.

Some photos of the journey.

And we opened our lunch box and enjoy the meal while peering at the fabulous views from the train cafeteria. On menu by Chef Juhari and Chef Ana are ;

Du Riz, 
(nasi dah..)
Poulet a la Sauce de Briyani,
 (ayam beriani dah..)

Salade de Crevettes aux Sauces Americaine,
 (Salad udang dgn thousan island dah...)

Des Pommes et Bananes
 (epal dan pisang dah...)

We arrived in Paris Gare de Lyon by 5.00 pm and then took metro direction to Place de la Republique. We have to go to the office to pick up the key and then walk to our appartment at Rue Turbigo.

notes: D= Gare de Lyon, A= Place de Republique

Our apartment is situated at Rue de la Fontaines du Temple, which is in 11th  Arrondissement, about 1 km from the Church of Notre Dame. Our appartment is a duplex unit at the top floor on the 4th. It has 2 rooms with living, dining, bathroom and kitchen. Wifi is also included along with pay TV and of course a very diminutive  lift. Here are some snapshot of our parisienne Apartment.

The bed with blue blanket for Afiq and Zeti, the bed with green blanket is for Abah and Ibu. The top left is our mini kitchen.

The single bed above is for Syahid.

That night Abah and Ibu found some halal chicken wings, slices of chicken and macaroni from a carrefour-city about 6 min walks for cooking dinner. After dinner we go to bed while enjoying wifi.

END OF DAY 6

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Today our destinations will be the major attractions in Paris such as Le Musee du Louvre, L'Arc de Triomphe and La Tour Eiffel.

The single pass ticket looks like this and it cost about Euro 1.70, we bought a pack of 10 tickets at Euro 13.70

The Louvre museum 

The entrance is through this glass pyramide structure and we went down to a large hall with 4 entrances each at every corner of the hall. We are early so the queu was not so long.

Then we went for a walk at Tuileries Garden. about 2km and we stop to sample the parisian crepe...simply exquisite.

Then we walked along the Avenue des Champs-Elysees until we reached L'Arc de Triomphe.

La Tour Eiffel, magnificently beauty, almost from every angle...We didn't even think to queu the line, it may took 2-3 hours to get the ticket, so we say que serra serra...

It was already past 1.30 pm, so we pick a nice spot in a restaurant facing metro station and we ordered lunch. It was the best pizza and of course Les Semoules au creme fraiche...ahh la la, magnifiiii...que!! The mussels were so tender and sweet.

Then we took metro to the church of Notre Dame. 

As usual the street merchants are selling old post cards and ancient books and paraphernalia. That excites Afiq and Syahid much.

And a good and romantique photo at Pont Saint-Michel bridge.

                                         END OF DAY 7

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This morning we plan to visit the street market, Marche d' Aligre about 7-8 kilometres from our hotel. We would look for some fresh food and flea-market items. So we took the metro from Republique to Ledru- Rollin.

 Marche d'Aligre is one of the city’s best markets—located behind the Bastille between the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine and the Rue de Charenton—stands out compared to Paris’s other outdoor markets because its lively, personable vibe makes it feel like a village within a village. 

At its heart is the Marché Beauvau, one of the last remaining covered markets. Manageably sized, it contains everything from fresh poultry, cheese, and North African harissa among the permanent stalls to flea-market finds like vintage hats and shoes. 

We bought few old items and also some mussels and fruit from this market. 

Then we send the items home and then we head to Tour Eiffel to see if we can get the tickets to get up to its observation platform.

Needless, we are again dissappointed of the crowds. So we just took few photos and went off.

Dinner is mainly seafood, with mussels in Spaghetti and a la Creme fraiche, Salmon grilled and baguette.

END OF DAY 8

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Today we head straight to Palace /Chateau Versailles which is about 20km from Paris centre.

 Interesting & Fun Facts About Chateau De Versailles

• Impressed with the location of Versailles during his hunting trips in the surrounding forests, Louis XIII ordered the construction of a hunting lodge in 1624.
• In 1632, Louis XIII obtained the seigneury of Versailles from the Gondi family and began to make enlargements to the château.
• When Chateau de Versailles was completed, it could accommodate up to 5,000 people, including servants.
• When Chateau de Versailles was built, Versailles was only a country village. However, it has now developed into a suburb of Paris.
• Louis XV of France was born in the Palace of Versailles. However, after the death of the Louis XIV in 1715, he returned to Paris, along with the court, and the Régence government of Philippe II d’Orléans. He returned to Versailles in 1722.
• The chateau also served as the birth place of King Louis XVI, apart from his and his queen, Marie Antoinette's residence. Together, they ruled over France for many years, till they were overthrown.
• Chateau de Versailles is one of the most extravagant buildings in the whole world.
• The chateau is one of the largest palaces in the world. It has more than 700 rooms, 2000 windows, 1250 fireplaces, 67 staircases and more than 1800 acres of park.

At Versailles before we proceed to check out the palace, like every body else we open our lunch box and enjoy our sandwiches at the court yard of the palace.

On our ride home we had boarded a very packed train and something bad has happened; Abah got pick-pocketed by 2 mens with very smooth and magic hand. They managed to squeezed their hand through Abah's side-pockets and throw the purse down taking only the bills, everything else are untouched. Abah is a bit upset but later laugh it out, he lost about Euro 250. 

Upon returning home, the kids stays at the apartment while Abah and Ibu went to visit a Malaysian friend who lived in Creteil about 30 min by metro. Sheikh Idris picked us up at the Metro station and we were served delicious fried Kway Teow and hot tea. We thanked them for their Hospitality and wish them all the bests. Syukran.

Then we went to do some last minute shopping at Place de Montmarte before returning to the Apartment.


                                         END OF DAY 9

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So the day comes when we have to adjourn these terrific journey, we really hoped to return back in 2 years time. So reluctantly we packed and head to Gare Du Nord destination Airport Charles de Gaulle.

We bid farewell to France, Swiss and Belgium and we know we will come back again soon and like always been said here by the French; Merci, Au Revoir et Bonne Journee.