Having Nice Things

Today's Itinerary:
  - Take the Metro
  - Eat at a fancy restaurant
  - See the Eiffel Tower
  - Boat tour and Champagne tasting

Mom and I decided yesterday that we were going to try getting lunch at one of the "fancy" restaurants. We both have read that they do a cheaper, fixed menu for lunch on a first come first serve basis. Last night, before the fire, we picked a place that serves food in the cast iron dishes they are cooked in. We were going to get to the restaurant early by taking mom's first metro ride!

We purchased tickets for 5 days of the metro, and got on the train closest to our apartment. Luckily, based on the address I was using, we only had to take one train and no transfers.

Turns out, I heard the address wrong, and we were not anywhere near the restaurant... Plus now had no idea where it could be. Since we could see the Eiffel Tower, it made sense to just walk towards the monument and find a restaurant in that general location. Maybe it wouldn't be fancy, but I suppose we can try that again some other day. (Mom wasn't pleased with me, and rightly so, but this was the best we could do at this point)

As we walked towards the tower, Mom decided to ask somebody how to get to the place I couldn't find. She actually walked into a lingerie store to ask some girl if she knew the restaurant. The girl didn't, but did her best to point us to a different fancy eatery with her broken English. 

This new place didn't look very open, so we approached the man sweeping outside. It was about 11am and the place did not open till 2. With that knowledge, we both decided to go up in the Eiffel Tower. 

First we had to arrive there, which meant more walking down the street. Another restaurant had some kid sweeping also, and Mom recognized that the head chef on this restaurant was the same as the cast iron place we were looking for earlier. She asked the sweeper if they were associated, and he told us that we were actually looking for the place immediately next door. Can you believe we stumbled onto the right place, half a mile away from the wrong directions I gave us in the first place?!?

The line

This place didn't appear open either, so we stuck to the plan to go to the Eiffel Tower anyways. Stopping in another garden at the foot to sit and admire the height and engineering of the structure, we rested our feet momentarily by a pool below. Good thing we did too, because then we stood in line for about an hour before even getting up into the tower.

The line was actually kind of fun. Not that I wanted to stand in it for any more time, but we were surrounded by some interesting people. First, directly in front, a man and two daughters with vivid tangerine sneakers spoke a different language that kept slipping into English. Behind us was a Swedish couple that I thought were from Germany because I thought I recognized some of what they said. Finally, an Indian man further up who was holding spots for his family while they wandered about without him. This guy was the best, he kept getting worried that they were not going to make it in time, and would send a friend out to search for everyone. Finally we got to the security point, and the man still had not joined up with his travel companions. He let a few of us pass, when suddenly 8 other people come running towards the line. They all joined up with him eventually, but I think they should have bought the man's ticket for holding all their spots.

The labeling of the floors was tricky. I recognized that the ground floor was zero, but I thought that the tip top was the 2nd floor then. Apparently, the Swedish couple behind me did too, because the man started freaking out when we passed the first floor and kept going upward (He's apparently afraid of heights, and did not buy tickets to the top). There are 2 lower level floors, and then a separate elevator to the summit. We had tickets to the peak, but after exiting the elevator on the second floor, I thought I might never peel my back off the wall (I'm also afraid of heights).

Eventually, I acclimated, and we walked around the building, comforted by the solid cement floor. Soon it was time to go up higher, and Mom and I got in the next line for elevators like good little tourists. I suspect these elevators could have traveled anywhere, just like Charlie and the Chocolate factory. I don't mind taking the lift to the top of a tall building, but apparently the comfort of a wall behind me is a must. I was trembling with my eyes focused on the floor as we continued upward, surround on four sides by glass and the occasional metal beam. 

Finally, exiting, safe again on the concrete floor, and this time surrounded by windows! Ahhh, not a problem. We went up a level to the open air, grabbed some champagne, and even witnessed a marriage proposal! Could you imagine standing in all the lines we did, knowing that at the top you were going to ask this girl to marry you (and in the back of your head, recognizing that she is probably aware to some extent that you are going to do this)?  Mom and I clapped because I thought that was the thing to do, apparently not, we were the only ones.

It was almost time we grab food if we were going to get back later for our river tour, so more

America's attempt to outdo Eiffel's Magnificent Tower

lines as we headed down what once was the world's tallest structure. Happy World's Fair France, I much prefer the PBR that came out of Chicago's fair, but this is good too.

Lunch was good, fancy and worth it. I had a seafood bisque and lamb, Mom had a Caprese salad and steak. The lamb was unlike any lamb I've ever had. So tender you probably could have cut it with a butter knife, but interestingly sweet. I think this came from being cooked with the spring vegetables, instead of how I am used to ordering it with potatoes usually. Dad digs lamb, and I am unsure if he would have loved this or hated it, but I pondered on that while Mom and I ate our late lunch together.

Koi at the zoo

We wrapped up early, and went back to the pond in the park from this morning to wait our evening tour. Multiple women were feeding bread to the pigeons. These birds were attacking each other like the koi under the bridge at the Henry Doorly Zoo. I was pretty sleepy, so I decided to take a nap under a shady tree for a bit. I woke up feeling much more alert, and we headed back to the river for boat ride.

The tour was great, a bit warm but worth the experience. We were greeted by a pleasant Asian guy, and immediately multiple people started ask me to take their pictures together. 10 snaps later, me and Mom clinked our glasses and the boat embarked. I learned a lot about champagne, and words to use when at a bar (fresh or crisp to mean dry). We also sailed under 22 of the 31-ish bridges in Paris. the guild was funny and entertaining, but hard to understand. I found myself giggling at his jokes, then repeating them to Mom because I don't think she heard them as well.

Most importantly, I learned how God made France equal to other countries in the world. See, God blessed the country with wine, and champagne, and food, and fashion, and architecture. Everyone else got jealous and said to God, "Hey, this isn't fair, what about us". God sits and ponders for a bit, then realizes how to make up for blessing the land with so many great things. God then gave the world, the French people. (that joke wrapped up our cruise, I think the people we've met so far have been a lot nicer than I expected.)

We metroed home, and were planning on some snack for desert, but ended up staying inside and finishing the cheese in our fridge. We'll have to go get more groceries in a couple days.