Contiki Paris

I wake up early with a slight hangover from the Battle of the Bands.After washing out the alcohol in my mouth, brushing my teeth, and packing my bags, I rush out of the door to meet everyone in the lobby.We head to the Contiki coach and make our way through the streets of London one final time, taking in all the fantastic sights the city has to offer.Before arriving on the ferry to France, we get our passports stamped!Our coach drives onto the ferry and we get out.I’m really surprised about the size and the spectacle of the ferry; it’s less like a ferry and more like a cruise ship.Although there is a lot to do on the ferry I spend most of my time playing cards and sitting around in the cafeteria with Kevin, Molly, and Liz.

Before I know it, we’re in France .After a long drive through the beautiful French countryside we arrive in Paris , the city of lights!After settling into our hotel it’s back on the coach for an illuminations night tour of Paris .I am truly amazed at the historical sights the city ahs to offer; everything about the city seems to have some significance in history.We drive by the Arc D’ Triumph, the Lourve, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower .Liz attempts to give me a tour of the city but she points out the wrong tower as the Eiffel Tower to me, but a valiant effort nonetheless. Pete, our tour manager, is spewing out information the entire time, offering us a crash course in European history.When we are near the Eiffel Tower he asks the coach if we’d like to go on it.We all answer yes, thinking it’s simply a what if question.He tells us to get off because we’re going up!An immediate sense of excitement and euphoria spreads throughout the bus, smiles erupt on everyone’s face, and everyone leaps out of their seats and out of the door.

We look at the long line of tourists waiting to get onto the Eiffel Tower and thanks to Contiki; we walk past all of them into the Group Entrance!VIP BABY!We take the elevator up to the second story, anticipating every moment.When we get there, we take in the beautiful sights of Paris as the sun is setting and we take a million photographs of the city and the Eiffel Tower .After spending about an hour there, the tower’s light show starts and we head to the bottom to check it out.I was amazed at the show and even more amazed at the size of the tower, I always thought it wasn’t that impressive, but it was!After taking a million pictures, we head back to the hotel for some drinks(and drinking games) in the lobby bar and call it a night. EuropTrip Day 4-July 29, 2006

Pete tells us we have the entire day to explore the grand city of Paris!

My group consisting of Molly, Donna, Anne, and several others decides to check out the Lourve first and several other big sights throughout the day.I take my museum pass which I purchased for 20 Euros and enter the monster of a museum.The Lourve is huge and encompasses a number of famous paintings, most importantly “The Mona Lisa”.Since I’m not an art buff, I head straight to it since it’s the only painting I really know.When I arrive at the Mona Lisa, it’s crowded and there is security guarding it.I quickly take a picture and shove it in my jeans before security can say anything, arrest me, or beat me down.

After tackling the Lourve for a good hour-and-a-half, we make our way to Notre Dame, a famous cathedral which is a perfect example of Gothic architecture.Along the way we stop and get crepes.I got a nuttella crepe, which is hazelnut chocolate spread, from the shop and it was perhaps one of the most delicious things I’ve eaten in my life, seriously.We head into Notre Dame and it’s huge!There is a mass going on so we have to be quiet but we walk around the cathedral and are amazed by its grandiosity.

Next we hit up another museum with our helpful pass, the Museé D'Orsay.This museum is more contemporary than the Lourve.While not as big, it’s absolutely gorgeous and a sight to behold.After seeing the museum for a little over an hour, we decided to head to one of the biggest shopping streets in the world, Champs Elysées.Along the way we got to check out the Arc De Triumphe., the amazing structure Napoleon built for his troops.

Once we get to Champs Elysees, we do what everyone does when they are there, we go shopping.While the girls hit up the clothing store as expected, I hit up the cheesy souvenir shops and purchase an Eiffel Tower model and some other cool stuff including a sweatshirt with a skull and crossbones on it.The coolest thing about buying something in Paris is when someone back home asks you where you got it. Because you can say, “A little place called Paris, France.”

On the way back to the hotel, I get a little lost on the Paris metro but hey I’m alive and no one robbed me. With everyone dressed up we headed to Sacre Coeur church, the highest point in Paris, overlooking the entire city.After walking around and being tempted to fall for “the string tick”, we sit down for a three-course French dinner with an unlimited supply of wine.For the courses I decide to have escargot (snails, delicious snails), roasted duck, and a gelatin dessert.For my beverage, I have wine: lots and lots of red and white wine.Our table plays some great drinking games throughout dinner, many involving the word “bitch”.Needless to say, afterwards, the walk to the Moulin Rogue is a little tipsy, just the way I like it.

Just like the movie, the Moulin Rouge is an over-the-top extravaganza with flowing champagne and plenty of nudity.After entering the glamorous showroom we are seated down to a table and treated to bottles of chilled bottles of champagne.Because our table is still recovering from dinner, we don’t even manage to finish the bottles, so I decide to help everybody out by taking one home.Hey, I’m a nice guy.The show itself is entertaining but nothing like I expected.It isn’t so much sexual as it is nude.It’s basically an opera with elaborate costumes, sets, dancing, and vocals, plus lots of toplessness.Good times and a great day in Paris!Snails, champagne, boobs, and a pirate sweatshirt, what more could a guy ask for?