Woke up at 0700. Got out of the Hotel as soon as possible. Hotel has breakfast, but they charge 12E for it. I guess I can get a better deal on the street.
Exiting to Boulevard Voltaire, I remember that there is a boulangerie and across a bistro cafe were I could get breakfast. The boulangerie is still closed. The bistro cafe is ALSO closed, however it has a sign on the door advertising breakfast for 7E. I guess it is really early for Saturday morning, all streets are empty.
Walked down to the Oberkampf metro station and got a "Paris Visite" ticket, five days metro for 30E. Of course, the lady in the ticket counter knew only some french, so I had to pantomime myself through. After fiddling about on the ticket machine I got the hang of it and realized that I can use a credit card - because I don't carry on me 30E worth of coins!
I planned my trip carefully: I would take the green number 9 line all the way to Trocadero, to familiarize myself with the metro and also go and see the most famous of the sites. The train to line 9 is even in worse shape than the train in orange number 5 line I used yesterday. For some idiot reason only the French know, every line that passes from a station uses its OWN dock station and you have to walk a long way from one to the other.
I have with me both cameras and the iPad but I don't have earphones, because I forgot the iPod! if I get desperate, I can buy some cheap earphones and plug them to the iPad.
Of course, on the platform more hobos. I noticed that the metro authority has placed the chairs in a pattern that doesn't allow someone to sleep on them or in between them. Also, the chairs are tilted, you have to keep your feet pushing back to not fall off, so if you are a hobo trying to sleep you will fall off once you reach Alpha pattern stage.
Arrived at Trocadero. One of the most "touristy" metro stops, looks like someone 20 years ago made an effort to "modernize" it but now it is broken and filthy. A small brown sign helps tourists locate the correct exit towards the Eiffel Tower. Instantly surrounded by annoying African peddlers trying to sell ugly painted keychains.
The light is wonderful. The sun is just over the horizon and there is fog and low clouds that give a mysterious look to the surroundings. The wet marbles of the square give another interesting dimension to the pictures.
A crazy lady with a bullhorn was shouting "no more socialism" to no one in particular. At this time I was one of just a handful of tourists and I don't think the Algerian and Moroccan souvenir sellers were much impressed.
I walked down the stairs. A Christmas village was being set up with a small carousel. Eiffel Tower is impressive! Moreover because it is over a century old! Getting closer to the river I was starting to freeze, the combination of 90% humidity and freezing wind was really uncomfortable. Looking around you can tell this is an area habituated by the very rich. The grass is pristine and the houses look big and expensive. Getting closer to the tower, I noticed the long lines of tourists waiting to visit. The elevator opens at 10:00 and can take a limited amount of passengers, so I calculate that it will take me a couple of hours of waiting. I decide that i can spend my first day in Paris more productive than waiting in a line. Also, the clouds are really low at this time, so there would be nothing much to see from the tower.
A group of Americans is gathering on the opposite side of the tower. They are ready to use the stairs to go up. Good idea! I keep walking into the Champs Du Mars. Runners start to appear in the park. In one corner a football team is running around. In another spot, an elderly gent is playing golf. The usual crowd of Chinese occupies every possible spot.
A bride in a bridal dress is being photographed with the tower. The dress is three sizes too big and it is held in place with pegs and needles. I can see the girl shivering in the freezing wind. She is barefoot in the wet grass. She possibly had this dream of getting married in Paris and now wants to make the most of the experience.
All this make me really sad...
In front of me is the Ecole Militaire. I would like to go in and take pictures of the famous grounds, but I will have to go all around to the back side. I decide to turn left and make my way to the river. Walking along the river is one of those pictures of Paris I have in my mind. I find myself in a boulevard with bistros and cafes, everything is still not open. I look into a window of a pastry shop that is about to open and locate some interesting sweets but I am put off by the prices! almost 5E for a small piece of tarte?
After some aimless walking, I reached the river. Another park here, very similar to Rome. People riding bicycles and running. Broken beer and wine bottles here and there. Trash mixed with the leaves. Sculptures here and there, most of them covered with graffiti. Nobody smiles. A municipality worker is collecting trash but not doing a very thorough job. A small statue commemorates someone called Habib Bourguiba. On my left I can see the glass roof of the Grand Palais.
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