Travel Tales - Paris

After spending a couple of months obsessed with planning the trip we at least understood that less was more with luggage. We started our light journey for Paris with barely a couple of hours of sleep - at 3 in the morning :) I know the timing may sound un-earthly, but the excitement of 'travelling abroad' kept us going! We managed to reach St. Pancras to take our 'Euro Star' in time - but without our boarding passes - thankfully they were printing them out at the station! Through the barricades, we reached the border control. Since Paris was not our main destination, we had visas from the Italian embassy. Making the people behind the counter slightly suspicious. That went alright and our passports got stamped with 'Left Londres' :)

(I am a stickler for getting more and more stamps on my passport - if in different colours even better!!)

I must confess, I was asleep for most part of the journey :D But we did enjoy a hot chocolat in the restaurante carriage of the train with some fantastic views of Paris scenery :) Soon it was time to get down at Paris Nord terminal. It is huge, I would say bigger than London Victoria or St. Pancras (I can see many Britons raising an eyebrow over that!) and it is confusing (definitely much more than ANY of London stations). 

Like most technology savvy, well planned tourists these days - we had a plan - to go to Canal St. Martin- for a lovely Parisian breakfast. However, as it would appear - the destination was not as popular with the locals :D So we did what the tourist information officer explained to S - day passes on Paris Public Transport & off to Monmarte - Basilica of Sacred Heart. It is a beautiful church, built on top of a hill. Weather being nice to us - we had some amazing panoramic views of the city from there. After spending some quality time at the church, we had our brunch at a small cafe bottom of the hill. I would not stay it was the best I have had, but I guess it was all about the ambience :)

By now we had got grips with the metro map and managed to reach Arch De Triomph without much difficulty. Again, with sun out of the clouds, it made a fantastic view. It is a monument inspired by Arch of Titus in Rome (which has inspired hundreds of victory arches over centuries) built in the memory of the 'unknown soldier'. It marks one end of the fancy Parisian street of Champs Elysees. 

We walked around Champs Elysees - which was truly Paris for me. Fancy window displays, specialised restaurants and cafes, delis and dedicated dessert bars! We had lunch in one of the good looking places which had even better food in great seats with a superb view :)

(I am also a stickler for seats in a restaurant, they have to be in a corner, but not by the doors or the toilets, with perfect lighting and view :) )

Our next set of destinations took us around River Siene - Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Lourve. 

Eiffel Tower - well by now the sun had said bye and it was a little colder by the river and it was super crowded!! Even then, it is an iconic structure and it surprises me how people may perhaps not recognise Paris with some of its prettier monuments, but would do so instantly with a picture of Eiffel Tower. We did spend some time around it trying to get decent pictures & some trick photography inspired by fellow tourists :D

Next, on a double decker train to Cathedral of Notre Dame - a very elegant monument with grand facade. On a nice sunny day, Notre Dame will be my pick to spend an afternoon with a book with loads of 'chewables' and a hot drink. Its majestic spires make perfect backdrop for a historic read!

From there we went to the Lourve - already a bit tight for our flight to Rome, we panicked a bit - I think we took a bad decision to switch the stations at the last minute and were lost for a little while. A nice looking French man gave us a few directions (I think all French people are aware that their country lacks what is called - sign posts!!) and we finally managed to reach the grand grounds of Lourve (the gallery itself was closed - and is a reason we must plan another visit to Paris soon). S loved its geometrical layout and of course the famous glass pyramids. Wish we had a bit more time to sit and absorb. 

Intelligently - we took a taxi back to Paris Nord and managed to catch our train to the airport JUST IN TIME :) :)

Thought Soup!

Lately I feel S & I have been overwhelmed with things to do! There is always something else to add to the list, always something more to be done.  This should be normal right?

I guess it is the same for everyone - every body must have their own things to do, in a format of their choice. It is difficult to imagine an existence where you don't have a 'thing' to do next. Since the day we are no more 'kids' we start worrying. When kids, we are all infected by a strong desire of being 'grown up'. How utterly naive of us!! I can only look back and realise that those must have been the most carefree days of my life ever. I will never be as curious, as enthusiastic, as free of worldy sins and as energetic as I was when I was 6! Being 'grown up' is not nice most of the time. I mean it is nothing compared to being under the love, care and protection of one's parents :) Right, back to the list then. 

So if every one has lists, every one is busy finishing one task and moving to next, then why do we feel so overwhelmed by it? Are we late? Are we not doing well enough so that we are having to play catch up? Why does it feel 'all at once'? May be we are in a hurry? We just want things to be done?

Tick Tock

It must be running faster than ever. The clock. I can't believe this is April already. 

Past few weeks have just whizzed by. And I am grateful that they did. I can imagine how dreadful it is when time drags. 

Quite a few things happened over last month which deserve to be properly documented. But as days pass, each one loses its context and my enthusiasm to write about them. I am always worried about what is next. I think, S thinks, I don't enjoy the 'now' as much because I am already buzzing with the 'next'.

I guess I need to start reading more - more spiritual literature, the kind father always recommends. It will calm me down, I hope. 

So getting back to the chronological devices, in the month of March, weekdays were busy at work, and weekends busy with so much more. Birthdays, festivals, house move and travel :)

I am a 'house' wife now! Moved out of my bachelorette pad after 3.5 years finally!!! Still getting used to having it all to myself :) (& of course the huge amount of work which comes with it to keep it all sparkly :()

We travelled - to Paris and Rome. It was an indulgent trip - had a fantastic time :) Makes me want to go - again and again - to discover the rest of the world :)