Nathan's Insights

Tuesday 2 May 2006
Highlights:  Paris sights including Notre Dame Cathedral and the famous Moulin Rouge, Memorial des Martyrs de la Deportation.

I had a very big day today deciding to explore Paris today by foot (which was very exhausting).

In order I saw;

• Hotel Des Invalides (the revolution started here),
• Moulin Rouge,
• Conciergerie (14th Century royal palace & later a prison / torture chamber and lockup for 3,000 victims of the guillotine),
• Palais de Justice (Law Courts), and finally
• Notre Dame Cathedral.

It’s amazing just how much Paris has to explore.   Notre Dame was built between 1163 and 1345 and I’m still not sure how they built it at all.   It’s still a working church and can hold over 6,000 people.   As this was the first good (weather) day in Paris the crowds were huge.

It’s interesting to note Notre Dame is considered the centre of Paris and distances are measured from here (in Melbourne and most places it is the GPO). I finished the day with the moving Memorial des Martyrs de la Deportation.   They had a tribute to all those who suffered under the Nazis in Paris during World War 2.   Tomorrow I visit the famous Musee De Louvre, which should make for a very full day.

Monday 1 May 2006
Highlights: Eurostar Train to Paris

Getting up one hour earlier than I needed to (as I hadn’t updated my clock as was still on Paris time) I said my goodbyes to Jon & Jeanne (well Jon anyway, it was early) and made my way to the Eurostar Train.

Have to say it was a great ride taking about 2.5 hours, watching the English & French countryside was very relaxing. I eventually found my hotel which is actually very good.   I better enjoy it since it’s my last one for around 2.5 months.   After my last visit to Paris I decided to take it easy today and just scope out the area before a big day tomorrow.