Nathan's Insights

Thursday 27 April 2006
Highlights: Being robbed 😦

Unfortunately I was robbed on this day.   Luckily I’m okay and in the end it is only money but it’s very important to take safety seriously at all times when travelling especially when the country you are visiting primary language isn’t English.  After leaving South Africa with a reputation for crime I let me guard down.

I have a few options;

1. let it affect the trip by being miserable,
2. go home, or
3. go on and just be more careful.

I’ve decided to be  to be positive; hopefully this is the worst thing that will happen to me in a long time. Money can be replaced, life and health cannot.   I’ll deal with the authorities and move on.  At least I have a new life experience!

I don’t want to go on about this any further or in details.   I lost a day as it is, I refuse to lose anything more over this incident.

Wednesday 26 April 2006
Highlights: Disneyland Paris

Realising I had quite a few days in Paris over the next month and I had a valid travel pass that allowed me to travel out of Paris I decided to visit the Magical Kingdom and complete the trilogy of sites (Los Angeles, Florida & Paris). I also realised I needed to study children’s attractions being a good uncle (or maybe I was the kid?).   The great thing about the Paris location is there are not many Americans and the lines are really small so I got to go on everything when I wanted to.

Highlights of my Disneyland Paris visit included; Space Mountain 2, The Lion King show, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril and finally Big Thunder Mountain.

Obvious conclusion: – I’m still a big kid.

Tuesday 25 April 2006
Highlights: Chateau De Versailles, Climbing the Eiffel Tower

Setting off early for my first day in Europe I decided to visit the Chateau De Versailles.   The wealth of the palace is unbelievable, it’s no wonder Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were taken from this palace by the France poor.  The grounds were amazing just be themselves.

I followed this up with a visit to the Eiffel Tower, that international symbol on Paris.   I chose to jump the 668 steps to the second level and the views were spectacular.   Having said that seeing heavily armed military forces walking around did not put me at ease!

Monday 24 April 2006
Highlights: British Airways First Class Lounge (Heathrow), arriving in Paris

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