Travel: Andorra, France - Paris and Toulouse

So, here is our years of studies and the “Bonjour! Je voudrais du pain, s’il vous plait.” can be put to use.

We have finally arrived in this land of baguette, fromage et vin. Apart from the hectic projects at school, we manage to sightsee from Toulouse to Paris and even to Andorra, a tiny country sits in between France and Spain. Over there, you can do your duty-free shopping and of course show off your ski techniques at the Pyrenees mountain. 

Road trip to Andorra

I did not take much photos in France because you know, back then I was too young, too dumb to realize. Anyway, the visits to all the attractions were terrific!

We ordered meals in a local café of which their Chef came out and introduce their plat du jour – confit de canard (duck confit) with his comical duckling dance, we caught a glimpse of Mona Lisa at Musée du Louvre, walked from Jardin des Tuileries to Arc de Triomphe, visited Le Jardin du Luxembourg, gawked at the shoppers at Champs-Élysées, took a few touristy photos at Place de la Concorde where Louis XVI, Queen Marie condemn to death; basked in the sun of Pont Alexandre III, a lovely bridge which spans the Seine River, Invalides and Eiffel Tower. And yes! We went up to the Eiffel, bought the keychains made in China probably at €1 for 5, and no, we did not fall for the French braid rainbow loom.

Jardin des Tuileries 

Musée du Louvre

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel

Outside Musée du Louvre

Eiffel in pink

Metro Station Invalides

As we poor students could not afford the Moulin Rouge show nor interested in topless women, we turned to the free admission option opposite at Musée de l'Erotisme (Erotic Museum). The same evening, shivered in cold, we had the best kebab ever and ended with Paris – Brest, a very typical French dessert.

And so, before ending this, is it true that Paris is the most romantic place in the world? Yes, if you could look past the crowds and long queues at all the attractions, us tourist flocking in every scenic place, the “pardon, pardon” as they weave through the slows and idlers, the piss smell in every alleyway and metro walkway; otherwise go out of Paris! I met a lot of nice people especially in Toulouse. There were once we went to a butchery to get some hams for dinner cooking, over there communications were almost impossible as the shop owner doesn’t speak English at all! A local just happened to step in and immediately he offered help by translating for both sides.  Also, some strangers lifted our luggage up a long flight of stairs at the train station after seeing all these midgets lugging the luggage probably half their weights.

London in Paris

Quiet little street

A boutique with my name, *proud*

Ice

Ice

Baby

Matchbox

Into the white woods

Gigantic Christmas Tree

There are more than beyond to reminisce all these memories, the taste, the fragrance, the ciel bleu, the spontaneous speech in the metro, the pick pocket lady, the street music, the friendship, the rabbit meat, the desperados on the last day, the Thievery Corporation album exchange, the French keyboard, the snow ball in front of our chalet and so much more.

France, I will see you again.

My favourite Paris Street