Paris, France

Mon, August 6

Before you get too excited, I’ve only got a brief layover in Paris to change trains.  The issue is that I also have to change stations.  The trains from Geneva arrive at the Lyon station, while trains to Amsterdam leave from the North station.  They are about 3 miles away from one another.  While nearly connected by a Metro train, I decide to take a little extra time to walk around seeing a couple sights and having a bite to eat.  I plan 3.5 hours to get from one station to another and expect that I’ll need only 60 minutes to walk it.

First, I get oriented.  The great thing about European train stations is that they have a lot of maps.  I take photos of these maps so that I can refer to them if I get lost.  OK, I’m never lost; that would imply that I can’t get to where I need to go.  Instead, I often find myself on the wrong road, in the wrong neighborhood, on the wrong side of the river, etc.  Generally this is because I follow my nose, taking the path I enjoy most, but once in a while it’s simply because I have no idea where I’m going, can’t find a street sign, etc.  Regardless, having a map is ideal for making sure I make my next train, so I’m happy to have it.

Next, I head south, in the completely opposite direction of the North station, to see the Luxembourg Palace and Garden.  On the wrong road, I stumble on the Pantheon, a huge Roman-looking mausoleum containing the remains of many, including Marie Curie.  I don’t care enough to enter, so I become the Japanese tourist and take photos.

I make it to the Garden that feels like an enormous back yard.  I’m not sure why or how, but this enormous expanse of green grass, shade trees, colorful flowers, calm pools, duck-filled ponds, and playful fountains is so wonderfully manicured that I feel like a little kid in a very cozy yet wide-open place.  People are everywhere, yet no one is crowded.  I’m sure it helps that the weather is gorgeous.

Next stop, Pont Neuf, Paris’ oldest bridge, linking Ile de la Cite to the surrounding metropolis.  I think it’s most famous as home to the hunchback of Notre Dame.  No hunchback this time but lots of tourists to avoid.  I become Japanese again, take photos of the bridge and walk on.  I mean, what do you do at a bridge once you’ve crossed it?  I make it to Ste-Chapelle, but the line is Oh-So-Long; I can’t be bothered.

I aim north and walk a side street to the station.  I could take the main road, a straight shot to the station, but I choose a walking street, mostly parallel.  I find all kinds of shops, all kinds of food, all kinds of drinks, and all kinds of scantily clad old ladies.  On second thought, I think I’ve found myself in the red light district; good thing it’s daytime, eh?  I buy a kabob sandwich and have a seat in a park to eat before my departure.