Paris at last!

Yes I am back in my favorite city at last!

Its been four years since I last visited Paris. In the past I would usually visit once or twice with my parents.

This european trip was not planned but I guess its dad's gift to me. I left manila right after dad's first death anniversary. First day is all for myself since tomorrow bebeth arrives.

We are booked in Hotel Gotty Opera. I specifically asked our travel agent in Paris to book me near the Opera so I can just walk to blvd hausmman and other nearby places.

Right after I showered and napped a bit (hardly slept on the plane), off I walked to the direction of my favorite street, boulevard hausmman :) (thats where the big shops are).

Well guess what, as usual I got lost and ended up at the Bourse! So as not to feel I have wasted my time and energy walking to the opposite direction, I took the photo of the bourse itself :)

After asking some kind french people the direction of Boul Haussman, I was able to get to the big avenue itself.

By this time, my feet were complaining and stomach grumbling for it must have been mid afternoon.

Before I went up the 6th floor where the cafe is located, I just had to take a photo of the beatiful interiors of the supposedly biggest store in Europe (Germans would claim though that the biggest is Ka De Ve in West Berlin). Below is its famous dome.

Compared to Berlin's Ka De Ve, they allow tourists to take photo inside Galeries Lafayette.

When I reached the sixth floor, I immediately went to the self-service shop and got myself some turkey (which really looked like cubed chicken) and rice and a truly sinful Tiramisu gelato for dessert.

Why do you think I had to walk a long way to get to this great grand dept store to eat?? Check out the scenery just outside my window while taking lunch.

Yes its the Eiffel Tower. Actually the other side looked more elegant but everyone was huddled on that corner I couldnt find a space to take photos. Maybe the succeeding days will see if I we can take some meal again in the same place.

After my meal, my feet can no longer stand walking a few more to the metro. I took a cab for the Miraculous Medal Chapel hoping to hear mass. Will write about the church later in my Pilgrims blog.

Unfortunately there were not afternoon or evening masses, considering its a religious holiday!

Off I went to buy some cheese and ham for my breakfast at the nearby Le Grand Epicerie after which I proceeded to walk to the Eglise Saint Ignace, which Fr Nebres told me about. He said that I should watch out for the sign for it looks like just one of the shops.

Tough luch, the church was closed! Again this is a religous holiday! No mass, maybe the priests were also on vacation :)



A few steps away was the Centre Sevres if the Jesuit order. I wanted to go in but I rememered Fr Nebres saying it was only for males so I just took the photo of the signage.


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Took the Metro this time at Rue de Sevres- Babylon and bought the 10 tickets carnet which the late Jee taught me the last time I visited Paris. I used to buy the carte orange but she said the cartes of 10 is more realistic.

No I didnt get lost inside the metro, but since I had to change lines, it took me ages to find the right 'correspondance'!!!

Back to the hotel early evening with the sun still up and my whole body aching from the whole day of walking. I actually passed by two stores to buy fruits, milk, water juice, soda and cheese again for breakfst since they serve only continental.

Thats all for today, till tomorrow folks!

Learnings from decades of Travel

Travel has always been a passion and my dream is to one day write about this, in a book or better yet a travel column. The gemini in me might not have the patience to finish a book whereas the demands of short articles in a column would fit me to a T.

Since I don't have either of those chances, I decided to share some travel gems in this blog for the meantime.

Europe has always been a favorite region, for its culture and history. Most of those travels were in groups that my dad used to organize locally but many of our unforgettable adventures were during our solo trip (as in with my dad and mom or at times with a few friends).

Some of learnings from those trips are :

1. Always expect the Unexpected (A favorite saying of my dad)

No matter how far and detailed your travel plans have been, you must expect that something may turn bad or not the way you planned it to be. Strikes are normal during late spring to summer when tourists start arriving. We have experienced this often in France and Italy. From the airport porter (no one to carry the luggages), to the plane crew (pilots deliberately slowing down the taxi so that passengers from connecting flight will not catch the next plane) to bus drivers going on strike so missed the motorcoach which will bring us to our hotel.

Farmers also often go on strike so they sometimes block the highway and traffic would surely mount.

Other unexpected moments would be:

• A beautiful monument was under consturction so you wont be able to get in or even take a good photo
• A museum happen to be closed on the day you arrive,
• There are no eateries on that part of the highway you are driving through so miss lunch (usually in Spain)
• Losing all the photos you took because of the xray machine or thief or all of sudden yoru camera just chose to conk out
• Lost or misrouted suitcase

2. You can lose everything except your PMT - Passport, Money and Ticket (plane)

Usually its best to keep in tucked somewhere inside your clothes. I keep them in an inside money belt. I have another money belt for loose change which is either over my blouse (if I wear a jacket) or inside but outside my jeans so I can easily get whatever is inside, which usually includes a ballpen and some paper plus some credit cards.

3. Keep all your valuable stuff in your hand carry. Never check them in just in case you lose your suitcase.

4. Always bring your hotel's business card with all the contact numbers. In case you get lost esp when you are with a group, it will be easier to show this to the cab driver.

5. When you try to ask for directions, or flight connection details in the airport, or ask an important question related to your travel whether at the airport, hotel or anywhere during your journey. Don't be content with asking only one person. They sometimes give different answers. It is imperative you double check.

6. Keep your luggages locked inside the room when you get out even when you are sleeping. Put a chair on the back of the door just to make sure no one gets in while you sleep.

• You never can tell if chamber maids will start snooping on the contents of your luggage when you are out
• One time while one of our companions was asleep (in a four star hotel), maybe someone sneaked in and tried getting her passport. She found this when she woke up right outside her door.

7. Dont dispaly your valuables on top of a table in a public restaurant/place eg videocam, digital stuff. Keep it inside the bag.

• We were eating in one of the Wienerwald restaurants in Frankfurt one time, my mom and i stepped out to check some of the items on sale in a nearby market when we went back inside, the waiters were all upset and running around and one approached me saying all is under control for the police are coming. Some guy grabbed my video on top of the table and ran!

Tower of Belém

The Tower of Belém in Lisbon, Portugal was built to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition. It is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world and one of the most beautiful Renaissance monuments in Portugal

Although I have seen this famous landmark a couple of times, the only photo I could get hold of right now is during the time of its restoration during the years 1997-1998.

The tower has served various purposes since inception, from a customs post, telegraph office and even lighthouse. It also became a political prison, with its storerooms transformed into dungeons.

At present, it is cultural icon, a symbol of Portugal, and it provides a valuable glimpse into the country's relations with other cultures and civilisations.

In 1983 UNESCO declared the Tower of Belém as "World Heritage Cultural Site".