Writing, writing, writing

 Writing, writing, writing.

It's quiet a work to write these 'paris trip posts,' while being in Paris I had a little note book, and wrote all of my daily adventures down. Sometimes some passengers saw me and told me, "Are you writing everything down?" I told them, "Yes, just a little diary." Every time I had a little time over I wrote, mostly in the bus, or I just sat down somewhere on a bench outside. Once I got back in Holland I write them over in this blog. Alright, on with this day, well, not much to say actually. Resting and staying inside the house, around 4:00 pm I went for a quick groceries shopping. The store here is walking distance.

When I got back from Paris a 'friend' of mine wanted to drop by for a coffee, we planned it on a Saturday. It was Janine, I didn't ask her, she wanted to drop by for a coffee. And yeah, she cancelled it again. I lost count with Janine's changelings, and you know what? It doesn't bother me at all, the trip to Paris did me good and made me think aswell. The time before I went to Paris I was kinda addicted to have or get friends, no matter what kind it seemed. I was probably thinking, "The so called 'friends' are the only ones I have, I really have to do my best to stick with them, no matter what." 

While enjoyning my Paris trip I thought to myself, "What on earth was I thinking?" Why did I overwhelm myself with this silly addiction? If these so called 'friends' need me they will come, let them. If they wanna visit, fine, if not, fine aswell. It's not that important for me anymore. I did sometimes silly things just to hold on to those so called 'friends,' it's a relief now I feel or think that 'that' is not important anymore. It's time aswell to get some new contacts, but everything on time. Perhaps my 'Buddy wanted' contact Johan was right, 'First be happy with doing things on your own, first you need to get that feeling of that it's really okay being alone."

Busy week ahead, I had my rest hopefully, let's see how it goes at work upcoming Monday. The pain on my chest is still there, though it comes and goes. When I worry about it, it goes worse, ofcource. If the pain still bugs me then upcoming Friday I will see my Doctor. Tomorrow one more day of rest, ofcource Sunday is always my resting day. Janine canchelled yesterday's coffee visit, but wanted to call me later in the evening aswell, what she didn't do. She told me aswell that she wanted to do the coffee visit tomorrow.... yeah,yeah! Wi'll see, like I said before, if they wanna visit, fine, if not, fine aswell. Really.


Trip to Paris - Day 3. 

Day 3 already, time flies here in Paris. This is going to be a long post, I think the longest post I ever written. Soon it will be 2013! You know, being here I sometimes ask myself what day it is. It's so confusing having not my daily things or my daily rhythm, I think that makes it so confusing. Anyway, today the planning was a city tour with the bus at 12:00 noon, after that a city walk, then at 6:00 pm back to the hotel for a few hours rest, and then at 9:00 pm we will leave the hotel for celebrating New Years in the centre of the city. At 2:00 am our bus will take us back to the hotel, looooong day. What I noticed the last three days that the day activities can always change during the days, or takes longer then they usually should. I didn't feel much for the 'bus city tour,' Hmm I perhaps rather go for a walk in the centre again, I don't know, doubts! I still feel a bit of a chest pain and stomach pain, I felt a tiny bit better when I got up this morning. But after my breakfast the pain returned, I hope it's not the thyroid. 

The beautiful Arc!

Could it be nerves or stress? But why nerves or stress? I'm in Paris having a holiday, there's nothing to be stressed or nervous about. I had breakfast, had my rest afterwards, and at 11:30 I went downstairs for the start of the day. I always make my lunch while having breakfast in our hotel, it's easy and cheaper ofcource. Plus, there's enough to grab. At 12:00 we all hopped in the bus and took off, the 'bus city tour' has started. The bus will take us first to "La Defence," a huge area full of skyscrapers, monuments and shops. Our bus driver told us that you can compare La Defence with Manhattan. The bus stopped for a hour, so we could explore this lovely area. What a amazing place that was, the skyscrapers were huge, I took several pictures, I loved it! After La Defence the bus took of to the centre of Paris, while on our way we passed several sight seeings and our bus driver told stories about them. Though, I wished he would stop sometimes, so I could take pictures. But that's sometimes not to do, cause of the busy traffic here. 

Huge skyscrapers at the La Defence.

I have been thinking this morning that I would rather go for a walk in the city, but naah, I decided to stay in the bus. I didn't wanna miss La Defence either, lol. On our way we stopped a few times to let passengers out, so that they could do other things. Everyone is free to do what they want, you can be a part of the activities or you can go out by yourself. The tour ended in a huge underground parking lot in the middle of the centre of Paris, wow! This parking lot was huge, Though I think this parking lot is only for tour busses, cause that's the only vehicles I saw. Hundred busses were parked here, amazing to see. Above this parking lot there's a huge shopping mall, there we could spend several hours. At 6:30 pm our bus will pick us up at the same meeting point as yesterday, 'Cource de la Reine.' I sure knew now where that was! The shopping mall was nice and crowded, though I didn't stay long. I grabbed a coffee at Starbucks, (yay, Starbucks) I ordered a hazelnut flavoured coffee, large one. Ordering there was fun...

Starbucks, yay!!

Behind the desk are three people, one takes your order, the other one let you pay for it and the last one serves you. Funny was that in the end I had my hazelnut in a cup with my name on it, "John." LOL! I left then the mall, cause I had other plans, I still had three hours to enjoy myself. Three hours is more then enough, I was in a no-time out of the mall, the Starbucks coffee gave me a boost. Being outside felt so much better, the mall was to crowded with shopping people.As I was walking I saw several nice things, I came so close to the Eiffel Tower aswell, but didn't went there. It still was a bit to far, so the closeness to the Eiffel seemed to trick my eyes. I could feel my legs and I still had to eat aswell, time sure flies while your in Paris. And in the back of my head I thought, "I have to save some energy for tonight's New Years eve too." While I was searching for food I saw only expensive restaurants and brasseries, I walked towards our bus meeting point and searched further. I saw food stands and markets with food as I walked further. 

Oh the Eiffel was so close by this day.

I crossed the Seine and saw more food stands and markets with food, there was a long street with typical Christmas stands. This whole street was covered with Christmas decorations and lots of people. I dashed trough the crowd and it was actually quit a nice area, I saw food stands aswell. I ordered a Donner kebab at the first stand, oh fattening stuff! On my next coming trip I really, really, really want only healthy food and healthy living. This Donner kebab was filled with onions, shoarma, peppers and some french fries. I was stuffed afterwards, I didn't ordered the 'kebab' with sauce, but maybe I should have to just get it down easier. I felt cramps coming as I was walking towards our bus meeting point. Poor stomach needs a vacation too, lol. When I arrived I sat down at the park near by the meeting point, it was dark and in the back ground I still could see the Christmas market. I was nice on time, I still had thirty minutes. The bus came a bit earlier then expected and I went in and sat down, more passengers came aswell. 

The huge tourist boats, waiting for passengers.

The bus waited until 6:30 pm and took of to our hotel. I still didn't realize that much that it's the last day of the year, it's so awkward such days while your traveling between Christmas and New Year's. Again I had to ask myself what day it actually is. At the hotel we could have a rest until 9:00 pm, it was just a few minutes past 7:00 pm. Perfect! I rested and tried to sleep but I guess I was a bit excited to have a little nap, the rest was good. At 9:00 pm we took off once again to the 'centre,' this time the bus parked near the Arc de Triumph.' I thought, "That's a long walk towards the Eiffel Tower," cause that was my plan to go to, or near the Eiffel Tower. I would love to see the countdown to a new year ofcource, I already had a plan I went in the bus. I will stay with a few people of our passengers group, I already had a few people in mind. There were two things I really wanted this evening, see the countdown for the new year, and be on time back at the bus. I had already flashbacks from last New Year's fest in London. 

On our way to the Eiffel, it's almost New Year.

It sure will be crowded and you really have to be back on time at the bus. The couple I had in mind to stay with this evening were a little anxious aswell for the fest. They are a nice couple, I already talked to them several times. So all good! As we got out of the bus I couldn't find the 'couple' I had in mind, they disappeared just like that, and so fast. I thought already where they were, what happened? I searched for a bit but couldn't find them, I decided to find another few people of our passengers group, and even that was hard to find. I could aswell go on my own, and stay near the bus. Or try to. But I found a bunch of people, in the end we were with seven of us. They were, a Sister and his younger Brother and two couples, both young at age. One of the couples were having a handicap, they were both deaf and used mostly hand signals, or how you call it. This deaf couple I tried to talk to before in the bus, that went pretty well, there nice and so not used to such fest I noticed. It started to rain and we decided we all take the subway to the Eiffel Tower, it was all fine with me, "Stick with them," I thought. 

Ready for the countdown!

Hey, I'm in Paris on New Year's, I'm going to have a great time, enjoy! The Sister of the young Brother guided us trough the subway, she knew a bit of Paris and aswell of the French subways. She warned us to stick together once we were in the train, people seem to push and pull alot here. Beware of rude people, it gave me already then a bit of anxious feeling. But either way, fun being here was the main thing. Once we got out of the subway station I was glad I didn't had to walk the whole piece, I noticed aswell while walking to the 'Eiffel' that most of the crowd during this evening aren't so nice. Beggars, thief's, being rude and loud, I surely didn't trust some of these people, I was on my hood. I felt sorry for the 'deaf couple' aswell, they sure weren't use to this, I stick with them to give them a safe feeling. Once we arrived at the Eiffel we found a place where we could hide for the rain, looking at the huge crowd of people it reminded me of last year with New Year, London was crowded aswell but friendlier. That should have been my warning to stay a bit closer to our bus, just like I did last year. 

It rained, and the place was packed with people.

I must say, I never been so close to the 'Eiffel' before, it's really huge, and a beautiful construction. Our little group of seven stayed together tight, the amount of people at the 'Eiffel' was enormous! It was easy to get lost or loose a member of one of our group. And the rain didn't stop, it went on and on. I bought something to drink aswell, a hot chocolate to stay warm. Then just before 12:00 I grabbed my camera and started filming, I didn't care about the rain. It sure was a happening to be here! At 12:00 the Eiffel lighted up and the whole crowd was cheering and clapping, and that was actually it. No fireworks and no light shows. We decided to go back to the subway to get ahead of this enormous crowd, but we weren't the only one who had the same idea. 10:000 people or even more turned around and went everywhere, most of them straight to the subway. I saw even parents with their kids. The adventure began, we tried to get to the subway station and we succeeded, but don't ask how. Some people were pushing, yelling, and were violent. 

Happy New Year!!

There was even a fight just before the subway station. We managed to get to the spot where the train would stop, oh man, it was crowded with yelling people, mostly youngsters. The train came but was packed with people, so the train drove on. More trains passed us packed with people, and more people came waiting for a train. We decided to turn around and walk to the next subway station, and 'that' wasn't even easy. It was a struggle to get out of this station but we got out, pffeeww! I was getting pretty wet because of the rain, but we went on to the next subway station. Two girls from our group were wearing high heels, ugh, ofcource there feet began to hurt after a hour walking. They slowed down, and with them a few others. Me and the 'deaf' couple were walking a bit ahead, cause we thought we might get on time for the bus. But it was already late, it was 1:45 am. I was pretty sure that we wouldn't make it on time, the distance was just to far. Arrived at the next subway station we saw the same thing, a crowd of people, yelling and shouting. We had to find another option, a taxi was my idea.. 

Subway station, packed with people.

Or trying to get on time at our bus, perhaps the bus driver was waiting for us. The two girls with the high heals couldn't walk anymore, they stopped at a taxi stand and just waited for a taxi who hopefully showed up. But that wasn't easy, ofcource there were hundred of taxi's, but none stopped for us. Our group splitted up, I was with the 'deaf' couple, they still tried to be on time for the bus, I figured that I couldn't leave them on their own. The others were hiding for the rain under a taxi stand, hoping and praying for a taxi. Me and the deaf couple went to the Arc de Triumph, the place where our bus still will be, we hoped. It was already way passed 2:00 am, we even called our bus driver a few times, but he told us that he won't pick us up. Awkward and rude? Awkward yes, but not rude, I guess the bus driver has been there before. We arrived at the 'Arc,' it was 2:45, we were wet until our undies, no bus ofcource. I felt sorry for the deaf couple, they can't hear me, and they can talk yes, but not clearly. We were lost what to do, we stand in the rain waiting for taxi's, but none stopped. 

Look at that crowd!

Yes, one stopped but it took to long for the taxi driver. We had to explain where we wanted to go, but it was hard to find the adres of the hotel. The deaf girl had the adres in her purse, but was to late to hand it over to the taxi driver, he took of. Sigh! We stood in the rain for more then 90 minutes, the deaf guy wanted to walk to the hotel, but that's way to far. I started to feel lost aswell, the taxi's just didn't stop, I just had to trust on my luck that I sometimes have, but, sigh! The deaf girl came quit often to me for asking for options, the deaf guy didn't like that in the end and told her, that he was here also. I really had to do with these two people, this whole New Years night was such a huge test on their relationship. It almost looked like a romantic movie. Finally, out of no where a car stopped and the driver opened his window, "Taxi?" he yelled! We all said, "Yes!" It was just a car, no taxi, this was just a bit suspicious. I didn't trust it at first. The deaf girl tried to grab as fast as she can for the adres where we wanted to go to, the so called taxi driver was patient. 

Clothes hanging to dry.

He showed us the price we had to pay, "100 Euro!" He told us with a loud voice, "It's not 10 Euro, it's 100, you see?" He yelled. Later on he told us 150 Euro, cause he didn't know we were with the three of us. It was all fine with us, bummer for the 50 Euro each but we were lost, cold and soaking wet, and tired. As we sat in the taxi a breath of relief followed, the taxi was warm and the chairs were comfy. The taxi driver was nervous but patient aswell, though I didn't trust him the whole ride. Finally he putted the right adres in his navigation system and we took of in the way to busy traffic headed to our hotel, I hoped. I could tell the driver was a bit hyper, I was thinking the whole way that he all of a sudden could get fed up with all of it and throw us out. I was calm and quiet, being friendly and give short answers might help was my strategy. The taxi driver kept asking as a few times if I loved Paris, I answered him many times with yes. He asked me aswell where I came from, I told him Holland, then he started about Amsterdam. The deaf couple was quiet, ofcource, they can't hear. 

Ah! Bed, I missed you!!

I explained shortly to the driver that the couple in the back was deaf, he responded short with a "Ah." Finally we were getting closer to the hotel, with here and there a few miss leading roads we arrived at the hotel. What a relief, and here I was not trusting this driver, I thought the baddest things about him, he could easily pull a gun or rob us when we arrive at the hotel or somewhere else. "Your are our hero," the deaf people try to shout out, I thanked him an shook hands. We got out of the taxi and hugged each other, the deaf couple and me, we been trough this night trough thick and thin. It was already 4:30 am, and I had already a plan for tomorrow, nothing! I'm gonna do nothing tomorrow, I thought, staying inside and not do any activity. I was tired and soaked to the bone, I hanged my wet clothes to dry in the shower/bathroom and pulled a extra blanket out. Nice and warm. I slept in five minutes.