Thursday 19 November 2015

Solo Europe Trip Day 15 to 19 - Back to Paris : Chateau de Versailles -> La Vallee Village -> Eiffel Tower at night

Day 15 :

Good morning! Time to head back to Paris for my last stop of my solo trip! Why Paris again? Because mine is a return tickets from Singapore to Paris and that's why I have to fly back from Paris! 
Taking Vueling Airline from Barcelona to Paris this time round. Look at the queue! I was there early already but the queue doesn't seems to be getting any shorter after queuing for quite some time! Just 1 hr before the boarding time, they decided to open more counters for us to do check in and so I manage to board on time! In Europe, their time management is not very good so best is to give yourself more time frame. You will not know what will happen that cause you not able to board the plane. 

Bye Barcelona! You have been good to me! You are not as dangerous as what other people said but beautiful instead! 

 Train tickets to Paris City at €10 ( SD$16.10 ) and I will alight at St Michel station, where my apartment are located at.


Doggy on train!

Checked in to my mini studio apartment located at St Michel. I stay at around this area for my training as well so I know this area better and true enough I could find my apartment in a shorter time. St Michel station is also one of the few station for the airport train. 



The mini toilet and bathroom!

View of the street from my window!

It's a Sunday in Paris again so everywhere is close except Champs Elyess but thinking of the crowd there I wouldn't want to go there again! So I decided to rest a bit today just walking around St Michel. Luckily the restaurant area my apartment is all open so I got lots of choice for food!



I try not to repeat my food and this time round I saw a lot of fondue so I decided to have one on a cold day for my late lunch at Demi lune! 
Hey wait! Don't they close on Sunday? How come they are open? Hm... Well... Doesn't matter anyway! Haha! 

Operating Hours : 10.30am to 7pm ( Close on Sun )



Cheese overloaded! YUMMMMMY! I'm a cheese lover so this is heaven! Haha!

 Walking around after my lunch and pass by the St Michel fountain.


Love the peacefulness Sunday! Sometime when you are too busy with work, all you need is to stop for awhile to enjoy a moment of peacefulness. 



Continue to walk along the street above Seine River and saw street performer performing just next to the Cathedrale Notre - Dame! Found myself a seat there and spend quite awhile there to enjoy the performance.


 Walk to the lock bridge, Pont De L'Archeveche again.


Pass by this place when it's night time the other day and now I'm back on the day time to take better picture.


Having a scroll down the Seine river in the evening.


Went back to apartment to rest a bit and continue to walk around trying to look for a supermarket that is open to get some mineral water but it's a Sunday so it's a bit difficult.

Not feeling hungry for dinner yet but when I pass by this Amorino Gelato and I have to stop to get myself one gelato because they are so pretty!

Operating Hours : 11.30am to 12 am ( Mon to Thurs )
11.30am - 1am ( Fri and Sat )

Just like the flower geleto I had in Korea but their skill is not as good as Korea! ( I know... ) Having ice cream in a 9• paris is crazy! Haha!


And finally I found a supermarket call Diagonal and it is still open!  


 Grab my mineral water and some gummy from the Diagonal supermarket and walk back to my apartment.

Having a late lunch and no dinner so I have supper instead! I brought 6 pack of instant noodle and this is only my 2nd pack. Everyone told me that I will definitely miss Asian food so ask me to bring and ended up I didn't miss the food! Haha! I saw a lot of Asian restaurant around but the price is not worth. It's the same price as the normal Paris restaurant price so I might as well spend the money for local food. I can eat all the cheap Asian food when I'm back home!



Day 16 : 

Heading to the outlets today! It's the same company as the one I went in London but some brands are not the same. I want to grab all the cheaper stuff before I start to shop at the normal shop in Paris so that I will not feel heart pain if the outlets is cheaper.

 Took train to Chatelet Les Halles to take a train to Val D'Europe but I waited for the train for more then 30 mins and the train is still not coming! I then realise there is a delay on the train. The train in Paris and in London is almost the same, they can be down anytime. Good thing that I'm not in a rush as I have covered almost 80% of the place that I wanted to go so I guess I have to wait until I know what is going on.

After waiting for an hour I gave up so I change my route again. I decided to go to the Chateau de Versailles. Maybe I will go to the outlets again after my visit to chateau de Versailles but it still depend on the train. That train actually also goes to the Disneyland so I guess many people cannot go cause of the train.
Took a train back to St Michel Notre Dame and took the C line to Versailles Chateau.

 Oh no what does this means? No train? I think they should do a notice in English as well! But whatever, I just try my luck at the platform.

Luckily there is train and its a double decker train!


Bad news! The palace is close today! That's the result when I forgot to check the opening hours. 

Operation Hours : 9am - 6.30pm ( Close on Monday, Last admission 6pm ) 

 Oh well... But I can still go in for free but only restricted to the garden area.



The garden area is huge!









Quite a few art piece displaying there!

Pass by a "secret garden"...





 Because the palace is close so all the restaurant is close too but luckily I happen to find out that there is one ( and only one ) cafe that is still open! No meals to order so I can only eat bread and hot chocolate for lunch. It's so cold today and the hot chocolate totally helps!


Such a lay back day!

This is one of the art piece there.

This train can bring you back to the main entrance but of course you need to pay for it. Not sure what's the price like because I have not intention to pay for it. Haha!



Duck playing with the fishes!


Thanks to a guy who is feeding the sea gull near me and I manage to capture such a "postcard" feel picture!

Let's have a welfie!

Look at all the swans! So nice so natural so peaceful. I have to admit I stand here looking at them for quite a long time! Haha!








The duck are not scare of humans and they even eat the bread that people give.





Ok... last welfie with the ducks and off I say good bye to the beautiful animals!




 There is no four season in Singapore so this is how the Autumn leaves looks like!

This is  how I selfie with the whole palace, using the big mirror which is also an art piece!

Took the train back to Paris city. Ticket are selling at €3.55 ( SG$5.70 ) same as when you take the train from Paris to Versailles.



After the palace, got no more time to go to the outlets so I went to Galleries Layfette to look for the luggage I have been eyeing for the longest time!
But no stock for the colour I want! Oh nooooooooo! Went to Printemps to take a look and they have it! But it's €50 (SD$80.50) more expensive! So I decided to give it a skip and try my luck in other outlets tomorrow.

Didn't have any lunch, didn't manage to get my luggage, so I went to McDonald to have some fries and coke in order to regain some energy to continue shopping!

After some shopping, went back to St Michel for my dinner. Had dinner at this restaurant, Flagrant Delice, and it's weird that they have a additional charge after 8.30pm and just nice when I went in its 8.45pm! So I got to pay that additional charge ( fine..... whatever....)! 

Operating Hours : Unknown


The lady in front of me is also alone! I guess it's common for ladies to go for a solo trip!

Onion soup for starter again!

 Had pork with prune sauce.

 Apple pie for dessert!

Did a research on nearby supermarket again and today the bigger supermarket, Monoprix is open! It's about 8 mins walk from my apartment.  

Operating Hours : 8.30am to 12am ( Close on Sun )


 Monoprix is more like a departmental store to me that sells almost everything there!

 Supermarket at the lowest level.

 Bought some candies for bringing back home but I guess I will start eating it ( but of course not all ) before I leave Paris!



Day 17 :

Good Morning Paris!

Today I'm going to try my luck again to the La Vallee village!
Good thing that there is train there! It's about 40 mins ride from chateau to Val D'Europe. I bought the wrong tickets there so I ended up got fine for €33 ( SG$51 )! Although the fine is low compare to those fine we have in Singapore but still! I should not have make the mistake! Urgh!


Anyway unhappy things aside and it's time for shopping! There is no shuttle bus like the one in London ( or maybe there is but I didn't sees it ), so I walk for about 8-10 mins to the La Vallee village which is right at the back of this big mall ( The pointed green glass roof in the picture ).

I read online that I just need to walk through the mall and I will reach the La Vallee village.

 True enough! After walking all the way through the mall, here I'm at the La Vallee Village! 

Address :  3 Cours de la Garonne, 77700 Serris, France

Shopping starts now! 
 

 The shops is not as many as the one in London. Some brands are cheaper here but some brands are cheaper to get in London.


After some walk time to have my lunch. Nothing much to eat here so I had some baguette at the cafe.

 After finish shopping at La Vallee village, I went to hunt for my luggage again. Went a few place but it's all sold out. Finally I found one that have it but it's already close! How do I know they have? Of course I peep in! Haha! And saw the price too. Good deal so I will come back to the place to buy tomorrow. 
And the moment I come out of the metro station, there is street performance again! 


That's my loot at the La Vallee Village! Most of them are gifts to my family and friends! Put my loots back to the apartment before going for my dinner.


 Too many restaurant at my apartment downstairs but I decided to choose this Le Sainsev restaurant because it seems to be quite pack with locals everyday when I pass by.

Operating Hours : 24Hrs


Here I go again... Onion soup for starter! Honestly the onion soup is tasteless! I have tried so many onion soup from different restaurants but seriously this is the worst.

Chicken with mushroom sauce for main but it is too salty!

Chocolate Mousse for dessert! I have waited for this chocolate mousse for a good 20 mins to be serve after I finish my main course! I almost fall asleep siting in front of an empty table! And the best part is, I finish within 3 mins.

And I keep seeing this waiter going out to smoke! Omg! A family beside me waited very long for their food as well. They didn't finish their main course so I assume it's not to their liking as well.
My conclusion is do not go to this restaurant to eat! Basically nothing is good about this restaurant! Even paying bill also need to wait for quite awhile!
 To be honest the service and food here is the worst I have eaten for my pass 16 days in Europe. Both thumbs down!

Day 18 :

It's the last second day of my Europe trip! Time flies! Wake up late today cause basically I got no more busy schedule. I went back to Victor Hugo street to get my Rimowa luggage from 'La Voyagerie'.


La Voyagerie is located inside this mall call Les Belles Feuilles. They have a wider range compare to Galleries Layfette and slightly cheaper too! The staff are very friendly too even though one of the lady couldn't speak English but she tried to help me till a younger man who can speak English came back to help. I remember taking a picture of the shop but couldn't find it.
I always wanted to get myself one Rimowa luggage and I FINALLY got it! It is almost 50% cheaper compared to Singapore price! 

Operating Hours : 10am to 7pm ( Close on Sun )
La Voyagerie - Address :  37 rue St Didier – 75116 Paris
For other outlets, visit : http://www.rimowa.com/fr-fr/

After my happy buy, went into the Casino supermarket which is right in front La Voyagerie to get some local snacks to bring back for my friends and colleagues.



My new love that will start to follow me around the world!

 Next, head straight to Galleries Layfette ( ya... again... ) to get the long champs that my friends and relative ask me to help them to bring back.

But before shopping, lunch time! There is nothing much to eat at Galleries Layfette so I had McDonald's instead.

 At Galleries Layfette, I could get back cash straight at the tax refund counter.
All I need to do at the airport is to scan the tax refund form and drop the form into the tax refund box.

After getting everything done, took the train to Trocadero station which is one of the best location to view the night Eiffel tower! Saw the day Eiffel on the first day of my Europe trip and I shall end with a night Eiffel on my last night in Europe!  


The glowing Eiffel looks so beautiful at night! 

 Twinkle twinkle little starts.... Haha! The Eiffel tower will twinkle for 5 mins every hour and I'm just in time for it!

Good bye Eiffel! 

Went back to apartment to put my luggage and went back down to hunt for dinner. 
Too many restaurant to choose from so I decided to had my dinner at this restaurant call Acropolis. ( picture was taken in the next morning that's why it is so bright... haha! )  




So what else will my starter be? Haha! Nothing new but onion soup again!

Poultry escalope ( chicken chop ) with cream for mains!

 Upside down apple tart for dessert!

 Back to apartment and happen that the club below my apartment are having Halloween party! Anyway if not for this party, I didn't even realise that was a club, all along I thought that it was a restaurant! Haha! 



Day 19 :

Last day in Paris! Here comes to the end of my holiday! To enjoy my last few moment in Paris, I decided to have my breakfast and coffee fix at the Starbucks and spend sometime watching the people walking pass. I wouldn't have time to enjoy breakfast like this when I'm back home...

Lunch before heading to the airport at La Luge restaurant.

Operating Hours : 12pm to 12am



Many different currencies is pasted at one of the wall in the restaurant and I saw a few Singapore dollar too!

No onion soup for starter but had salted pancake with mushroom instead for the starter!

Nice!

Had Tartiflette ( bake potato with onion, bacon and cheese ).

Lemon mousse for dessert!


 My real dessert is the flower geleto from Amorino! Their geleto is really yummy! But the flower shape still needs some improvement... Haha!

Went back to apartment to get my luggage and flap a cab to the airport. BUT traffic jam! Lucky I give myself lots of time to the airport because I'm afraid that the queue at the tax refund counter will be very long.

Ok... Its the riot that cause the jam... And the driver decided to change the route in order to avoid the riot.
 See what I mean by giving yourself more time frame? If I'm to go airport giving myself that I shall reach just 2 hours before boarding ( like what we normally do in Singapore of other country ), then I'm surely going to miss my flight because of this riot.

Here I'm at the Paris airport and this really meant that my holiday is ending!

To my surprise, the tax refund counter is empty!


 There is only 5 person in front of me! Took my refund and went to check in.

Everything is by machines now!

Using the machines.... which means strictly no over weight luggage! Nobody there at the counter to "close one eye"! Actually before I start my Europe trip, I already prepared for over weight luggage and had to pay for the extra luggage weight. How can 23 kg enough for a nearly 3 weeks Europe trip right? The extra weight cost €100 ( SG$161 )!!! So ex but got no choice as my hand carry luggage is already 10kg so I can't squeeze in another 5 kg in. By the way, they will really weight the hand carry luggage! Initially my hand carry luggage was slightly overweight too but once I took out my thick jackets and hold 2 on my hand and wear 1 on my body, it passed the weight limit! 
Once I pass the hand carry luggage weight inspection which is just right after the immigration, immediately I put everything back to the hand carry luggage! Haha!

Bye Paris and time to go home!



Back home after 3 weeks!

Purposely brought a cover to protect my newly bought luggage! Haha!
Anyway, this will be my last trip of the year... stay tune for more trips ( I hope ) next year!

See you guys in 2016!