Coz the whole tower was lit up in that colour!!! It was so nice with a blend of purples and blues!
Ge told me those were the Euro stars, so we figured they were celebrating or commemorating something....hmmm...it was only after I got back to Singapore and did my research did i realise how blessed we were to be in Paris at that time! (Hahaha...ge, u ain't that 'suay' in paris one lah...and this is a testament!)
You see as a regular feature since 2000, there will be flashing lights and the top of the tower had revolving searchlights which turned the tower into a beacon in the Paris night sky! You really can see this almost anywhere in the city! One bright beam cutting through!But the as a big commemoration, since 30 June 2008, the Eiffel Tower is bathed in blue with 12 gold stars, representing the EU flag, to mark the French President assuming leadership of the European Union and will only hold the title for six months! (i.e. it will only be blue till Dec 2008!!!) And we were there to witness it!!! YAY!!!
You know during winter season, it gets dark pretty fast and it makes you feel as tough it's 10pm when it's only 6 plus lor.Opposite the tower, was a merry-go-round...believe it or not, the riders were all youths! LOL!!! and they were screaming away!
I haven't seen an outdoor merry-go-round in quiet a while...usually indoor ones are not as well lit...=) So while ge was taking videos of the tower, me went to buy hot chocolate from the road side for us...heee...warm, drink, cold weather, great views...I added Maaarrrrsssshhhhmmmeeelllooooowwwwssss!!!! ..yummy!!!
As I approcahed ge with the cups I said: "That's the most expensive hot chocolate I've brought from the streetside."...hahaha...really lah...it's about Euro2.50 (S$5)..and it came in those standard styrofoam cups we use back in SG for catering lor...=P
So we took our parting shot with the tower and hot chocos and went asking how to get to the nearest Metro station...
Now, we are starting to walk along a park-like path, away from the crowds, that only had the occasional jogger passing us (ya..madness, they jog only in shorts k...) ....it was quite dark there, when suddenly the view ahead of us was illuminated by flashing white!!!!
We spun around in unision and started squealing like six year olds!!! HAHAHA...The jogger nearest us 'jumped' in shock..hehehe...probably wondered what possesed these two girls, but we were immediately forgiven coz he continued jogging and looked too...(see, even the locals watch in awe...)
Ya lor, forget about the composed Jean...I was all kiddy and bubbling with joy...Wow...it was an unforgettable sight...
Now, we are starting to walk along a park-like path, away from the crowds, that only had the occasional jogger passing us (ya..madness, they jog only in shorts k...) ....it was quite dark there, when suddenly the view ahead of us was illuminated by flashing white!!!!
We spun around in unision and started squealing like six year olds!!! HAHAHA...The jogger nearest us 'jumped' in shock..hehehe...probably wondered what possesed these two girls, but we were immediately forgiven coz he continued jogging and looked too...(see, even the locals watch in awe...)
Ya lor, forget about the composed Jean...I was all kiddy and bubbling with joy...Wow...it was an unforgettable sight...
To think we were leaving and ...It was like it was saying goodbye!!! hehehe...
Really, it was God's gift to us...had we left any earlier or later, we would've missed it you know...coz it only happens every hour, on the hour....Yep, 20,000 flash bulbs come on and off to give the tower a sparkly appearance!!!
Really, it was God's gift to us...had we left any earlier or later, we would've missed it you know...coz it only happens every hour, on the hour....Yep, 20,000 flash bulbs come on and off to give the tower a sparkly appearance!!!
If you think this is nice,...really...It's alot more breaktaking when you're seeing it in person...hmmm...ya...thank God ge got it on video!!! heee..a moment that can be always relived!Okies, it was time to go...Now strangely for such a landmark, the nearest metro is pretty far (RER is nearer but not that convenient for inner city travel)...so we had to make it quick. The Eiffel took up more time than we had anticipated, simply coz we enjoyed it so much... I doubt we had any regrets ...
You see, the guidebook said that on Monday night, the Louvre would close at 10pm! This meant we had about 3 hours to go see see lah....Not possible to cover the Louvre in 3 hours one leh...it's the kind of museum that is so huge, you need about 2 days kind..hehehe...
The pic above illustrates the closest we got to entering the Louvre...Mahahaha...=D At least we reached the main entrance!
You see...tell you a joke..hahaha...Ge missed the Louvre the last time, coz the staff went on strike..Aiyo...poor girl...what timing...
But when we reached, we found out they were closed!?!?!!! Arghh!!!! Eeekks...guidebook was wrong...man...BUT...OK OK...calm down...I DID CONSIDER this in my planning and felt we can still come back on Tuesday (tommorrow) after all, it is a museum that OPENS DAILY.
You should've seen the look on ge's face when the guard told her -- Museum is closed tommorrow too...special day -- It's the Louvre Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!! He told us to come the day after...but but...we're leaving on that day!!!!
I was speechless and quite increduled at the same time...what are the chances that you come to Paris twice and both times miss one of it's 'must-see' icons?! AND for the craziest reasons!!?...hahaha...
poor ge...she was quite unconsolable... =S the Elusive Mona (Lisa)...will ge ever see it? But at least she's getting closer each time...hahaha...aiyah...I also never got a chance to see it lah...but these things do happen when you travel...soo...
Hmmm...But seriously lah...TWICE!?!?...man...I was actually wondering if she really had such powers...hehehe...
You see...tell you a joke..hahaha...Ge missed the Louvre the last time, coz the staff went on strike..Aiyo...poor girl...what timing...
But when we reached, we found out they were closed!?!?!!! Arghh!!!! Eeekks...guidebook was wrong...man...BUT...OK OK...calm down...I DID CONSIDER this in my planning and felt we can still come back on Tuesday (tommorrow) after all, it is a museum that OPENS DAILY.
You should've seen the look on ge's face when the guard told her -- Museum is closed tommorrow too...special day -- It's the Louvre Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!! He told us to come the day after...but but...we're leaving on that day!!!!
I was speechless and quite increduled at the same time...what are the chances that you come to Paris twice and both times miss one of it's 'must-see' icons?! AND for the craziest reasons!!?...hahaha...
poor ge...she was quite unconsolable... =S the Elusive Mona (Lisa)...will ge ever see it? But at least she's getting closer each time...hahaha...aiyah...I also never got a chance to see it lah...but these things do happen when you travel...soo...
Hmmm...But seriously lah...TWICE!?!?...man...I was actually wondering if she really had such powers...hehehe...
(Side note: They have changed this opening day and hours rule at the start of this year.)
Anyway, to console ourselves, we explored the shops near the Louvre entrance. It's like City Hall concept, out from the metro station leads you to shops too. We went to Virgin Shop...quite big...and no prices on the items one! (Like Carrefour)...we saw Hello Kitty products there!
Anyway, to console ourselves, we explored the shops near the Louvre entrance. It's like City Hall concept, out from the metro station leads you to shops too. We went to Virgin Shop...quite big...and no prices on the items one! (Like Carrefour)...we saw Hello Kitty products there!
Finally, we dragged ourselves away...in recognition that Mona was not meant to be...Also, tummy started to communicate with the brain...-- excuse me, need dinner!Like I mentioned at the start of this day. It was a one where were traversed many kilometres. so we were tired, and simply opted for the Italian restaurant at the usual makan street.
We shared a calamari...and I had to satisfy my pizza craving (Wasn't that good...not much 'liao' and the crust ain't the kind we used to...very floury...like half cooked.)..ge had a spaghetti I think.I hardly remember the place much except that ge had her back against the front door and to keep the wind out, they had a black heavy curtain on the inside...haha...this meant that everytime the door opened for customers, it would give her a 'pat' on the back!
In the middle of our meal, the curtain had new energy and life and started attacking ge!!!...MUAHAHAHAHA....you see, there was this over enthusiatic customer that was trying to push out the curtain on the other side, for his friends to pass through. So I think his hand/ elbow was just about around ge's head...hahaha...
All I did was chuckle away while she ducked..she fought back at one point-- pushing the curtain back...the person pushed harder thinking it was weight of the thick curtain that was causing it....HAHAHAHA...I'm so helpful...=P
Next day we slept in again deciding that we needed the ZZZzzzs....But we'd be heading out to Montmartre today!!! One of the places Ge recommended must go see...
---- Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, "Basilica of the Sacred Heart" built dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus....
Me doing my penguin flaps at the midpoint...hahaha...
As the guidebook says: ' You don't walk to Sacré-Cœur, you climb to it."
Controversially it's said to look like a mosque...Anyway, from the entrance, this is what we saw....
You see the bottom right hand side..the crowded street next to the red awnings?-- yeah, that's where we came from that brings you to to the Anvers metro station...it's a steep road, crowded with shops for tourists.Looks quite high right?
Well, it's because the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest NATURAL point in the city of Paris. (so Effiel Tower ain't counted)..hee..=)
Yup...and completely unplanned, we were going to get a much better look very very soon....hahaha... =S
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