Backpacking in Europe - Day 4

Brussels

20'C - Drizzling in morning and cloudy afternoon

29 May 2008

We woke up at 0600hr. We got to catch the train to Belgium at 0855hr. The train experience was fantastic! The seats were big and comfortable, good breakfast and service.

Suddenly we realise we were the only two that looks so undress. We were actually sitting among passengers wearing business suit. Great, they were on their way to work but we were on our way on holiday. Anyway, for getting to sit in these first class seats cabin comes with a price of € 27 per person.

I chatted with the 2 business man sitting beside us. I managed to find out that they travel around the world often. They were in the aviation line. In fact one of them knew Singapore. He can tell me he been to the Seletar Air Base because he got business there where they even have a plane there. In fact, he sold a 737 in Singapore before.

Reach ibis Hotel and since it was still early to check in, we spent another €3 to put our bag into the temporary locker.

First time taking tram in Europe. Tram 81 to Heysel/Heizel... But took the wrong direction to Montgomery instead. So took tram 23 to Heysel/Heizel... To Atomium.

In some of the metro stations, it was quite dirty, old and smell of urine. We saw a number of blacks’ people. They look like refugees or are they illegal immigrants? (Sorry, if they are not.)

Ok, another experience with the cost of toilet ;-P
Toilet at Atomium cost €0.30 x2 = €0.60
Toilet at metro station = €0.40

I was having a very bad stomach-ache. Hence in the end, we decided to go back to hotel first. Anyway it was not too far away and praises to God we bought the whole day trip transport. At same time we can settle our hotel check in.

We were given to stay in Room 352. The room was good with basic necessities and is very clean. It is much better than the hotel we stay in Paris.

We made ourselves some instant noodles. Cool, stomach full then got strength to carry on. Alright, late lunch… around 1500hr. Praise God, the water looks much better than the time we boiled in Paris.

Went to the comic strip center, took 1 hour to look for the place! (Okay, we walked so it takes a bit longer)

We bought a Tin Tin post card at €1.50 and took some pictures. I was a bit disappointed that I can't visit the museum to see the original comic strip because Abigail was too tired and her feet got a blister after trying to look for it for 1 hour!

Anyway it cost €15 for a person to look at the strip. Moreover we were left with less than an hour to look at it before the close of the museum for the day.

Pass by a pharmacy and bought a box of plaster for Abigail to paste on her blister.

Next we went to the Grand Place. Market around grand place was interesting. Saw lots of chocolate shop and all claims that theirs were the finest!

The Leonides shop is pack with dozens of people buying chocolate.

Godiva…erer… no people and price same as US dollars but in term of exchane rate, it is skyhigh.

In the end we went into 1 local chocolate shop in the middle of the Grand place and bought some chocolate.

When ask to show my identification for verification before using credit card, the lady seem to be "impressed" when she saw my passport and knew we are from Singapore. She said our English is good because she knew it is our first language. (Suddenly I’m so proud to be a Singaporean. On the other hand, thinking why didn’t I put in more effort in my school days on English?)

However she did commented that she always have problems in serving "Chinese". Reason because most of the time, “Chinese” tends to point here and there. Most of the time, she had a hard time figuring out what they were trying to say. (Ok, this is her comments, not mine… Anyway I’m a Chinese too. So please don't write email to me and complain to me. ;-P )

While walking around at Grand place, we bought a wafer with chocolate for desserts at €1.50. It was really delicious to eat.

Wow… please, anyone that goes there, please try. Is really good.

Overall, grand place is pack with people and the chocolate is GOOD !!!




(… To be continue on the next thread in our Blog...)

Backpacking in Europe - Day 3

PARIS
14'C - Sunny and windy - perfect weather

28 May 2008

Manage to wake up at 0600hr. We have our morning breakfast at the café beside our hotel.

Took a train from Gare du Nord to Chatelet and transit to Palais Royal Musee du Louvre

Ticket Musee du Louvre = €9 x2=€18

Cool, really cool. Seriously speaking, I think this is one of the best Art Museums in the world. (Okay, I admit I have not gone to many…) It is really big.

The numbers of Art pieces displayed were so many. If you asked me if I have the time, will I be able to see finish every single masterpiece in the museums within a day… No I don think so. There are so huge in size and so beautifully drawn. Every piece you look at, you will wants to stay longer. There is no way you can ever compare it to the same piece you see in the book or in the internet. The only word I can think of to describe it is “magnificent”.

Of course, due to our limited amount of time, we just have to “skip” thru many of those beautiful art pieces but to focus on those which are more “famous”. (i.e Mona Lisa…)

Next, we went to the Notre Dame and Ste Chapelle.
Notre Dame north tower entry €7.5 x 2 = €15
Ste Chapelle =€7.50 x 2 = €15

Wow, another eye opening by climbing up the hundreds of steps stairs to the top to look at Paris.

Lastly, we took a train to Moulin Rouge.


Moulin Rouge has come to be more than just a venue serving up rousing adult music-and-dance entertainment: It symbolizes French (and Bohemian) culture.

We slept at 11pm after Abigail finished writing her email to Errolyn and Rachel using my IPod Touch.

Abigail experience with Paris:
“We sort of don't know what to do when we are done with our plan itinerary. Nothing fantastic in Paris. Of course, it depends on individual likes and dislike. Things are expensive can only see but cannot buy. The building are very Victoria and with lots of sculptures.”

(… To be continue on the next thread in our Blog…)

Backpacking in Europe - Day 2

PARIS

14°C - Drizzling

27 May 2008 (SIN) 1141hr (Euro) 0541hr

We were still on plane Air France 257. We had just finished our morning breakfast. Reaching Paris soon.

Abigail accidently spilled water on her leg during the fright in the “night” (Euro time). Okay, not once but twice. Haha, that’s my wife. She felt hungry in the night, so I went to get sandwiches for her. Managed to get her some chicken sandwiches... Mmm… Not bad. Overall, food is nice.

The in-flight movies were not very interesting. There were only a few good shows. Hence we try to sleep but uncomfortable coz the seats were too cramp and too straight. The centre piece of handle cannot be pull up too. Hence there was limited space for our leg to stretch.

Custom clearance was very terrible. We actually took 1hr to be cleared and had to walk another 15min to the train station. After queuing for around 15min, we finally managed to get our ticket (Train to Paris and 2 day pass is €36.40) and board the train to Paris city.

Cool, our hotel is just opposite the train station (Gare du Nord). We got check in Hotel Richmond instead of New Hotel. We were told that it is under the same hotel management. Our Room number was 66.

Immediately after we settle down we went over to the train station again to reserve the train for some of the critical train route... Spend €104.

Figure out we can take bus 42, we went to Eiffel tower and many other place of interest.

Alright our first “paid” toilet visitation was at Gare Du Nord that cost us €2 (=S$4.30) for 2 people.

Don know what to eat, hence we went to MacDonald and took 2 Big Mac meal with upsize that cost €13.80 (=S$29.80). As long as we don’t convert the amount back to SIN, the price is okay. It is almost the same as in Singapore. :-P

It had been drizzling the whole day.

We tried and boiled some water... Once boiled, we were actually surprised to see some thin cloudy layer of vapor on top of water. Abigail said that she ever heard that it is some kind of water mineral. Oh God sanctify it please and by God grace, we actually drank it.

After a long day, we slept at 2100 hr when the sky was still very bright. As the day was longer, sky only turned dark around 2200hr.

Some Costing for the Day :

- Train to Paris and 2 day pass is €36.40
- Brunch at subway is €8.40
- Toilet at Gare Du Nord cost €1 per entry x2
- Rail reservation for 3 place cost €104
- Fridge magnet €6
- Postcard €1.5
- Stamp €0.85
- Entry to Eiffel tower €8 for 2
- MacDonald : 2x big Mac meal upsize cost €13.80

Some Video Clips Taken in Paris :

(You might have notice, the Blog does not contain much details of the places I went. It's just an extraction from our photo journal and so if you are wondering why the thread is so short and seem to be a thread with no clear ending for the day - SORRY !!!)

(… To be continue on the next thread in our Blog…)