wow! pretty, eh?
I had a few concerns travelling with a n00b.
Sacred Heart Basillica was the first stop after dropping the bags off at the hotel. It was also the first spot we got scammed and the first spot we got separated.
Arriving at the basillica, I thought it was strange to have a carousel at the bottom of the hill there. As we walked up, people approached us and started finishing up a friendship bracelet and proceeded to tie it on my wrist and tried to charge me 10E for it!! They did the same for Bob. Ended up we paid 6E for the 2 darned things and we didn’t even have much money to begin with! We had maybe 20E between the 2 of us!! And I had concerns about him!?! It’s me I need protecting from!
Then, At the second plateau, Rob stopped to take a photo of the view so I thought I’d walk about 10 ft over to the right and take one too. After I take my one picture I turn back and … he’s nowhere to be seen!
I go upto the third plateau thinking he’s just gone a bit ahead. Can’t see him there either, but there’s like a thousand people around cuz it’s Easter Sunday. So I’m standing around looking for Rob when some Algerian’s start chatting me up. (Oh you’re beautiful! Are you here alone? Where are you from? Meet my friend, he’s just on the other side of you… *yikes, I’m surrounded*)
After getting rid of this guy, I do what everyone does when they get separated/lost: go back to the last place you saw them and stay put until they get you. Common sense right? It’s taught in survival skills for hikers, it’s taught to 2 year olds by their moms, everyone knows this, right? Ah, no. Not Rob. Apparently, the “avid hiker” hasn’t ever heard of that incase you get lost on the trail. He’s way too old to remember what his mom taught him either.
TWO HOURS LATER he FINALLY comes back to the beginning. I swear he could see the steam coming out from my ears! he basically spent the entire time looking for me in the church.
Well, I took my sweet time checking out the church by myself after a healthy venting but couldn’t make it 2 hours. Just 1… maybe half an hour… whatever…
At least we ended up on a high note! We walked towards the Moulin Rouge got a few snapshots, and headed to the Arc de Triomphe.
We stumbled upon a Ceremony commemorating the war dead at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier right at the Arc. Really neat to see all the cars driving around it, there are no actual lanes painted on the road and yet everyone gets to the exit they want without accident. I’m sure they are all excellent defensive drivers! If you really like war photography, then you’ll really enjoy the museum they have at the top of the Arc.
Bertha