Paris : Day 2 - Cont'd

[Resolution of all pics are reduced for screen-viewing]

after the pig lab, we came back to the hotel first
and i wanted to take some pictures that i was too tired to take yesterday
so...
here're the 2 buildings at 130 in the afternoon
i think they look nicer at dawn :P
there goes my 'series'

and here's what my office looks like from the front
the narrow entry gate that is SpineVision (right in the middle)

I also took some pictures of my 'tiny' room before i mess it up again
:P

it's beginning to grow on me actually.. just as Paris is
i love the service here..
it's like staying with a family
the proprietors are very friendly and they rem everyone by sight
it's funny.. her grasp of english is so weak she sometimes talks to me in French
and i reply in english
:P

it took me 5 mins to explain what 'toothpaste' was..
and she thought i wanted an adaptor plug
ahahah..

we had jap food for lunch.. it was very good
finally some rice !
:p
their california maki has melt-in-the-mouth avocado in it
after we ordered (with me trying to recall all the differnt words for meat), we discovered that they are actually chinese
so alvin was very happy.. cos for once, he could communicate

alvin asked for coffee (it was free cos we told them we'll come back)
.. and as always, it came with a little hazel nut chocolate
i got to eat it until now..
but this time, the waitress told him he should dissolve the choc in the coffee to make it more palatable
so... haiz.. i'll stop getting those little chocs from now on

i cancelled the idea of the Cruise on the River Seine..
and decided to walk around the area..
i asked the proprietor lady for advice.. and she told me to go to Parc/Palais De Bercy
she said it's within walking distance.. with many shops along the way

so on google earth, i was going from Red to Blue



she told me.. Ave Daumesnil --> Rue de Reiully --> Boulevard de Bercy
looks pretty simple.. but no!
i got lost a few times..
because there were many small streets that are not on the map
but i'm programmed to freak out so.. i always turned back to the main roads
i also tried not to look at the map too much
cos everyone (at home) told me i'll get robbed if i look like a tourist
:(

anyway, i started my walk-about.. with a map in one pocket, and camera in the other
this is the roundabout just a few mins away from the hotel
with 7(?) stone lions guarding it..

This is the junction at the roundabout towards Rue Taine
You can see the church on the left hand corner

there are nice shops along Rue de Reuilly
from arts and boutiques to fruits and discount shops
and there were many pple shopping/going about their business
i decided to get to Parc de Bercy first .. and only stop at the shops on the way back

at the junction of Boulevard de bercy and train tracks, i was totally lost
and went in the wrong direction
so after about 10 mins, i retraced my steps.. went into the fruit store
i wanted to get some bananas.. and also ask for directions

i tried the same "Vouz parlez Anglais?" line.. but he said no
:(
so i had to ask in French.. where i should be going
luckily, he knows the extent of my language skills and pointed at the direction
instead of rattling off in french

i felt safer after that.. cos i had the bananas on top of my wallet in my backpack
:)

so i had to pass under the train tracks, and after 2 more false starts
i found the Parc de Bercy!
it took me almost an hour...
Thomas will be proud of me for walking so much.. he thinks singaporeans are lazy

This is the road dividing.. the Parc de Bercy and Palais de Bercy (which i didn't go)

Another shot that shows (a little) the overhead connecting bridge

The path outside the garden was lined with coffe shops/eateries
and there were families with toddlers in tow..

there aren't many flowers .. but the scenery was still very pretty
i went crazy taking pictures

The mandatory macro flower shot.. hahaha

The landscape shots..

couples were feeding ducks..
maybe if i come again, i'll bring bread

The setting sun..

I like the white-bleached ferns

when i was taking pics, this little tyke pointed to me.. and asked her father
"C'est qui?"

The ugly stone thingy on the other side..
but i like the contrast against the background

The little hill that i didn't climb.. hahaha

and then, i crossed over the other side.. and entered Passage Saint-Vivant
I didn't know then.. but i'd just arrived at Bercy village

i only took a pic cos i didn't want to look too touristy

it's kinda like China Square area in singapore..
with many shops/pubs lining the path..
i entered a colourful shop.. only to realise it's a children book/toy store
haha
then, i tried a Nature store..
they sell everything from incense to old-looking leather bound books
which were freaking expensive

then, i found Sephora, france's version of Sa Sa.. albeit more upmarket
their in-house cosmetics/body care are about the same price as sg.. after conversion
so i bought a body lotion for myself.. and a tub for grandpa
i hope he likes the smell

i decided to turn back about 545..
so.. on the way back, i checked out the wine store..
i think it's on Rue de Reuilly
their cheapest wine is about 4-5 euros.. and they have an extensive range

i also saw a shoe store.. tho i didn't go in
the boots are actually cheaper than in singapore!

i skipped the departmental store on purpose.. cos it looks boring

this is the lighting at Rue de Reuilly at 615 in the evening

i went to the supermarket (the one just 5 mins walk from our hotel) to buy toothpaste
but i also bought chocolate bars
:)
Maybelline stuff are sold in the supermarket.. and they're actually cheaper
(perhaps not after tax.. )

when i came back at, alvin was still sleeping
so we only went for dinner at 730
i wouldn't have minded eating cup noodles.. cos my feet ache!

i let him choose the place since he's far more choosier than me
he really cannot eat local food...
so he asked the hotel for a chinese restaurant

and we ended up at this place just beside the Jap place
it's like Economy rice in singapore.. except it's in a restaurant
the dishes are sold per 100g.. and u can eat in or take away
very different from the chinatown restaurants in canada

we ordered Omelette, veg, and 2 dishes from the display
they gave us 2 plates of rubbery omelette and a mountain of brocolli
and there was salt in some parts and none in others
worst food here...
should have just eaten my cup noodles

the only saving grace was the dumplings they gave us free for starters
to be fair, they gave us a discount.. cos we had enough left to feed an army

the one thing good about the restaurant was their magazine collection
which includes one that catalogues the 2006/2007 clothes collection, complete with prices
so i discovered that good-quality pants are cheaper here
maybe i'll go shopping after all
.
.
.

i don't know what i'm doing tomor..
the cruise?.. kind of far
the bus..? .. i don't think i have enough time for all the places
or the metro down to Place de Bastille .. and Notre dame
but that means a lot more walking.. and my feet ache from this evening

maybe tomor, i'll encounter the infamous parisian hostility
cos everyone's been very friendly so far.. if a tad curious at the way i look..

in any case, i must go learn how to buy a one-day metro pass in French