1980 Versailles (7/7/1980)

Monday, July 7, 1980

Again awoke about 08:00, had our breakfast and checked out, but left our bags behind the desk. We first Metro'ed to the Eiffel Tower in hopes of going up the elevator, but found it wasn't to open until 10:30. It was only 9:45, so we decided to go to Versailles first. Our Eurailpass got the man to unlock the gate for us at the Champs Au Mer SNCF station near the Eiffel Tower. Apparently usually you use a magnetic ticket like on the Metro. Our 2-day tourist ticket was no longer valid, so we bought individual tickets that day.

Paris Metro ticket

We had tried to use the tourist ticket but the machine told us we owed money! We didn't really understand the SNCF station signs, so ended up missing the first train to Versailles, but got the next. By 10:45 we were in Versailles and we walked over to the palace. It was closed, but we walked around the grounds anyway, looking for a royal retreat. We didn't find it, but we found a postcard of it.

Gates to Versailles

Versailles (TAT)

Kathy and Terry on grounds of Versailles

Versailles "woods" (TAT)

Postcard of Versailles

We returned to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, seeing some houseboats on the River Seine along the way.

River Seine

We went up to the 2nd level for about $4. The 3rd level is now open to the public, but it costs more and there was an extra hour wait to go up. We circled around the 2nd level and then returned to the ground.

Tour Eiffel

Tour Eiffel (TAT)

View from the Eiffel Tower (TAT)

Tour Eiffel

Tamiko and Kathy at the Eiffel Tower

We walked towards the River Seine and almost immediately found the entrance to the sewers. They weren't to open for another half hour, so Terry stayed "in line" while Kathy and I went in search of food. There were no grocery stores around, so we came back and soon began the sewer tour. First we walked through a small museum where everything was in French. We then saw an audio-visual show. Those who spoke English were given portable speakers for the translation as they explained how the sewers worked and what the sewer workers did. Kathy's speaker spoke static. Then we went on a short tour through some actual sewer tunnels, and we saw and smelled the sewage waters.

Sewer Tour ticket

Kathy and Terry in the Paris sewers

Terry claimed to see real "turds" floating by. Disgusting! We carried written translations of the taped explanations heard in French along the way. Back in fresh air, we walked to the Hôtel des Invalides where Napoleon’s tomb is supposedly located.

L'Hôtel National des Invalides (TAT)

L'Hôtel National des Invalides

Kathy liked its garret windows in soldier statues. Then we went to the Rodin Museum where by inference Kathy and Terry's student passes got me in at the lower rate.

Rodin Museum ticket

Rodin Museum garden

We saw the mottled green statue of bronze "The Thinker," as well as some very strange sculptures.

The Thinker by Rodin

There were also a couple Van Goghs. We were then going to hike to yet another museum, but it got late and it started pouring rain. We stopped at a grocery store for some food, then headed to the hotel to pick up our bags. We Metro'ed to Gare l'Est, where we decided to go to München since a train left at 21:05 and would arrive at 06:00. We had time to eat an expensive dinner at the station restaurant. I had an omelet, and Kathy and Terry had a quarter chicken each with French fries. We all had tiny $2.50 Cokes. The waiter seemed surprised to get a tip which I thought was included in the bill. We wandered around the station looking for a restroom. The only one we found was closed from 06:00 to 22:00! In our wanderings we ran into a black man who wanted to "help" us. We only wanted to find a toilet, but he didn't (want to) understand that word. He wanted to take us for a drink, and wanted to know where we were going (to the toilette!), but we said no, thanks. While waiting for our train, we saw a man with a red wig, gold-loop earrings, some make-up, a stuffed shirt and designer jeans, and heeled clogs. The body build was definitely a man's. "He" was Otilia from Spain according to his suitcase. We boarded our train and so far we have the compartment to ourselves.

Paris Map cover

Map of Paris

Next: München/Munich.