January 14th, 2015.

Nothing too exciting happened today. I got a bit of a stomach bug. Probably a little joke that was pulled on me from one of the 6-million spooky ghosts down in the Catacombs. After drinking or eating anything, I had to run to the washroom a half-hour later. Not to throw up. With that being said, I went back to the Eiffel Tower to buy a few more souvenirs and macaroons, went back to the flat, gathered up everything that I wanted to send back home, then went to the post office to bid them adieu.

My day wrapped up at 4. Darn. I was going to go to the Louvre today.

January 13th, 2015.

Today I want to go check out the Catacombs. After eating, getting clean, I left the flat at 10 to make my way to this labyrinth. Going on a short subway ride, I arrived at the entrance to find that there was already a large lineup. I can’t even see the beginning of the line. Waiting for a half-hour, I finally get to the front. I pay for my ticket and an audio guided tour device, I begin my descent into the Catacombs.

Pretty creepy corridors, it really feels like I’m in a horror movie. Listening to the audio tour, I slowly travel down the tunnels for some time. Being down here for over twenty minutes, I had thought I would have already seen some skeletons, or anything, by now. This is a massive grave site for over 6-million people.

Then I see it. A sign saying ‘Arrête! C'est ici l'empire de la Mort.’

Stop! Here lies the empire of Death.

I’m getting pretty excited. Going inside, I’m greeted with a winding pathway that’s created by four-foot tall walls made from thigh and shin bones with oceans of remains being held back. Standing on my tippie toes, I can’t see the back wall or where the bones stop. Following the path, I ultimately stay down here for another hour and a half.

Leaving Death’s kingdom, I walk across the street to the souvenir shop, buy a few things, and have a drink of Absinth with the cashier. Pretty cool guy!

Out on the streets again by 1:00, I tour around the streets before I turn my efforts to hunting down a tattoo parlour. I need to get a tattoo of the Iris, France’s nation flower. Not a single one that I went to had an opening, they were all booked up until February. Apparently tattoos are popular in Paris.

Feeling defeated, I go back to the flat for 6, I chow down on some day-old pizza, watch some Elementary, then called it a night at 10.

January 12th, 2015.

Up and about and out of the apartment for 11:30, I make my way to the Notre Dame subway station.

Wow! This place is beautiful! Such detail to the building, each wall, each archway, is different than the last. I go inside and it’s completely wide open. There’s only one separate room, but other than that it’s completely wide open. Walking around in awe, I spend a good two hours looking around in this massive church.

After there, I popped over to a bookstore and purchased a copy of Dracula. Before leaving for my trip, I decided that I wanted to read Dracula in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Book in my bag, I start my jaunt over to the tower. Along the way I helped three different tourists that were from three different countries. I had no idea where anything was but I did have a detailed map of the subway system and where all the tourist destinations where that I picked up from the airport, and with a smartphone in hand, I was able to point them in the right direction and what streets to take.

When I got to the Eiffel tower, I went to the dark side and sat on a bench and began to read. I only got ten pages in before I decided to stop because I was getting harassed quite often by people preying upon tourists and beggars. I went to the tower and chose the shortest line to go up. It was either a lineup with over forty people, or the lineup with none. The reason for this was because the one with all the people was the line for the elevator to go up. The other was for the stairs. So I climbed the stairs to the first and second platform. The very top was closed for maintenance.

It’s such a beautiful view from both platforms! There were restaurants, gift shops, a glass floor, even a skating rink! Getting my fill of the tower, I started my descent to the ground. Touching the pavement, it turned 5:00. Getting hungry, I started for the subway back to go back to the flat. Along the way I picked up some macaroons (they’re completely different here than back home), picked up a couple of pizzas from a Pizza Hut that was near the apartment, then started watching Elementary until 11.

January 11th, 2015.

My flight for Paris wasn’t until 6pm, my checkout from this flat that I’ve been staying at wasn’t until noon. I got out of bed at 8 and took my time to pack.

Leaving at a bit after noon, I jumped onto the tram at 12:45, riding it all the way to the airport for 1:30, checked in at 2, I then tried to kill a lot of time at the airport. Playing games, reading my book, doing dancing strides (like the Randall from the movie Clerks) back and forth through the terminal. Eventually I boarded the plane. From Edinburgh to Paris, it was a two-hour flight.

I landed in Paris at 9pm, went up to security and all they did was stamp my passport. They didn’t ask for my papers, no questions asked, just stamp and ‘Next.’ They’re pretty relaxed here. Weird. After getting my bag I began walking towards the subway. Along the way I passed by three fully armed soldiers and five police officers, three of which were sporting full riot gear. Because of the recent attack and hostage situation, I’m guessing that’s why they’re here.

Jumping on the subway, I traveled to Gare du Nord, a station that’s only two streets away from where I’m staying. Gare du Nord is also the station where I’m grabbing a train back to London.

Walking to the restaurant where I’m to pickup the keys to the flat, I find out that it’s closed. I look at my watch and it’s only 10:15. It’s not supposed to close for another hour. I call my hostess and tell her about my situation. She comes over in fifteen minutes, gives me the keys, and shows me to the apartment. I say thanks, we say goodbye, and I go inside. Unpack, brush teeth, I go to bed at midnight. I have a busy day tomorrow.