Wishing I was in Rouen

Wishing I was in Rouen 

     I was tired, discouraged, and on the verge of tears while traveling from London to Amsterdam. I decided the pace I set for myself was too much since I needed to map out my transportation and confirm my next night or two stay. I was getting worried that traveling between Amsterdam and Rouen was too confusing by changing trains and not being able to avoid Paris. So, I cancelled my little Airbnb by the Seine in Rouen where I was planning to veg for a few extra days and settled on booking my “tour” hotel in Paris for an extra five days. Ugh, not what I really wanted to do but here I am, sitting in the Paris hotel bar lobby waiting for my Rick Steve’s tour to begin in five days. Would Rouen be a little bit more walkable and smaller? Probably. But I will make the best of the changes. 

     Paris. Instead of the train, I opted for an Air France flight into Charles De Gaulle airport. Faster and I wouldn’t have to carry my carry-on all over the place. My neck and shoulder-back are killing me—my pinched nerve is making my arm tingle and go numb. Instead of traveling by train then switching to a bus, I decided to take a taxi. 60 Euros later (well worth it), I am checking in to my standard room. Comfy room with a double bed and a fridge with an elevator on the fourth floor. (Good thing I was reading the guidebook about the taxis. Don’t take the taxis of the drivers who approach you. So, I went to the taxi stand instead ignoring about five drivers trying to get me as a ‘fare’). 

     I have vegged at the hotel about two days out of three now. One day because I was so tired and lazy. Today was because of the rain. I had a plan, left the hotel about noon to head to the metro station. Suddenly, there was a downpour. Yes, I had my raincoat and my umbrella, but I could not escape wet, cold feet. Plans changed quickly. I ducked into a boulangère, picked up a sandwich and went back to the hotel. Where I Stayed with my slippers on. 

    

     The one day I did venture out was yesterday. I got my transit ticket, jumped on the 68 Bus to pick up my museum pass for the next two days. Oh no! The bus driver stopped early and told everyone to get off. The streets in Paris are sometimes closed and there are probably more instances of this leading up to the Olympics. But now what? I decided to walk the rest of the way coming across a 10k run with about a thousand people that I had to cut through to get to the other side of the street. 

     

I went to the Louvre. Got my appointment for 1:00 and all went well---even standing in the long line to get in. It was quick and crowded. Pictures are from the outside of the Louvre. It wasn’t what I expected. The movies make it look so glamorous and huge. It was neither. 

 The only thing I knew to see was the Mona Lisa—but so did many, many others. The series of pictures were how close I could get. I am not even sure it was the Mona Lisa.

                                    This last picture I had to use the zoom on the camera. 

     This is for Donna and Cindy: While trying to see the Mona Lisa, I did turn around and took the picture of the art behind me. There are a few people admiring the art. I couldn’t get close to that one either. 

Leaving the Louvre, I walked, walked, and walked some more. Getting caught AGAIN in a cloudburst without a place to step into to wait it out. I was soaked this time. By the time I stopped for dinner and find a place to charge my phone, I was mostly dry (except my feet). 

    I keep wondering if the weather is just as unpredictable in Rouen. We will never know.