#you're my favorite second too only maybe eiffel and that's a big if

[keenregine]

Footsteps and kicking red zones

I swear to God, I couldn't find the perfect time to write. Not that I'm busy, but I'm just too pre occupied with slacking. When I'm at home, I literally don't do anything. I can lay in bed for one whole day and still feel tired. And I think, that is how you're suppose to feel if you do the same thing.

I left off at the day after Christmas. Being the super systematic person that I am, I believe, I have mentioned several times that I didn't plan my Paris itinerary in the most fashionable way. The night before, I searched for some nearby things-to-do. If I compare Paris into other places (as if I've been into tons of places, I used internet as a basis alright), actually there are so many sights to visit that are reasonably nearby to each other. Great convenience indeed. So, the first I did was a hop on-hop off city bus tour. It was promised, that in about an hour, you'll be able to see the best landmarks in Paris, with so much convenience. And my favorite thing in the world is convenience. lol

One of the most bad reviews about the city is the lack of cleanliness. There are literally rats running through the gutter, going into the drain where you can find Pennywise the clown trying to make friends with you. The walls are not cleaned well, graffiti pretty much everywhere. Garbage are scattered, what a sight. I realized just now, I rarely saw any street sweepers in there. Did I? Ahh yes, maybe they joined the strike too. The very next day prior starting the city bus tour, I decided to go near the Eiffel tower at the very earliest time I can manage which was at 0800H, Trocadero side. It was still dark that time, only very few people are awake, which I like. I took that advantage and just sat there, staring at the beauty with not a care in the world. Typical me.

One thing I love about tours, are the freaking rented audio guides. And pretty much every paid landmarks has one, mostly they' re paid separately for an acceptable value. For me, learning about the history of what you're seeing adds up about half of what makes the experience worthy. Unless, you're a history major specializing in French. Just by sitting on the bus chair, effortless, we traversed from the Eiffel tower, the antique looking streets that I cannot particularly remember (I searched one of those is Champ de Mars, right behind the Eiffel Tower, also a stunning sight if you want to see a different perspective of the ET, because most people go to Trocadero side for its accessibility, wow longest parenthesis ever), Hospital de Invalides, Opera Garnier (I learned lately that Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho rented this place for their wedding, what?! those rich bitches), Louvre Museum (Leonardo da Vinci, Eugene DelaCroix), Notre Dame, Musee d'Orsay (Van Gogh, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Paul Gaugauin), Champs Elysees (long line of street with various shops, restaurants and tons of people walking around, best place for Paris feels), Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Gallerie de la Fayette. For this occasion, since it is a bus tour, I decided not to hop off in each of every places. Instead, I created a plan where I come back to those places each and atleast spend some time on them individually. See, who has a plan now huh.

I avail two days of that bus tour, on the second day. At the end of the day. There was this river cruise via Seine River. When I arrived around 7pm-ish. The line was very long. I stay there for like 30 minutes at most. Then I couldn't take it anymore and walked away. I was not really feeling like cruising that time. Additionally, I have very little patience to things that doesn't interest me much. So instead, I walked around the city for a little while. It was freezing cold, and went to this restaurant nearby my place. It was called Carette, and boy little did I know. I was about to taste the best Croissant of my life. I'm not a bread person, I'm a big rice person. If I could emphasize more on that. Coffee mug was small but the quality of the taste, ugh. I think the vibes of the place adds up to the taste of the food. Went home after, then tons of Greek people are in there, drinking. They invited me of course, don't mind if I do. As a preview of the strong red wine on Christmas eve, the liquor this time was just as strong. But more cocktail-y. Aperol was the drink name, mixed with prosseco (which I haven't heard my entire life), soda water and a burst of orange (the fruit). I thought my drinking game was strong till I came in Europe, it was shattered. lol All I can manage was a bottle of beer, and a glass of champagne. I feel so weak, a bit. But not much of that was my concern actually. I was more into going places.

Two days of bus tour was over. The next day, I heard about this Louis Vuitton Foundation. At the same time, I wanted to try this electric scooter which I have seen and been interested in prior arriving in Paris. Two purpose at one time, awesome. To use the scooter, an app will be downloaded, depends on what you're mainly interested in. There are different types; Lime, dott, Tier, and Bird (powered by Uber). The payment will be linked into your credit card. Charging will be every minute, if I remember correctly it was about 40cents. A map will be shown where you can find parked scooters if in case you want to find the nearest one in you location. Red colors to the areas where it is prohibited to go. Legal parking areas if you need to end the ride. Not only electric scooters, there are also bicycles, motorcycle, and even luxury cars. I rented lime, due to my lack of proper research, much to my surprise the place was way far from my place and it was closed for some reason. What a lucky day. When I checked my phone and saw the map, it was all in red. Meaning I'm in the prohibited area. And by that, I will be charged a lot more extra for penalties and everything. The signal was really bad that time that I cannot park the scooter properly. The power of the scooter seem to be lowering down as well because it is running very slowly, that I need to kick for acceleration (a consequence in the red zone). I went around the place and saw this Jardin d'Acclimation. It is a mini amusement park with so little people. I kinda enjoyed the place, but I didn't stay for long. When I was finished, the scooter was still there, might as well use it again so I can go home the same way I went. What other choice do I have, right. Next stop, was the Louvre museum from outside, same thing it was closed. I walked around again near Place de la concorde, sat there shortly by the fountain like all people did while watching the birds. And I came by this Christmas village, it was a long stretch of ofc Christmas themed things here and there, with food, rides etc. There was a looot of people. I'm not kidding, Not a fan of too crowded places, too suffocating. Tried the beer de Noel, too sweet, like they poured sugar on those. And these sliced boiled potatoes drenched in some special kind of cheese. It was too heavy on the stomach, but I managed to consume all of it. Surprise surprise.

My shoulders are aching again for sitting too long. Goodbye for now. Don't know until when.