Golf then Paris

Hey Everyone!

Well Last Friday I had a semi large night with the Nick (Flatmate and GC) and Alley (Lives down the road but also GC) and Stewartie (neighbor and GC). We all work for St Andrews links and it was just a good night to hang out and talk. Though the next day I had work, and then was playing on the Tournament course with Nick, Alley and Genatles (Mark Gentals so naturally his last name has turned into Genitals) which is the the ideal group to play with. But due to lack of sleep as I was working that morning I've all of a sudden started shanking my ball and just playing really bad. Unsure what the cure is as I was doing it all last night on the Castle course as well! Anyway I ended up with 49 on the front 9 and 41 on the back 9. It was still a fun game with the best guys I know in Scotland. We tee'd off at 5pm and finished at 9.30 with plenty of light to spare. Anyway, next morning I had work and then off to Paris.

Alley, myself and Nick on the 2nd tee


Me heading into the rough past a scoreboard I nearly hit.



1st hurdle - Trains weren't running to Edinburgh so I had to bus there which took 1hr 45. Luckily that was the only hurdle.
I arrived in Paris at 5.30pm and then Trained to Les Gobelins which is where Candice and I had a hotel room. On my way up to the hotel to meet Candice I hear "There's Joe" and it was Xavier with Anna, Bea, Debbie and Renee. It was nice to see all of them and it was also helpful as they pointed to what direction the Hotel was. Yes seeing Candice was everything it was hyped up to be and more. It was awesome to hear and see her again. We talked a little and she showed me photo's of her trip so far and then we we out for a drink and bite to eat. - Dining in Paris? why not?. We walked up the road to Place De'Italle where there is a big round about and a restaurant on each corner. We stopped at one place, had a beer and moved onto the next place. This is where we tried snails. It wasn't as bad as I imagined. They were drenched in garlic which made them that much nicer. Same texture as mussles, they're just a really unsightly thing to look at and put in your mouth. After a bottle of wine there, and moving onto the next place we stopped and had a couple more wines then back to the hotel to sleep.

7.30am we get up, check out and go to the hostel where the girls(Anna, Debbie, Bea and Renee) to meet up with them and check into the hostel as Candice had already paid to stay in the hostel before my plans of meeting in Paris. Had a French breakfast which consisted of a French bread and also a croissant with Jam. After breakfast we all set off to go to the Louvre. We caught the bus to St Michal which is next to Notre Dame and then to the Louvre. We caught the tube there and we just popped out where the Louvre was, it was awesome! We saw Mona Lisa which was pretty cool along side HEAPS of other paintings. It made me wish I studied art history as I didn't have a clue what each painting meant.

At the Louvre


After the Louvre we all split up and Candice and I decided to roam Paris. Next stop was a walk through Jardin Des Tuileries which is the garden infront of the Louvre. After that was a walk along the riverside till we get to Notre Dame and that is AWESOME! such an amazing cathedral. That was followed by lunch on a boat. As Candice and I were walking along the river we saw a restaurant on a boat so that was enough to lure us into to have lunch and a bottle of wine there. Candice got lasange where I got duck breast cooked medium rare - it pretty much was like a big steak.

After Lunch we continued to walk along the riverside of Paris and explore when we got to some gardens and a zoo. Didn't go to the zoo but we got some candy floss and walked around the garden which was pretty cool and then made our way back to the hostel for a afternoon nap. By now Shane (Bea's boyfriend) had arrived so I wanted to catch up with him too. 8pm we got up and met everyone for dinner and drinks. We went back up to Place De'Italle where Candice and I were last night and got a couple bottles of wine and ordered dinner. I had one of the best steaks I've ever had except for the part where I nearly choked on one bite. But all in all it was a great meal. After dinner we hopped across the road to another place and introduced Shane, Bea and Debbie to snails. Shane didn't like them but everyone else didn't think they were to bad then back to the hostel to sleep.

I don't really need to say where this photo is do I


8am we're up breakfast is served (Same as yesterday) and then we made way to Versailles where Candice and I wondered and explored the town and the others wanted to see where some queen of France lived. After that we made way to the Eiffel tower and headed up there. As we were near the top of the tower I crouched down a little and said to Candice "I have a question to ask you...... " and I could see the anticipation... and then I dropped it.. "Can we get lunch after this, I'm hungry". hehe.
The views from the top of the tower were amazing as you can imagine. There is also a bar up there so Candice and I got a glass of champagne each. 10euro each for the wine but hey, you're only up there once right? Anna at this stage wasn't to bad as she is afraid of heights. The lift was so entertaining just watching her. Following this we went and got lunch at what was a really expensive restaurant. 8.50euro for water. and we had ordered 3! but didn't know the price till the end. Anyway it was a nice meal. We all got pretty simple stuff. Chicken Salad, Chicken and Chips and Candice got her beloved spaghetti bolinaise.

Arc De Triomphe


Following lunch Candice, Renee and myself decided we would go and do a tour of Montmartre but only the way go and see the Arc De Triomphe. That is HUGE! and it's on a round about and there's a big underpass to get there. We were tight on schedule for the tour as it started at 6pm so we had to get going. We made the tour just after 6. This tour was awesome! we had a great tour guide who was strange but fun. The 2 hour walking tour showed us:

-The Moulin Rouge, Picasso's studio, Van Gogh's house, The Artists square, Montmartre vineyard, Cafe des Deux Moulins (from Amelie), Secre Coeur, the Red light district that's just what I remember but there was a whole lot more to the tour.

We finished up at a wall that had "I Love You" written on it in all the different languages which was cool, and the tour also gave us a free wine which was good as the tour was only 12 euro and well worth it! - Oh I forgot to say it was raining for the whole 2 hours we were walking and then stopped at the end. Yes we were wet.

After that I wanted to go for a walk down Av des Champs-Elysee's which is the road where it had all the flash restaurants and shops on it. We saw some amazing dancers doing breakdancing all sorts of crazy stuff. I have it on film but not on camera sorry. It was just a really awesome road to walk down even though we were wet. Candice and I wanted to have a couple wines so we decided to catch the metro back to Les Gobelins where the hostel is and walk Renee home and Candice and I decided go up to the place we had been the last 2 nights and get a couple of wines before heading back to the hostel.

7.30am came and Candice had to get up to leave to go to Holland so I stayed in bed till 10am and then headed to the Airport to head home.

Over all it Paris was a beautiful city. I"m glad I've done it, but I don't think I would go back. Just something you need to experience once. (that's just my opinion) Really expensive city especially in the heart but I guess you expect that being Paris.

If you want to see more photo'sClick Here

Till next week :-)