Paris
June 30th, 2008 at 3:54 pm by David Farrar
After the UK leg of our trip, we had six days in Paris – partly to attend an International Democratic Union conference, and partly for holiday.
This is the view from the hotel we were at the first night. Pretty damn good. Mind you the rooms cost more than the GDP of a few third world countries.
Converting prices in Europe back to NZ dollars is damn depressing and eventually I just gave up, and abandoned any idea of fiscal restraint. I don’t mean buying unnecessary things, but not fretting that a small bottle of coke is NZ$8. In the end can’t do anything about the fact that high inflation in the 1970s and 1980s devalued our dollar so much that our purchasing power today is reduced.
Ginga Ninja, German Girl and The Stig out enjoying the nightlife. We ate and drank outside every night – beautifully warm, sunny and light. There are thousands of places to choose from also. The six days there went all too quickly and will be returning.
I didn’t realise the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris was actually on an island in the Seine.
Students performing outside the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Arc de Triomphe at Place General De Gaulle.
The Eiffel Tower. Superb.
Around 11 pm the Eiffel Tower lights up magnificently. It serves as a beacon for thousands of Parisian youths to party in the park next to it.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
did you go inside notre dame..?
whoar..!
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:June 30th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
The thing that threw me about inside the Notre Dame was the glass confessional booths. No sign of a hunchback as far as I could see. There’s also a memorial to the holocaust nearby.
$NZ8 for a bottle of coke sounds horrendous. I doubt 70s-80s inflation is to blame. When I was there eleven years ago, I was in the supermarket and had the choice of either a bottle of pepsi (1.5L at 7.5 francs or $NZ2) or a really cheap bottle of wine (plastic cork, 6 francs or $NZ1.60). I took the wine to get sloshed at the champ du mars later that night although when I had to take a leak, the toilets were all locked and so I had to go against the side of the Effiel.
The hotel room looks like it was at La Defence, the way it overlooks the buildings. Did you see large numbers of armed policemen in convoys running around Paris? I reckon that I saw more guns in the Continent than I ever saw in the States.
Vote:June 30th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I suspect your $8 coke was from a cafe somewhere n’est–ce pas?
If so, you got off lightly
you’ll pay over 7 euro in some places
http://www.hobotraveler.com/124_04israel.shtml
Vote:June 30th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
My cynical rule of thumb for purchasing power is:
What costs a dollar in NZ costs a Euro in Europe (ie double) and a pound in UK (ie triple).
Somehow one has to get used to it to avoid depression.
There was a time 50+ years ago when five pound notes were rare and a kid with a five pound note would have been regarded as awfully lucky.
Vote:June 30th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
DPF – I enjoy your notes that you post from your trips. One thing about europe is the obvious history. And upon delving into it a bit one finds how history has influenced where we (western european culture) is today and how things have changed over the years. Changes in laws, language, habits, customs, food, medicine, etc
Only a couple of months ago I spent several weeks running around germany learning the history about places like Hamburg and Heidelburg and Regensberg – all important places last century, as well as centuries ago
You obviously also enjoy the details of european history as well – which has me concerned. You are a republican and if or when we form into a republic we will get the treaty incorporated for sure. This will be a bit like the US constitution with its right to carry guns – a dumb inclusion now, but OK back when it was put together.The treaty will freeze us in time because we will be unable to change and develop. For example the treaty would prevent the introduction of nuclear power to NZ (and nuclear power is the only way to go in the long run – its CO2 free and doesnt need coal or oil. And since we can run everything from electricity – cars included – it will be the only option one day.). My wife is a teacher and some of her maori children come from toal imersion with the firm and total belief that everything can be explained by fire, water, air and earth. One need not delve further into the details of these four. If europe had this sort of restriction on them, they would never had developed into a group of people who live longer than humans have ever lived, live safer than humans have ever lived, etc, etc.
Another example is the attitude toward the maori language – its like Lady Thatcher “This lady (language) is not for change”
While you continue with your journeys you should keep the probable consequences of having the treaty rule yours and your offsprings (and offsprings – etc) lives.
Everytime you look at some historic site you should ask yourself “would I like to have lived in those conditions knowing what I know now? – and will my descendants thank me if I force the consequences of the treaty on them?” – and I think you can work out the answer without my help.
Keep enjoying your tripping and keep thinking about what it would mean to be frozen in time………….
Vote:June 30th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Careful – if you spend too much time in cafes near the student quarter, your readers will start accusing you of being a “Chardonnay Socialist” (or, a Chardonnay whatever-you-are!) a la those people who are slowly but surely gentrifying the Aro Valley…
Vote:June 30th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
You are a republican and if or when we form into a republic we will get the treaty incorporated for sure.
False. The Treaty as it is is simply not capable of being meaningful law.
Vote:June 30th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
The funny thing is, when I visited the USA in March and April I was pleasantly surprised to find myself spending less in restaurants and so forth than I would in NZ. The previous time I’d been there I needed to double all the prices. This time it was only “add 25%”. The USA as a cheap holiday destination — who would have thought it?
Vote:June 30th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
If you get the chance head out to Chartres and check out the Cathedral. It is jaw-dropping. It’s a half-day trip from Montparnasse.
Don’t just take my word for it – here’s Orson Welles!
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June 30th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Reminds me why I love Paris so much. Say what you will about the French, they have an incredible sense of style, and the city is simply fabulous.
What I also love about Europe is the way dynasties ran the place – every generation added another wing onto the palace, and of course you had to build a bigger one than your father. After a few hundred years you get a pretty amazing building (go to Vienna and look at the Hofsburg).
It is a great thing to remind us that there is a hell of a lot more to life than kiwiblog (he says, knowing that he will now be cast out for heresy).
Vote:June 30th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Hi there metcalph.
“….Not meaningful law…”
Now – to any normal sensible person thats right, but have a look at the EFB and then promise me that something that isnt meaningful wont be made into law….
The treaty is already in the law – remember the ‘principles of the treaty’. There are actually legal descriptions, but the politicians dont know what they mean. That doesnt stop them including them in various acts of parliament.
Believe me , the treaty is going to be a long term problem for this country because so many people think its alive rather than just an important historical treaty (which actually was pretty good for what it was intended to do at the time. Its just that now much of the interpretations are irrelevant)
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I have wondered what it is like staying a night in a high priced hotel and what difference it makes.
What do you get for an extra $500 except to say you’ve done it?
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 4:17 pm
When I read the title of this blog I thought it might contain an image of that Hilton girl, instead its all about some town in France,talk about a let-down. Maybe you were meant to haggle ov er the price of that coke.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 7:35 pm
You get very little for the extra money. One stays in a high priced hotel when that is the main hotel for the conference, not through choice.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Thanks for the great pics Mr. Farrar, and glad you’re enjoying yourself.
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