The day is 27th September 2011. It began all so innocently in the morning, where I woke up in the BnB. We have had a new guest moved in the previous day into the BnB. I met them during breakfast, where all of us sat together to eat. They were a friendly couple, in their 50s or so, from near San Francisco. It was very pleasant to talk to them, so easy to talk to. This is their 9th time visiting Paris, so they pretty much know what's going on here. We chatted for about an hour before setting off for the day.
The main event of the day is the visit to the palace of Versailles. It's located about an hour away from Paris.
The palace is a very grand and magnificent place. It was built by King Louis XIV and was constantly upgraded by future Kings. As was the practice nowadays between Heex and I, we went on the visit separately. I just do not have the patience and interest to read all the signboards and information card like Heex, thus I usually finish museums pretty quickly.
In the palace, it's just very grand, big rooms, lavishly decorated. The most famous of which is the room of mirrors, which I find that wasn't anything special. In fact, I find the entire palace boring.
Anyway, the palace has one gigantic garden/park. It's so large that I think it's about the size of a town in Singapore. It's crazy. I did not go into the garden as I have to pay extra to go in, which I feel is not worth my money.
Thus I left the palace and headed back to Paris. At the Versailles train station, we were informed that there was an accident which resulted in the death of a commuter(RIP whoever you were). The station was closed and we have to walk 10 minutes to the other station to take a train back to the city. I went with a New Yorker and 2 Japanese, we talked a little along the way, mostly to confirm with each other that we were still in the correct direction to the train station.
After about 15 minutes, I finally reached the train station. It happened that on the journey there, somehow I did not validate the ticket, so I used the same train ticket on the journey back, saving some euros.
I alighted at the Eiffel Tower to post a postcard back home. You can get a special Eiffel Tower chop for letters or post sent from the Eiffel Tower post office.
Then, I walked to Champ Elysee, and this was where things really get interesting!
Shortly after arriving here, I met a Chinese couple from China. They stopped me halfway and asked me if I can help them buy Louis Vuitton bags as they have already max out their limits(can only buy 2 handbags per person). I did not know what got into me, but I agreed to help them. They gave me a number of model numbers and chucked me FIVE 500Euro bills! That's 2,500Euros and they just gave it to me like no one's business. It's scary how they found me trustworthy not to run away with their money. To be honest, that idea actually crossed my mind(just crossed over only, nothing more). A very funny thing is that they refused to walk into the shop. Their reason was that they were booted out previously from an argument with one of the salesperson. But I do not really believe them.
So I went into the LV shop, money in pocket, trying to act like a rich Chinese. In fact, most customers in the shop is Chinese. Fortunately or Unfortunately, the models they wanted were out of stock. So I went out again and told the Chinese lady. But she doesn't budge and just want me to anyhow grab some bags and buy. I strongly refused, feeling a little apprehensive. I convinced her to go into the shop with me, so she can pick the bags on her own and I can act as her translator. She just picked the bags like vegetables in supermarket. I want this, that, this, that. In the end, she wanted to buy 2 handbags and 2 wallets, costing about 2,100Euros. She was ready to pay, but the supervisor came out and informed us that they only accept credit card due to increased counterfeit money. She clearly doesn't want to pay with credit card, and claimed that she did not bring out. And so, we left the shop empty-handed.
I rather think that the lady might have been the guy's mistress, so they refuse to use their credit card for fear of tracking by the wife. But on hindsight, it was really dangerous for me to help them. It hit me right after I agreed to help. I was thinking they could be up to no good, giving me fake money to buy, and I will be the one who will get caught! Therefore, thank goodness nothing of that sort happened, and I've definitely learnt my lesson not to offer help easily to strangers, this is not our safe Singapore.
With that, I continued to shop around Champ Elysee. I began to feel itchy to buy stuff. After all, I'm in Paris! And so I did. I bought a new pair of shoes from Zara, and a new shirt from H&M. The shoes was really worth it. It's 39.95Euros, about S$70. A quick check on Zara Singapore online shop shows that this shoe cost S$170 in Singapore. Great bargain! The shirt, on the other hand, cost EUR24.95. Not sure if that was a bargain though.
Guess who I met in Paris? Want to venture a guess? It's one of them from the Twilight movie, what's their name again... Jack and Jill? Tom and Jerry?? Oh, Edward and Jacob. Well one of them was here, I think is the werewolf(I didnt watch the movie), Jacob. I met TAYLOR LAUTNER!
Here's the story: On my trip along the Champ Elysee, I stumbled upon a large group of girls. I asked one of them what's going on? And she told me that Taylor Lautner is coming about 30 minutes late. So I hang around there for a while to wait for him to arrive.
The event was the Europe premier of his new movie, Abduction (Identite Secrete in french).
While the crowds grew bigger outside along the street, I picked a good vantage point from inside the building. It was crazy outside. Crews were getting ready, security was everywhere, fresh red carpet was being laid.
And finally, I heard the definite screams of young girls and I knew that he arrived. He stood around a bit, signing posters, saying Hi and to give interview to the press. After a while he walked towards us in the build and I saw him. I tried to snap a photo of him, but as the crazy girls around me were so excited and jumping about, I can't hold my camera steady and it was blurry. But you can still make out his face, i think! Fantastic stuff! Seeing a superstar(is he one?) in Paris!
Well, my day doesn't end there. I manage to met up with two of my friends for dinner. They were in NTU for exchange last semester and they live in Paris. So we met for dinner and they introduced us to what is french food. We had a fantastic time chatting over dinner, which lasted for 2 hours, longest we ever had. But I guess that's what the french do, eat slowly and chat with friends over dinner.
As such, my incredible day comes to an end. From talking with friendly couple, to being told someone died, to be given 2,500Euros in cash, to shopping in Champ Elysee, to seeing a hollywood star, to have a nice french meal with friends. It's really the Paris experience for me, what more can I ask for? It's easily the most exciting day in my entire itinerary thus far. I couldn't ask more for a closure to my month-long Europe trip!
