The cost of laziness

Glum is how I feel having left this blog so far behind. Now if I hope to remember any of this last trip in a good 20 or more years I shall have to scrounge up my memories with the assistance of the photographs. Kind of fortunately I've had mild insomnia of late (it now being 3am) so this is hopefully conducive with getting up to date, due to lack of interesting activities available at this time; might however reflect on the quality so sorry future Paul.

Well back to Paris.. Ze beautiful Parie. I've already completely forgotten what I wrote about it just last year when I visited! Reason exactly why I should focus, and jot on down some memories. How is it possible too even procrastinate on something I've chosen to do? This is not uni, this is personally beneficial in the long run! But still I cannot focus. Heck. Ok well it was nice to be there with some kindreds (potential a completely unsuitable word for this context but i like) who'd not yet visited Paris. Brett particularly was blown away by the brilliance of the architecture, the history and the general feel of the place. Because even though it is no more beautiful then Vienna; it is after all Paris. Something about its vastness and ever so recognisable attractions takes it to another level; when your in Paris you know your in Paris. I have perhaps just mentioned Paris, five too many times.

So some highlights, well this time we actually ventured inside the Pompidou centre and the exhibition on at the time was fantastic. The Pompidou centre is the Parisians take on a modern art gallery. Its wild styling was actually quite clever; leave all unnecessary innards on the outside therefore maximising interior space. Best of all is the stark design contrast between this wonderful building and every other within a good 5 km radius.

Paris was also the first city where we took a free walking tour. Dean had recommended them and we ended up doing one in Amsterdam and London also. My favourite of these tours was however this first one through Paris. Our guide was most pleasant and very enthusiastic to reveal the history of Paris and some interesting trivia along the way. For instance I never would have known that thestatued faces along Pont Neuf (which is French for New Bridge, but is actually the oldest bridge on the Seine) were basically a fantastic prank. The King of the time held a glamorous party inviting everybody who was anybody, throughout the night he had artists draw these friends of his in whatever state they might have been in and eventually got them sculptured along the bridge! Although a horrific waste of money this is one of the best stunts pulled I've heard of considering how long its lasted already. Some of these poor basterds have their faces immortalised mid a very drunken expression; at least they lived like Kings hey.