PARIS – Trip 2 (day 1 - 25th May 2010)

So off I go again to Paris: the city of love; and the city I fell in love with a couple of months ago when i went there for 2 days to celebrate my 30th b'day with my girls (Cara, Erika & Rachel). This time around I'm flying solo (scary!) to enjoy 2 days @ Roland Garros: French Open Tennis 2010. Being such a huge tennis fan that I am it's always been a dream of mine to attend all 4 grand slams (have only been to the Australian Open on many occasions). So coming to Paris for the French Open meant that I would have been to 2, and have 2 to go (Wimbledon in the UK and US Open in America).

I was up early @ 3.50am taxi booked for 4.30am, Eurostar train departing @ 5.25am, arriving in Paris @ 8.50 (Paris time). On the journey caught up on 3 episodes of Dexter season 1. Arrived in Paris on a beautiful sunny morning. Time to catch the Metro to my hotel. Last time I was in Paris I had my tour guides (thank ladies), but this time I was all by myself. Would I get lost??? Know me YES! But thanks to my pre trip     preparation and studying the Paris metro map, I felt confident enough that I would find my way around, I think once you get your bearings your pretty safe and the Paris metro system is genius.

My hotel Campanile Paris was a stones throw away from the gorgeous, beautiful monument that is the Eiffel Tower. Got a little lost finding the hotel, went down the wrong street, but didn’t panic and quickly corrected my wrong doing by searching my trusty street map! What a location I was in for at the end of the street where I was staying you could see the top half of the Eiffel Tower – heaven!

Checked into my 89 euro a night, single room with bathroom. 3^rd floor room 307a. My room was very tiny, but cosy (tiny as in you couldn’t swing a cat tiny!). No air-conditioning, the room was stinky hot from the glorious weather Paris was putting on. Had a shower and got changed (sweating from the heat), with my trusty metro map in hand I headed out to find my way to Roland Garros, the clay grand slam! 

2 Metro changes and I had arrived. Walked 5mins to the gates, lined up for a further 20mins, but finally through the gates I went. Now to get my bearings and where to start exploring! I only had a ground pass for both days so this meant I could only watch matches on the outside courts. Bought the daily program for 2 euro, scanned it quickly and found that Aussie girl Rodinova was playing. She had already won the first set and well on her way to winning the second. After watching a couple of games, I left and take some pics of the surrounding: Suzanne Le Glen arena, Court Phillip Chartre and just the grounds themselves. Wondering around I came across Aussie girl Sam Stosur having a practice session with her double partner Russian Nadia Petrova. Was so happy to see Stosur, not only because she is Australian, but also because of the all the success she’s been having lately, makes me proud to be an Aussie! Today’s visit to Roland Garros was only a short one as I was meeting my cousins (Lisa, Danny, Alex & Xavier Pellin) at the Eiffel Tower @ 2.30pm. So I exited the gates and headed back to metro to jump on a train that would take me to my favourite place in Paris – the Eiffel Tower.

I got off a stop or 2 earlier, as I was starving having not eaten breakfast, so I found this little café and picked myself up a cheese and Jambon pannini. YUM! Washed it down with a bottle of Vittel (water). With it being such a beautiful day, I walked along the River Seine towards the Eiffel Tower. 25mins later and I was back, standing underneath the Eiffel Tower, having an indescribable feeling of emotion running through me. This place makes me happy, and although millions visit this extraordinary structure every year, I felt like I was the only one there. Having arrived ½ early (at 2pm) I had time to take some pics and buy a hand drawn painting. I had this fear of not being able to find my cousins, as we didn’t stipulate a particular place to meet, and the masses of people at the Eiffel Tower would make it hard to find them. So I walked up and down a few times, and just after buying my painting I turned to my right to see my cousin Lisa and the boys walking in the distance. I was greeted with a massive hug from Lisa and Danny and again the emotions of seeing family for the first time since August 2009 (my brother Adam visited me in London for the night) was a little hard to contain and a few tears were shed. We headed to find some shade, as I was only wearing a tang top and was getting burnt from the sun. After a quick catch up with the family, it was time for them to climb the Eiffel Tower, as the had a booking for 3pm. We decided to meet back at the same place at 4.30pm. 1-½ hours to roam around Paris: what to do??

I headed on over to the Palais de Chaillot, which is across the road from the Eiffel Tower, and the view it gives you is breath taking. So out came the camera and my finger went snap happy! I decided to just walk and not worry about where I was going to end up, as long as I was back at the Eiffel Tower by 4.30pm. So down the street I headed, walking about 20mins and ended up at the Arc de Triomphe. This monument is very stunning and historic. I had visited this place last time I was in Paris, but never did the climb to the top of it. So with time on my hands and a spare 9 euros, I bought my ticket and climbed the 248 steps up the spiral staircase to the top (and I thought I was fit! but some how the heavy panting from being out of breath tells a different story). WOW – the view is spectacular, a 360 degree look at Paris and all its surroundings. Out came the camera again of course and snap snap went the lense. After breathing in the view, it was time to head back down and make my way back to the Eiffel Tower; instead of walking back I took the metro. (my legs were a little shaky from the climb).

I got back to the Eiffel Tower to find my cousins sitting waiting for me. We swapped stories of our adventures from the past hour and ½, and headed off to find something to eat. We found this little café that served pastries and cakes. So of course we had 1 of each. After a bite and chit chat, we headed back to the Eiffel Tower to take some more pics and so that my cousins could get back on their tour bus and head to their hotel. Another massive hug from my cousin Lisa was enough for both of us to start crying again, and with that they boarded the bus and I headed back to my hotel for a rest and to plan my night’s activities.

I stopped off at the pharmacy to buy some after sun lotion, as my sunburn was a little sore. I arrived back to my hotel just in time, before the thunder and lightning and heavy raining decided to grace Paris with their presence. It was very refreshing after the stinky hot weather of the day. Opened the window in my room to let the breeze in, the smell of fresh rain was so relaxing that I fell asleep. A quick nap, I woke to find it still raining and not really sure what to do later that night! A few options were tossed around in my head, but the one the won was heading to the naughty end of Paris to visit the Moulin Rouge. A quick shower and change and back on the metro I went.

At the end of my street I was greeted with the Eiffel Tower, all lit up from the glittering light show – it looked AM-A-ZING! 2 metro stops later, I emerge from the underground to have the famous windmill on top of the roof at the Moulin Rouge spinning in my face! The bright lights, the seedy smell, the hustle and bustle of people rushing to get from here and there, the sounds of cars beeping their horns, cafes full of patrons and me, standing their soaking it all in. This truly was a wonderful sight; I think the night time light make this area worth seeing. A couple of happy snaps and I headed down the street to explore more of this sexual landscape. SEX, LADIES, TOYS, DILDO’s. COSTUMES: they were just a few of the things I came across on my walk. I got stopped by a metre de of a sex club, who at first spoke to me in French, I told her I speak English, and the language then changed. She offered me to come in and see the ladies, but having said that men were more my thing and thought she would have walked away. Instead she took me by arm and led me into her establishment. 20 euros she said, and that she had the best looking man to hook me up with! I got to about the 4^th step in the place, her arm firmly cusped with mine. I told her thanks but I couldn’t do it, and for 20 euros I could have some proper meat, with a side of chips! So off I went again, crossing the road only to have more and more strip joints and sexual stores in my face. I'm amazed how any of them can stay in business and they all offer the same thing and are competing against each other for the clientele. But as I turned the corner, I saw the neon lights flashing SOHO CLUB, thinking it was a gay bar where I might find a vodka! But no, instead a brothel, 6 woman on stool sitting in the front rooms, all claddly dressed, 2 of them waved at my and invited me in. Next door another brothel, then another and another, across the road 4 more in a row. For straight men this was heaven, pick and choose, for me not so happening! I walked back to the main street, stopped at the café across the road from the Moulin Rouge and ordered myself a hot chocolate. As I sat there sipping away, I people watched for a while. Every few seconds there was some else posing for a pic outside the Moulin Rouge, laughter was heard all around, car horns, sirens the atmosphere was buzzing and electrifying. So much happening, so much going on and it was 11.30pm on a Tuesday night. I love Paris.

I decided to get back on the metro (as trains stop running just after midnight) and head back to my hotel. I got off at my stop, and as I looked over at the light still shining on the Eiffel Tower I decided to head back to where it stands to take some night shots. I fell in love with this monument even more, having now seen it at night. I didn’t want to leave, but my stomach was telling me differently. So I headed off to find something to eat.

As I was walking I could feel my body getting weaker and weaker, and I was sweating very heavy and my hands were starting to shake. Now I was unsure why this was happening, but thought it could have something to do with being sunburnt, walking a lot during the day and having almost been awake for 24hrs. I need some eat and I need to eat now! Every place I past was closed or closing, and I felt even more nauseas. Then behind a pillar, I saw the magic yellow light with the symbol M, and I knew that I have been saved! (how dramatic am I). Thank god for 24hr McDonalds. My meal was gone in 5mins: double cheeseburger with bacon, larger fries, large coke and 6 nuggets. Feeling full and fat, I walked the 3 blocks back to my hotel. As I got to the top of my street, I looked to my right to find the lights on the Eiffel Tower were out. To me this meant that Paris was asleep for the night and best I do the same.

Pictures: 

1. Eiffel Tower at daytime

2. A view from court 3 @ Roland Garros

3. Roland Garros: French Open 2010

4. me with my cousins - Alex, Danny, Xavier & Lisa

5. view from top of the Arc de Triomphe

6. me and the view at the top of the Arc De Triomphe

7. The Eiffel Tower sparkling at night - beautiful

8. me outside the Moulin Rouge

9. the sexy Moulin Rouge

10. the Eiffel Tower by night

11. the bright lights of the Eiffel Tower at night

a 'FIRSTS' weekend

This weekend just past has been a weekend of first time experiences. Living in London there a plenty of firsts that are happening to me.

As usual on a Saturday, I went to work at the restaurant I waiter at called S+M Cafe on Essex Road (an no it's not a fetish cafe! - people must wonder what kind of work I do when I tell them the 2 companies that I work for: Sticky Content and S+M, I assure you they are not what you are thinking!!!)

Anyway I finished work early on Saturday and headed home to enjoy what was a glorious Saturday afternoon - 24 degree, sun shining and clear blue skies! When I first arrived in London I found it kinda weird to see people in parks sunbaking on a hot day, was that normal? Apparently YES! Fast forward to a year later, and there I was sunbaking, not in the park, but in the privacy of my backyard! Growing up I always associated sunbaking at my parents place by the pool or at the beach, but this is London and there is hardly a beach to be had! So lying on the stretcher with a cushion at my head, I lay there, flipping from back to front for about an hour! The sun had a bit of kick in it. As with sunburn you don't feel the effects to much later, but it wasn't that bad.

My housemate Graham and I decided that we would stay in, so we ended up having a couple of drinks whilst listening to music and chilling in his room. But Graham found out that a tranny friend of his was performing at midnight at The Way Out Club.. how could we not go!! This would be my first outing to a tranny club ever! quick shower and change and it was in the taxi. We got to the club just before midnight, greeted at the front door by an Amy Winehouse look-a-like (and yes she was all woman), who charged us 12 quid to get in (outrageous!). Down the stairs, 4 flights and we hit the basement. Tranny central! Very hard to tell who was who, but my expertise of living with a tranny back in Melbourne helped me spot the difference. Alot of straight men in the venue, throw in a couple of drag queens and us and it's a party waiting to happen. Music was good! We met some drag queens - Janice and Letisha.. very funny lasses, dressed to the nines, one in a leopard print mini and the other in genie pants and a vest top. Janice, or John from 9-5 took a little bit of shining to me and ushered me to the dance floor. The kisses we flowing, well from her anyway, wasn't sure if my neck was getting wet from her lips or the sweat dripping from her wig, a photo or 2 and a few spins on the dance floor and then it was time for us to depart. The tranny we had come to see perform was a no show (typical). so 3 drinks and 12 quid to get in I was out of money!.

We left as Graham wanted to head south to a gay club called FIRE! I had never heard of it. But we hailed a taxi. 20 quid later and 15 min taxi ride we arrived in Vauxhall out the front of FIRE! again first time to this club. As we walked over to security, we were looked up and down and told that - 'sorry boys, tonight's not your night.. hmm.. why not? well because it's a straight fetish club tonight!" GREAT! no entry! it was about 1am. Off we travelled to find something else that may tickle our fancy!. We stumbled across HOIST, a leather club (again a first). In we went, was told by security that sorry there was a dress code, and because we were not dressed in leather or practically naked we could not enter! so out we went! Across the road was the famous Vauxhall Tavern! (first time there) again we walked up to security, and again, refused entry! 'sorry boys, clubs closed'. Hmm, now isn't that funny, how can a club be closed when there is a full house of people inside dancing to Kylie and a street full of smokers! With our spirits diminished and pallets dry from lack of alcohol, we decided to hail a taxi and head home.

30 quid later we ended up back in Stokie. Both our pockets empty, not from spending at the bars (or lack of bars) drinking, but from spending 60 quid on taxi fares! never again - Vauxhall you are a big disappointment. Should have stayed with the trannies and the drag queens at The Way Out Club! far more entertaining.

So Sunday, after a bit of a sleep in and breakfast, Graham and I decided that we would head up to Hampstead Heath and sunbake in the park! Oh my first time sunbaking in a real park. Josh (our other housemate) told us to take the replacement bus service as the rail link was not working. So with my bag packed we headed to the bus stop only to wait 15mins for the bloody bus to arrive! Up the back of the bus we sat, here I was thinking that we would arrive at the Heath in 20mins. 1 hour later we ended up there, longest bus ride ever! Because the rail service was down, the bus had too stop at every station along the way, (literally felt like we were going around in circles!). But we arrived and headed to the Heath Ponds. Now for those Melbourne-nites, imagine Albert Park lake, but with more trees and no race track and very hilly, so actually nothing like Albert Park lake!. anywho, we walked through the park and headed towards the ponds. And would you look at that, Poof Central, they were everywhere. All shapes and sizes, wearing trunks to boardies and not much else! Some of the bodies - WHOA! (back to the gym I go!) Thank god there aren't many flies in London, otherwise my mouth would have caught a few! We found a nice little spot towards the end of the hill, pulled out our towels and set up camp - haha, camp - hill for of poofers! - camp!.. anyway! Off came my tang top and off went my shorts. There I was lying on my towel in my bather trunks in the middle of the park - I was sunbaking - London park style! Plenty of good looking men to see, everywhere you looked there were men, bulges, muscles, nipples.. heaven!. The sun was HOT, and as I flipped from tanning my front to my back, I could feel my skin getting pink. 2 hours later it was time to put the clothes back on and head home!. A quick loo stop, passing the men sunbaking nude and watching some of the men jump of the diving board into the pond (again a first too see this kind of activity) we headed out of the park!

A quicker bus ride home (thank god!) and time for dinner. I cooked spag bowl for Graham and I - delicious. I ate a whole garlic bread to myself, gonna have fun working that off that the gym in the morning!. Had a hot shower to take the sting out of my sunburn!.. sitting here a bit pink at the moment, but give it a couple of days and I will have my first London Tan! (and it didn't come from a bottle!) I decided that after today I can't wait to go back the Heath, and sit on the hill we were at. I have now renamed this hill 'Penis Hill'. Next time we will pack and esky full of alcohol, food and sunblock, and I may even go for a dip in the pond, although the thought of swimming in duck shit doesn't really appeal to me. Might even give the nude sunbaking a shot, who knows!

So this weekend was a first of many things - first time to a tranny club, first time to Hampstead Heath and first time sunbaking in a park. Thank you London for a glorious sunshine u put on this weekend, can't wait to do it again soon!

Pictures:

1. the trees and pond @ Hampstead Heath
2. the gorgeous blue sky in Hampstead Heath