Paris (with unexpected side trip)

[sarahray85]

Hey Everyone!

I just got back from my three week trip where I was supposedly going to stay in Paris the whole time. While I was in Paris I stayed at the 3 Ducks Hostel and the Aloha Hostel. The 3 Ducks was a great place to meet people but a horrific place to take a shower. I was lucky enough to have a shower in my room while everyone else had to take a sower in the middle of the courtyard in the freezing cold (really it was snowing)! The Aloha was pretty nice and definitely a step of from the 3 Ducks.

I did so much in Paris! Somehow I didn't make it to the Louvre... funny how things happen. Two more things about Paris: 1) the gay and lesbian scene there was pretty dead though I may be spoiled because I live in West Hollywood, and 2) there is a lot of dog doo on the sidewalk so be careful! I couldn't believe how much dog poop was on the sidewalk! Unbelievable.

The Pere Lachaise graveyard was so beautiful in the snow!

I was supposed to stay in Paris for three weeks but I ended up getting restless (and cold) so I bought a Eurail selectpess for France, Spain, and Portugal and took the train into Portugal. I stayed in Lisbon which is absolutely beautiful.

Then I went to Madrid. Nothing needs to be said about Madrid except that I just flat out did not like this city.

Barcelona was by far my favorite. If I were moving to a city in Europe, it would be Barcelona. There is so much beautiful graffiti art everywhere and the people are really beautiful and nice. I stayed at the Ithaca Hostel and it was fun, clan, and an overall good experience. If going to Barcelona, don't miss out on the Dali museum which is only a two hour side trip!

Thanks everyone for all the travel tips.

I ended up having enough clothing to be warm, though I must say going from Los Angeles into the cold was pretty hard. I had no trouble with plugs and converters.

Thanks so much again for all your help!

[me]

Hi, Sararay85!

glad you survived the trip and enjoyed some of it.

3 ducks doesn't sound like my cup of tea, hard to fathom that a place like that could exit!

wasn't aware that "the gay and lesbian scene" was a criteria for you. i suspect there are websites that could have provided you more info about that before the trip.

the dog excrement thing is something i'd heard about in the past but thought the current mayor of Paris was planning to change.

there are lots of beautiful things in/near Madrid. too bad you found the town so unpleasant. <the Prado is one of the worlds top 5 collections of Western art. did that do nothing for you?>

how did you buy a Eurail selectpass in Paris? i thought those were only available outside Europe?

[Eagle]

Sarahray85, thanks for posting the trip report. I'm sure there are good Hostels in Paris, but your experience has reinforced my plans to stay in a budget Hotel (i've already got one picked out). I can't believe that any establishment would force guests to shower outdoors in the middle of winter!!!

The "doggie doo" situation in Paris is well known. but as David indicated I thought they were going to start cleaning this up. Parisians must really love their Dogs, as there was a report on the News this afternoon about a Bakery or something in Paris that is producing nothing but "doggie treats" and "doggie candies". I imagine they'll have a good market for their products!

Glad to hear that you enjoyed Barcelona. Did you encounter any pickpockets or other "undesirables" (the city has a bad reputation for that)?

Nice to hear that everything else went well (Plugs & Converters).

Cheers!!!

[stanncie]

Lol i remember the dog crap too! Hmm the three ducks hostel seems shaky... i stayed at the absolut paris and it wasn't that good but the showers were indoors so at least that was a plus!

I didn't enjoy Madrid that much either, i didn't hate it but it didn't do much for me. The city seemed really dirty to me but you could say that about a lot of major european cities so I don't really know what it was. At the time I thought it was that it was the last stop for me and I had already seen so many beautiful things that it didn't impress me that much, also being from latin america, the architecture was very similar to what we have in my home country so...

The prado though is a great museum and I was glad I visited it.

[sarahray85]

You're wondering hoe I didn't visit the Prado... I'm also wondering this. I guess that's just how it happens. I have other memories of Madrid, most of which I am not all that fond of. I guess the city was just too commercialized for me and being from Los Angeles it was kind of like being home with the Starbucks on every corner. Obviously Los Angeles isn't Madrid and never will be.
Overall, despite the showers in the courtyard, I had an amazing time. I made so many friends. I thought I would be lonely traveling by myself but I wasn't at all. I can't wait back to Europe to visit my friends and one girl might be coming to the States to do a US road trip with me! I also made really good friends with a young man from Mexico. What an amazing time. I hope it didn't sound like I was complaining, I just wanted to give everyone the lowdown on where not to stay.

[stanncie]

That's all right sarah. We all have our fave and least fave spots and no you didn't come off as complaining. I find there are a lot of factors that influence how you feel about each place such as your mood at the moment, the people you meet and to me at least where you were before and how it compares.

[me]

wow. a trip to Madrid without visiting the Prado. to me, the Prado is one of the best things in Madrid.

we certainly have different orientations, in more ways than one! ;D

Prado was closed for remodeling when i went for a 2nd time. a disappointment.

[sarahray85]

I just wanted to let you all know that I had a great time and I wouldn't have been able to do it without all the help and advice I got from these message boards! ;D

You guys are awesome!!!

[Kim]

Glad you had such a good time! Don't forget to submit your hostel reviews, if you haven't already! I loved Barcelona too, the energy in that city is unbelievable!

[sarahray85]

I submitted my hostel reviews
I didn't know I could book hostels through this website...next time I will and from the looks of it next time is this summer!
:DOh yeah!!!