Charles De Gaulle Airport is not a magnificent airport. On my return to Ireland i had to spend two unfortunate nights living at the airport. It's a horrible system and getting around the airport is a real pain in the neck. Everything is scattered around the site and you need to get a shuttle bus for just about everything except the toilet. To make matters worse, when i was flying home it was not long after the time of one of the airports new terminal collapsing. This didnt fill me full of confidence as i headed towards getting my flight on one of the shuttle buses and looking out of the window starring at the remains of the once futuristic multi-million pound new Terminal.  I got talking on this shuttle bus to an American business man who was getting dropped off at an earlier stop to catch a Trans Atlantic flight back to New York. We got talking, he seemed nervous. I think it was with flying. He said to me  "i hate this airport" i said back to him that i agreed and i then told him about the Terminal collapse earlier in the year. This unsettled him a little more and he got off the bus without saying goodbye. To top all this off, as i waited for what seemed like an eternity to board my flight there was two emergency evacuations. Routine of course when there has been a bag left and unclaimed for a period of time. Now i was starting to get unsettled. Security everywhere.

  Au Revoir

I made it home.

I never want to go through Charles De Gaulle again.

Entering Paris

I cycled on, the next night i stopped in a wonderful wooded area not far from Paris. It was a campsite again near a lake. It was run by and old woman, she was very friendly and helpful. The campsite was overran with Rabbits or 'Lapin' as they say here. I have only ever seen a few rabbits in my life but here there was soo many running around.

I got some food and hit the sack.

Up early at 6 heading towards Paris, i pass the town of Dreux heading to Paris, i stop there and get some food.

I settled at a Municipal site on the outscirts of Paris near Versailles. The guy who owns the site is a bit of an ass. He gives me the worst site area possible and sneers at me as if im some kind of fool, Maybe he just does not like foreigners. Theres lots of Camper vans around with many kids making lots of noise. I like quiet sites, im up early the next day so i like it to be quiet early in the evening so i can get some shut eye.

The roads get very busy very early as the commuters zoom towards Paris. Up ahead the sun is rising in a bright orange blaze as she sets the sky alight. I marvel at this while cars speed past me trying to spook me by showing me how close they can get. Motorheads can really piss me off.

Its one 9clock am, and im talking to a French guy in a suburban area in Paris. Im asking him the quickest and safest route to take getting into Paris. He seems more surprised that i have cycled all the way from N.Ireland. Why? i ask myself, this is the home afterall of the 'Tour de France'. He is friendly though and i am pleased by this. Some folk i have talked to seemed totally disinterested.

Im in the Heart of Paris at around 11 am. I stop into a Mac Donalds and have breakfast. The staff here seem to really hate their job.

I get into the heart of Paris, lock up my bike and walk around. The sun is shinning and the tourists are everywhere. Paris is a hecktick cauldron of manic movement of human beings. The traffic is crazy and the amount of people is staggering. The sights we all have seen on the TV overwhelm me. I have seen landmarks on TV of other places and then visited them only to be disappointed. Here, no-way. Here all the attractions seem grander and beautiful in person than any TV shot or angle. To say the day is hot is a major understatement. I was beginnging to plan my return home and the unwanted thoughts came along with that.

To me Paris is Spectacular. Awesome. Beautiful and inspiring. If you get a chance visit here becuase the city is Granduer to say the least.

I spent fours days walking around seeing the sights, talking to people and relaxing. Within a few days i was flying back home thinking of how i was going to do something like this again, maybe in a few years.................... where to next?