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Hi, there ! ! Just photos this time. I won’t write much because it’s Monday, and Mondays s*ck. Before anything else, those who are interested in reading my manga/anime site, check it out HERE.
Here are some photos of my last day in Paris…. in fact, the last day of my 30 day tour of Europe.
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I had liver pate ( I love liver ), and escargot ( fancy name for snail ).
I need to say this , though….. tipping in Europe is massive.. We had to tip those serenaders, the waiters, the tour manager, the bus driver. If you bought a tour package for a certain amount, never , ever think that’s all you’re gonna spend. Some dinners aren’t free. You can opt out and not join the group, and eat at McDonald’s , or pay $ 75 each for a lousy dinner in Monaco , or $ 70 in Rome. Since my cousin and I didn’t really have money , my mother had to shoulder everything , for herself, for me and my 14 year old cousin. For the tour manager and bus driver, it was $ 14 tip each day from one tourist, and since it was a 30 – day tour, the amount totaled $ 420 each person, and since there were 3 of us ( Mom, myself and cousin ), we had to pay $ 1,260. Take note…. there were 50 of us in the group. Good thing credit card was accepted. If dinner was at the hotel we were staying in, then it was free. Unfortunately, the group always ate out , in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Switzerland, Venice. Even some tours weren’t free, like the Rheine River cruise, etc. So, be sure to bring plenty of cash. One thing though, we drank wine like it was water, one bottle per person, I kid you not. Every night was Happy Hour.
And one more thing, before Paris, I had this impression the Mona Lisa painting was huge. Guess what, it’s small, about a foot and a half long
I have tons of pics taken at the Louvre Museum. The Louvre was the residence of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XIV. The ostentatiousness was breathtaking. ” They don’t have bread ? Let them eat cake. ” , said Marie, in response to massive hunger and poverty at that time. No wonder she got her head cut off.
Alright, this is it for now. Peace .
My sister , Mom , and I just signed up to work for Hillary. I walk my talk.
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Am a Molecular Microbiology student, love to read books, and I play the violin. 
dreamsending
renxkyoko
renxkyoko's space 
Posted by cindy knoke on February 10, 2016 at 2:10 am
Wow! Sounds like an awesome time!
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 2:49 am
You mean the wine drinking ? he he
Sorry for the crappy post. I just bought the Premium Plan and didn’t so, didn’t know how to navigate thru new feautures.
Posted by 1EarthUnited on February 10, 2016 at 2:43 am
Amazing fact about the Mona Lisa! Sounds like a great trip.
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 4:05 am
I know right. I thought it was a huge one, but it’s actually teeny weeny.
Posted by aysabaw on February 10, 2016 at 4:04 am
you walk around Paris wearing heels? ha ha ha
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 4:06 am
* pout * It was a dressed – up dinner.
I knew someone would notice ! lol
Posted by aysabaw on February 10, 2016 at 4:07 am
ha ha ha…alright, if that’s the case…i thought you’re strolling like that ha ha ha…masakit yan ha ha
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 4:21 am
Ate, cobblestones pa yung place. Di bale na, basta fashion and beauty, tiis lang, di, ba ?
Posted by aysabaw on February 10, 2016 at 4:22 am
ha ha ha tiis ganda 😛
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 4:24 am
Ahahaha ! High heels, make up, and wine. Sosyal talaga.
Posted by aysabaw on February 10, 2016 at 4:26 am
Ha ha ha…ikaw na Ren :p
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 4:27 am
High 5 ! He he
Posted by Anime_Girls_NYC on February 10, 2016 at 4:11 am
So cool!! I want to go to Paris. Maybe after I go to Japan haha look like you had fun!!!
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 4:31 am
I wanna go to Japan. I’m working my butt off for that. * fist pumping in air *
Posted by Anime_Girls_NYC on February 10, 2016 at 4:33 am
Haha I totally understand lol
Posted by Zoë on February 10, 2016 at 6:40 am
This looks so lovely! But WOW, that tipping is outrageous! I am going to Italy next month, but at least everything has been booked privately – no tour groups. I will bear this in mind though!
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 6:53 am
‘Course tipping is everywhere, unless the service charge ( tip ) is calculated into the bill ( 15 % of total )…. meaning there’s no escaping it, ha ha ha
Posted by Zoë on February 10, 2016 at 6:54 am
Lol normal tipping I am prepared for – but when you think you are set and then you need to tip the tour bus driver and suddenly there are a ton of tours and meals that are added that were unexpected, that is a real shock!
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 6:59 am
The tour operator did warn us whe we bought the package tour. We did think it was a one time deal, like you know , $ 50 each ? LOL It was $ 420 each person. lol The hotel cleaners, too.
Posted by disperser on February 12, 2016 at 2:18 am
No tipping in Italy (at least based on my last visit there) . . . they see it as an insult. Now, I was there in 2001, so it may have changed, but here’s a blog I found from 2010.
http://www.msadventuresinitaly.com/blog/2010/06/09/10-tourist-mistakes-when-visiting-italy-tipping-tickets-and-more/
Posted by renxkyoko on February 12, 2016 at 5:25 am
I don’t know, disperser. In most of the restaurants we went to ( except in the hotels were were staying in ) we were told about tippings by the manager. Maybe you didn’t notice the tip bowls at the entrance ? We didn’t leave the tip on the tables. Or maybe it’s only for group tours.
Posted by Zoë on February 12, 2016 at 6:36 am
Thanks a lot for the link! Interesting things 🙂
Posted by Xena on February 10, 2016 at 7:53 am
I love that you share your adventures with us. Thanks for the info about the tips.
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 8:58 am
Maybe it was just our tour group. We tip a lot here in the US, as well. We were just shocked at the amount of tips we had to give to the driver and tour manager. It was unexpected.
Posted by thartac on February 10, 2016 at 8:25 am
See You in my Country ( Spain)
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 8:55 am
Been there, thartac. Beautiful country. I felt at home. My great grandfather was from Sta. m
Maria de la Nueva, Segovia
Posted by ledrakenoir on February 10, 2016 at 9:40 am
“No wonder she got her head cut off” – oh dear you are wonderful and besides you probably have a very good point here… 😀
Four almost just as lovely smile in front of the Eiffel as the Mona Lisa smile inside the walls of Louvre – agree about Louvre even without the art, this building is amazing – the history hits us once we steps inside… 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 10:14 am
The hair on my arm stood on end when I saw Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. I couldn’t believe I even got to touch Venus.
Posted by ledrakenoir on February 10, 2016 at 2:41 pm
Totally agree, an exciting place to explore. 🙂
Posted by Jean-Paul on February 10, 2016 at 12:40 pm
excellent post 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 7:33 pm
Thanks, Jean-Paul.
Posted by Cassidy Frazee on February 10, 2016 at 2:19 pm
I was gonna say the same thing about wandering about Paris in high heels! Ai ya! That would kill me. And I was standing almost in the *exact spot* you were when you got the photo of the Mona Lisa. I love that the only other painting in that room takes up the whole wall on the other side.
Oh, and if you watch Doctor Who, you know, “This is a fake” is written on the canvas. 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 7:36 pm
Oh, right ! ! That’s the only painting on that wall ! ! ! ! !
And if you read The Da Vinci Code, there’s a secret code on the back of the Mona Lisa painting.
Posted by Cassidy Frazee on February 10, 2016 at 7:56 pm
I loved the Louvre. That was one of those places you could spend a week visiting. Were they still allowing people to set up and make copies of paintings by painting their own?
The one I wanted to visit, and didn’t remember until it was too late, was the Musée d’Orsay, which has a colleciton of van Goghs. That’s where “Stary Night,” one of my favorites, is kept.
Posted by renxkyoko on February 10, 2016 at 8:00 pm
Awww. We didn’t go there. I mean , it wasn’t past of the tour. What a pity. I would have loved to see Van Gogh paintings in person. * shakes head * Mom and I still regret not choosing the one with Pompeii tour. I love going to archealogical sites, the ancient ruins.
Posted by Cassidy Frazee on February 10, 2016 at 8:31 pm
There was a small Roman theater in Lyon that I visited. That was pretty cool. Also went up to Montmartre, which was nice as well.
I’ll bet you can’t guess which two characters of mine will end up spending a LOT of time in Paris? Hummmm? 😉
Posted by renxkyoko on February 11, 2016 at 2:52 am
Been to Montmarte, too. Had coffee there.
Which two characters ? Oh, goodness, I have no idea ! ! ! Hmmm, I wonder who they are. lol
Posted by Cassidy Frazee on February 11, 2016 at 2:59 am
Annie has indicated Paris is her favorite city. And next year the C Levels leave from there. The City of Lights–The City of Love! 🙂
Posted by garym6059 on February 10, 2016 at 6:29 pm
Looks the Paris tourism board needs to hire you! Looks like a ton of fun!
Posted by renxkyoko on February 11, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Ha ha Paris doesn’t even need a tourism board. The tourists at The Louvre Palace were elbow to elbow.
Posted by arlene on February 11, 2016 at 1:16 am
Lovely photos you have here Ren. I will check your other blog.
Posted by renxkyoko on February 11, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Thanks, Ms. Arlene.
Posted by Thys on February 11, 2016 at 5:16 am
Love the photos… even the tirle sounds like a movie… damn… here comes the nostalgia again 😉
Posted by Thys on February 11, 2016 at 5:16 am
Title even…. hahaha
Posted by renxkyoko on February 11, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Hmmm, it does sound like a movie title. ( An American in Paris, An evening in Paris are real movie titles ) I had a problem posting the photos. Have you noticed the big, blank space ? There’s supposed to be the picture of my inner of liver pate. WordPress is such a pain. Anyways, thanks, and cheers.
Posted by Thys on February 11, 2016 at 2:34 pm
You can devote a new post to the liver pate, make it abstract and surreal perhaps?
Posted by A. Blake on February 12, 2016 at 2:35 am
Wow, “drank wine like water” – where do I sign up? Are you watching the #DemDebate this evening?
Posted by renxkyoko on February 12, 2016 at 3:32 am
I don’t think I will. I get upset at Bernie Sanders,. LOL
Posted by Ste J on February 13, 2016 at 10:42 am
Tipping never used to be a big thing over this way but as with all things American it slowly comes over and then becomes natural. I expected something more imposing from the Mona Lisa as well although I can’t help but look over my shoulder to see what she finds so amusing when I look at it.
Posted by renxkyoko on February 14, 2016 at 5:12 am
@Disperser says in Italy, it’s an insult to give tips. But we did. We just didn’t leave the tip on the table. There was a tip bowl right there at the door. that’s where we put the money. Over here in the US, tipping is a given, even in the Philippines . Sometimes, a service charge is already added to the bill, about !0% of the total. ( I guess that’s for people who don’t have cash ) .There’s no escaping it, lol.
I know, right ? I was surprised the Mona Lisa’s so small. But that’s the only painting hanging on the wall. Did you notice that ?
Posted by Ste J on February 14, 2016 at 11:23 am
I never noticed that before, perhaps other works would draw the eye and people may miss it if they weren’t being attentive. Having said that with the crowds around it, other art works would be ignored and that would be harsh.
I wish I got tipped with books, that would probably be cheaper if they went to a second hand book shop, buy in bulk at low prices, tip freely. It’s the perfect solution.
Posted by Mél@nie on February 16, 2016 at 7:05 am
cool – of you’re ready for Mrs Clinton!!! 🙂 who else, trump(no capitals!)?!… 😉
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my very best and good luck in all your endeavours! cheers! 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on February 16, 2016 at 8:14 am
Been ready for Hillary for years. Can’t wait to see her as Chief of US army, and men saluting her……
Posted by avorquekrisha on February 22, 2016 at 9:03 am
Nice
Posted by avorquekrisha on February 22, 2016 at 9:03 am
Paris is super cool
Posted by equinoxio21 on February 22, 2016 at 7:14 pm
Lovely pictures. (You are quite brave to walk around in Paris with high heels) 😉 Glad you enjoy the “escargots”. A funny name? Had’n thought about that. “Snails” would be the strange word for me I guess. “Escargot” seems to come from “Provençal” escargol. Provençal was a dialect spoken on the south of France. 😉
Posted by equinoxio21 on February 22, 2016 at 7:16 pm
And my compliments for signing up for Hillary. Don’t want no Sanders or Trump. No, no, no! 😉
Posted by Santosh Namby on April 13, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Looking lovely dear friend ……
Posted by renxkyoko on April 15, 2016 at 7:03 pm
Thanks a bunch ! ^^