Disneyland Paris: trip report part six (the last)

[battle beast]

ON our last day in Paris, we got up early. Why? We had to visit the arc du triomphe again. Why? We needed some souvenirs. Yah, some stuff we forgot to pick up.

We paid the €9 ($14.40 Can; $11.66 US) and we on our way.

On the plus side, we got to see Paris again from the top of the Arc. On the downside, we had to trudge up the 274 stairs again! :/

No matter.

We got our souvenirs and were back on our way to Disneyland. 45 minutes to the Arc, and 45 minutes back.

At Disneyland, we went on Space Mountain, Pirates (2x) and the Phantom Manor before we had to leave for the airport.

Guess what? we screwed up when we booked our return flights.

It seems that our first flight was at 8:30 PM Paris time, to London, and our second flight, to Toronto was at... 8:30 AM. AM. So, we had a 12-hour layover.

Well, we arrived in London and disembarked the plane. I tried to film the airport, but apparently it's against the law to film the airport because, you know, I might be a terrorist trying to take pictures of the airport for some dastardly plot! Give me a break! I'm a tourist and I wanted to film every minute of my time in London.

My grandmother passed away in 2007. She was from London, and came to Canada as a war bride in 1947.

(As a side note, one night during the war, she was working in a Red Cross building when the Germans decided to attack. her building was shelled, and she spent the night in the bombed building with several people including a girl named ELIZABETH II. I've got the photo of them two that was taken. Several years later, Elizabeth was renamed 'Queen' and the rest is history.)

Anyway, I've always wanted to go to London to see where my Grandmother came from and where my Grandfather helped protect as a RCAF [royal Canadian Air Force] bomber during the war.

I got my chance.

After a frustrating search for a place to leave our backpacks at Heathrow Airport in London, we took the train into London proper.

We left Heathrow for Paddington Station, where we got a Taxi (one the famous black taxis) to Piccadilly Circus.

Piccadilly is like Times Square, with a huge electronic billboard that goes non-stop.

Also in the circus is a RIPLEYS Believe it or not! Odditorium (five floors or odd fun!) and I'll have to go back and see it.

We ate at a cafe that was incredibly busy for 12:00 AM, and it was 1:00 AM by the time we finished our meal.

We walked down toward the Parliament Buildings, Westminster Abby, Big Ben, and the Themes River. WAY WAY WAY COOL!

Across the river Themes was the Millennium Wheel, a REALLY cool Ferris wheel type thingy. It's neat-o because when you go up in it, it slowly rotates, so not only do you get a good ride but you get a terrific view of London. And each Gondola holds about thirty people, too!

We got another cab and went to Buckingham Palace. We got to see the place where the Queen was sleeping, and one window had a light on. I swear someone was looking at us!

Four Canadians wandering around outside the palace at 3:00 AM! Really!

Anyway, the Place was really cool, and we walked around it (it's huge, and it took us a good hour to walk around.)

No matter. We were having fun and we didn't have to be at the airport, Heathrow, for another couple of hours.

It cost us about £10.00 ($17.78 CA; $14.61 US) each time we took the Taxi, so we spent A LOT that night!

We got another cab back to Piccadilly Circus, but we realized we should just go back to Heathrow. So we took another cab, which cost us £59.00 ($104.85 CA; $86.21 US)!!!

Anyway, we slept a bit on a cold bench in the airport for an hour and then got a bite to eat before our long flight home.

Our flight was uneventful.

We landed in Toronto, and in an hour we were back in the air on our way to Edmonton.

One good thing about our flight to Edmonton was that we had TVs in our seats. I was able to watch a couple of Episodes of the hit TV show 30 ROCK, which I have now fallen in love with.

I love that show!!!

But on a sad note our weeklong odyssey to Europe was over.

We have Annual Passes to Disneyland Paris, but who knows if we'll use them before next April?

I miss Paris already. It's really expensive, but the antiquity of the city is breathtaking.

I want to go back really badly now!

I miss Disneyland, the cool rides and themeing.

But I have to work more and save more (as always, that the way the world works) and keep on buying those lottery tickets.

See ya soon Paris! You did us good!

[NotaGeek]

Thanks for posting your reports ... how funny that you got the midnight tour of London, but at least it wasn't crowded!

[dream6]

Once again, a great report! This just makes me want to go even more I think it's fantastic that you guys had a 12 hour layover in London and were able to wander around and see some things. If that had happened to us my friends and family would think I had done it on purpose because I'm such a travel nut and just want to see everything

[vizsla]

Thanks for the report.

[faline]

You certainly made great use of your unexpected time in London!

[pdrlkr]

Thanks for all the great Report!

[miracle1018]

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us.

Mark & Becky

[pink]

It sounds like you had a great trip. Thanks for sharing.

a REALLY cool Ferris wheel type thingy

I believe it's called the London Eye.

[artyboy]

Thanks for the report!

Paris is highly addictive, n'est ce pas?

[handmaidenofprincesses]

I'm glad you had fun on your trip and I hope your wish comes true and you get to go back soon!! Thanks very much for sharing with us!!

[jillluvsdisney]

I enjoyed your trip reports. I went to France in 1988 while I was in high school. When I have trouble falling asleep at night, I think of Paris and all the beautiful places I saw. It relaxes me and helps me fall asleep. Some day, I will go back.

[BluewaterBrad]

I have enjoyed all of your reports!! thanks!!

[PiratesCove]

Grand trip report!!! Glad you had a blast!