Bon Voyage: Paris!

Bonjour! I am back from Paris after a fun-filled 6 day vacay. I went with my friend here, Caitlin and we stayed with her friend from back home (who is studying in Paris), Joy! After navigating our way on the Paris underground, we finally made it to Joy and her precious apartment (our home for the week)

First of all- the underground, or as they would call it, the metro. It was NASTY. I never thought I would ever say this, but you would think the London Underground was a palace compared to this. It was hot, smelled horrible, and homeless people could jump the barriers and get on for free, therefore, allowing them to play all sorts of instruments as well as scream at you throughout the cabin you were on. It was a whole different experience.

Secondly- I didn't know what the hell anybody was saying, and I'm pretty sure they didn't know what I was saying either! The language barrier was definitely worse here than it was in Italy, but I was fairly warned that the French didn't like to compromise their language in their own territory, so fair game.

Our first day was the warmest out of the whole week. It was 75 and sunny! Joy had class, so we took the metro to the Eiffel Tower and then walked (1.5 hours) to the Luxembourg Gardens to meet a friend of Caitlins. The walk looked WAY shorter on the map, so by the time we got there, we were tired and seriously regretting wearing flats because we had blisters everywhere, not a good way to start the first day of a trip! But, we met up with her friend, sucked up our pain, and walked around the "Latin Area" and even got to lay in the grass and enjoy the sun until Joy got out of class. That night we got sushi and called it an early night as the 3 of us snuggled on Joy's pull out couch/bed.

We headed to the Louvre the next day (with more comfortable boots on) and went on the express tour of the most famous things that we would know. If you didn't know, Caitlin and I aren't the most "art appreciative" people in the world, so basically, we just wanted to see the Mona Lisa. After that, Joy sent us to an exhibit that featured couture pieces from Paris fashion week, so that was really awesome to see! That night we all got ready and headed to our first French meal! I had steak and potatoes with duck spring rolls, and it was pretty solid. After that, we walked to Joy's classmates apartment for an apartment party she was having. There were about 40 people there from 13 different countries, so it was a good mix of internationals! The night was awesome, but what happens in Paris doesn't always make it to my blog ;)

The next day we woke up super late and went straight for a cafe to eat the greasiest thing we could find. We settled for hamburger and french fries with 8 euro Coke Lights then headed to Notre Dame. It was absolutely beautiful, especially the stained glass. Since they are celebrating their 850 year anniversary, they just put in new bells, so we got to hear those as well as see the previous bells. From there, we walked across the street to Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore. Apparently its pretty famous (for what, I'm not sure) but I do know, Mom, that it is in Julie & Julia!! That night we made dinner at the apartment and continued to make up for the lack of sleep we got the night before.

We got up super early Sunday morning to meet a few of Joy's friends at "Breakfast in America," a restaurant that has basically an American breakfast for European tourist price (13 euro breakfast = 17 USD breakfast) But it was really yummy, and it was the first time I had actual bacon as opposed to the Canadian bacon they try to pass off here. Caitlin and I then took a train to Versailles for the day. We waited in a line that was as long as I've ever seen and finally made our way into the palace. On an honest note: I have seen SO MANY European palaces/museums/houses that they are all running together, so we hurried through the palace, stopped to take pictures at the Hall of Mirrors and then headed out to the famous gardens. Those were absolutely spectacular. It reminded me so much of my Mom, and she would have loved it! There were so many secret paths that took you to other gardens and fountains, which were even more amazing that the one before it.

That day, I started feeling a bit under the weather, so that night everyone settled on a fondue restaurant for dinner. Basically, it was a tiny restaurant with a set charge of 21 euros a person and you get to choose between cheese fondue or beef. There were two rows of tables, but it was so tiny, that to get to the side of the booth where the wall is, you had to stand on a chair and climb over the table and then sit down in the booth, crazy huh? Well then you told them whether you wanted red or white wine, and they brought it to you in a baby bottle. NO, not an airplane baby bottle, but an actual baby bottle, with a nipple and everything. So then they bring you your meal, basically, cheese fondue with bread, thats it. It was really good! However, I was feverish and the place was so tiny and there was so much heat coming from the fondue pots that I thought I was dying, so when we left, I stopped by Haagen Dazs.

We took the metro from the restaurant and headed to the tunnel where Diana was killed, then walked to the Louvre at night. SO BEAUTIFUL!

The next day, we headed to the Arc De Triomphe and nearby shops, including Laduree, the famous Macaroon shop! We also went into Louis Vuitton, where we had to wait in line to get in, so ridic.. Caitlin and I were dying to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, so Joy got a blanket and set us up a little champagne picnic while we waited in yet another line to get to the top. ONLY to find out the top was closed, so we settled for the middle observation deck, which was a way better view anyways.

That night was the absolute best night you could have in Paris. We popped some champagne and watched the sunset behind the Tower, then waited for it to sparkle at 10:00. I tried to photograph the progression of the sunset, so check that out at the bottom :)

Overall, I loved Paris. Of course, its no London, but hey, nothing can ever beat London in my eyes! I am still getting over my little cold, and will hopefully be as good as new tomorrow, xoxo