The week leading up to Paris was busy as usual. I was finishing up projects and papers (still need to write that art history paper due Thursday! Eek), but I managed. I had my cooking class on Tuesday with Catherine and Liat! We made a improvised edition of an eggplant sauce with pasta dish…we couldn’t find eggplant so we used zucchini instead. It came out well :] and we had fun either way.
Friday we were off to Paris!
I had already been to Paris once, and was a little iffy because I don’t particularly remember liking Paris…but I was only 9 and the most exciting part of that trip was a day spent at EuroDisney with my Daddy. Lol. Maybe this time around I could learn to appreciate the Louvre and all paris has to offer…
Liat had already left on Thursday and she stayed with family while there, so we met up when we arrived…but anyways. It was Catherine, savannah and I on the plane ride. The flight was surprisingly easy…I have a theory that I fly better when Catherine is around…she has a calming effect on me I suppose. Couldn’t tell you. But that’s that. We arrived in Paris around…12:30ish I would say maybe a little sooner. We were already running late, having to meet Liat at 1:30 at a metro stop, and we ended up not even making it until 2:30 with all of our luggage in hand. Poor Liat had to wait in that freezing metro with her cousin and Katie (one of savannah’s friends for an hour!) Love you Liat. We immediately went to the hostel, grabbed some lunch, and we were all ready to see Paris!
The first thing we did was see Notre Dame, snapped some pictures. Walked throughout the inside of it. Enjoyed the freezing cold, and we began walking down the river to the Louvre. It was only 5 pm and it was already almost DARK outside. Which drives me crazy…but anyways. We went into the Louvre and we all knew we wanted to immediately see the Mona Lisa, which we did. And then we were extremely overwhelmed with the 35,000 pieces of art the Louvre holds. So we wandered around, got a little tired of seeing so much Greek and Roman sculptures (are you aware of how many museums hold greek and roman artwork? What about all the other ancient cultures and civilizations? Huh? Hmm. Catherine and I both agreed we wanted to see more than just that and I was itching to go to the musee d’orsay because it holds a lot of impressionism artwork, but unfortunately we just didn’t have enough time to make it…so no monet for me :[ )
After the Louvre we walked up to champs d’elysees. Here I found a ferris wheel, which I reallyyyyy wanted to ride, but unfortunately I cannot justify a 10 euro ferris wheel ride. But it would’ve been beautiful in paris, I’m sure of it. Champs d’Elysees was so beautiful! It had Christmas lights decorated on all the trees and the Christmas market was set up on the side walk where you could find mittens, globes, Christmas decorations, mulled wine, hot chocolate, crepes, german food(random), chocolate covered fruits, cookies, etc etc. I could go on and on about what I saw at this market. I of course had to get some hot chocolate and then a chocolate covered apple with sprinkles. I have fallen in LOVE with chocolate covered apples. I plan on making them when I return back home because I could just never let those go…they are much too yummy.
After walking down champs d’elysees awhile, savannah and I were freezing, begging the girls to go to dinner. so we found a restaurant on the street, and I had croque madame :] and of course chocolate mousse. And now that I’m writing all of this down I am completely aware of how much chocolate I consumed that day. But I love chocolate, and I gave up pasta due to….pants not fitting properly anymore. So I feel like I can splurge on chocolate occasionally…okay maybe excessively. It’s my one weakness. I went from having many weaknesses, which included a lot of carbs. But I can never give up on my chocolate…or gelato. Anyways. I’m rambling about food. As usual
We finished our night at the Arch de Triomphe. Which was…an arch, and cool and stuff. You know? Lol. I think at this point in my trip I am culturally overwhelmed.
Saturday was our only full day in Paris, so we were up and out in the streets of Paris by 10 AM, because we needed to sleep a little!!!
We first went to another NewEurope free walking tour (I did one in Prague, and it was fantastic!) So I figured we should try our luck with the one in Paris, and it was again. Wonderful! Our tour guide was hilarious but quite possibly she was sexually deprived because she had wayyy too many sexual jokes for a city like paris! Lol.
Before the tour even started, we got to experience some snow, which continued throughout the entire 3.5 hour tour,…and I quickly learned after 30 minutes of snow…it’s just cold. Freeeeeeezing cold. I have no tolerance for the cold…whatsoever. But I trucked through it because I had never been in a snow drizzle like that, let alone thrown a snowball. So I was going to enjoy it!
We saw pretty much every major monument: Champs d’Elysees, arch de Triomphe, Louvre, Eiffel Tower, a few famous gardens, some other museums from the outside, and other important statues…which I feel like I don’t have to name because I already said I’m cultured-out and I’m in class, therefore I cannot get my map out and tell you the names of these things…I am a horrible person I know. I get to see Paris and I can’t even tell you some of the sights I saw. Really, I’m sorry. :]
After the walking tour and some snow, we went inside a museum for a bit to warm up, which tricked us into thinking they had a monet painting, but it was on an exhibition. So sad. Anyways.
We then headed to the Buddah Bar which was recommended by a friend’s sister’s friend…but unfortunately we could not afford it, but we did find a fantasticcccc chocolate shop right by it, which of course I spent too much money on truffles :] and we also found every major designer store…which I loved, and was itching to buy something. I resisted. Be proud father, be very proud.
We went to lunch at a cute little café/restaurant type place where our waiter spoke no English at all…so Catherine and I struggled through what we remembered of our French :] fantastic.
After lunch, it was already getting dark ouside so we made our way to the Eiffel tower to see it at night! And we even got to see it sparkle on the hour :] so pretty.
We took a crepe break, and our next stop was the Moulin rouge :]
We didn’t se a show or anything, since they are rather pricey…about 80 euro to see half naked women do the can-can. I’ll pass :] but we did of course go inside of the sex shops…so sorry parents. I should probably keep this g-rated. Not sure who is reading it still. But yes we went inside, and afterwards, Katie (Savannah’s friend that we met up throughout our trip) told us we should not have because the majority of them are owned by the Russian mafia…lol. Oops?
After the Moulin rouge, we went to go see the sacre ceour at night (a famous church), did a quick run by it. Decided it would be better to see during the day, and we went to the Galleries Lafayette to do some shopping…unfortunately got kicked out because it closed at nine, so we decided it was dinner time. Where Katie and her friend Trisha met up with us for dinner.
I had a fantastic chicken with mashed potatoes :] best chiciken of my LIFE. And then we went to a Scottish bar. The SCC championship game was on, which meant Auburn was playing…Catheirne attends Auburn…she was thrilled. And was the only one cheering on her team in the whole damn place :] and they played kings of leon multiple times in this bar. I seriously felt like I was in America and it felt sooooooo good.
The next morning (our last few hours in paris!!) we went to take pictures of ourselves in front of the Eiffel tower during the day :]
Then we went to the sacre ceour to go inside the church and see all it had to offer. I love going to churches on Sunday because we get to see mass :] and it makes the experience much much better, although I feel bad for intruding on people’s holy time…but I love hearing the music!
We then went to notre dame again…to get some souvenirs and eat a last lunch/crepe :]
We all agreed at the end of our trip that Paris was a fantastic way to end our weekend getaways with each other since it was our last one :/ , but it was a good ending! So no sad face necessary.
Now I only had a week left of class, and then 4 finals to take next week. It’s so sad to think I have less than 2 weeks left in Rome! I need to enjoy them as much as possible, but I have soooo much school work to do. I’ll make time for fun :]
Ciao,
Kate
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