PARIS

"you can't go all the way to France and not see Paris!"

My time in Paris was absolutely wonderful.

Day One

I did not arrive in Paris until around 5 o clock in the evening on Monday.   The train ride there felt like the longest day of my life.   As mentioned in one of my previous blogs.

Finally when we got to Paris, and I am standing in line to get off the train---I am smiling so big.  I think I was even saying aloud, "I'm in Paris, I'm in Paris!"    No one around me was smiling!  I can understand why the Parisians and businessmen would not be jumping up and down, but even the people who I could tell were touring---no smiles.   I probably looked like a crazy person.  Or maybe I am just really thankful.   Or maybe I realize how much I love France and it's culture and could not wait to see its capital city---either way  I did not care.  I'm a girl who came all alone all the way from Tennessee---YES I am going to be beaming when I arrive in Paris.  I did not care who stared.

  

I had told my friends that we would just meet at the train station, Gare de Lyon.  We did not set a specific location AT the station because I thought, "Oh it's a train station, we will just meet in the lobby."    Wrong.   In my opinion, its the worlds biggest train station.   It was like 10 times bigger and more crowded than the Chattanooga Airport.   There about three floors to this train station.  And no main "lobby."    My phone was not picking up any signal in the station either.  I did not know if their flight got delayed,  I did not know where to find them, ect.   I still had a smile on my face!  I just searched the whole station, everywhere I thought they could possibly be.   No where.   As I was approaching the last area I had not scoped out yet,  this young man approaches me and says,

 "Leah?"

I automatically (without even thinking of answering in English) said, 

"Oui?"

For about a good 5 seconds we both just stared at each other.   Then he said, "Jaclyn's friend...Leah..."

"Ah, YES!"

You see, I was meeting my friend Jaclyn and her 2 friends, but I did not know what they looked like.  I was looking for Jaclyn and her friends.   It was her friend Phil, they had split up to find me.    He got confused because I answered in French and knew that "Leah" was American.    We laughed about it all week long!   

We spent our first night in Paris eating dinner near the Eiffel Tower.   Every night, the tower lights up, and for about 10 minutes it has lights on it that begin to sparkle!  We caught the very end of this the first night.    

 Ah, PARE-EEEEE.

Day Two

let them eat cake!

Versailles not really in Paris, but a little bit outside.  It took us about a 50 minute subway ride to get there.   We left out hotel very early.   I have been living in the riviera, and I looked up the weather for Paris and it was supposed to be in the 70's.  I believe it was in the upper 50's.  It was also raining.  I did not bring my umbrella to France because I wanted to save room and thought I would just borrow one of the de Dinechin's umbrellas.  The bad news is that they do not have really any portable ones that would be good for traveling.     I ended up buying an 8 euro umbrella at the Versailles gift shop.  Not bad.

Long story short, we waited in line for 3 and a half hours for entrance to the palace.  Luckily it was not pouring down rain--but still--it was an adventure!  There were many French kids on field trips to Versailles that day.  It was so cute!  I do love French children!  Watching them all play and talk with each other made the long wait a little more bearable.  In the US when kids go on field trips they wear matching t-shirts with the school name.  In France, all the groups had bright colored hats on.  

Versailles was incredible.   I was awestruck!  We had previously decided it was an entire day trip, and I am glad we allowed time for that.   It was beautiful and full of history.  Being from the US,  there aren't many places that are older than 200-300 years old.  At least around where I live.  It is just so cool to me to be standing on the same land where so many events in history took place.    

I very much enjoyed the garden at Versailles as well.  It's HUGE. We spent hours there and did not even see a fourth of it.

We had lunch at a little restaurant in the garden.    And here is where it starts.  I have been living in France a month already.  Every single thing I eat tastes so fresh and delicious.    The only restaurants at Versailles are, of course.  Tourist-y.   I literally spent 10 dollars on a frozen pizza.  The bread my friends were eating was as hard as a rock.  I was so mad!  Here they are experience France for the first time and that is the food they get!  I was determined to help them find good French food later.   So,  if you plan a trip to Versailles, or any other tourist-y hot spot,  try to eat somewhere a little out of the way.  The food will probably be a lot cheaper, and a lot better.  

....later that evening I helped us all find TRUE crepes and we ate them as we watched the lights of the Eiffel Tower.  We sat on the grass and had a very lovely evening!  I could have eaten three of those crepes.  My crepe of choice was nutella and banana!

I also taught some of them how to properly (well probably not PROPERLY) but more close than how they were pronouncing the word "Crepe."    

AKA  "CRAAAPE"

Then it was time for the long trek through illegal street vendors,the subways, and walk back to our little hotel.  

Rest. 

Day Three

that da Vinci sure knows what he's doing

It was my second day in Paris and we had A LOT to see.  When you are traveling with others, you can't simply do all the things on your own little list.    We all had certain things we wanted to do.  By some miracle, we got almost all of it in.

Our day started off with a lovely boat ride around Paris!  We took the Bateau Mouche, as suggested by Christine and Christophe.  Everyone loved it!  It was very relaxing, and we got to see so much.  

Side story

If you know me well, you know I like often like my personal space when it comes to being around strangers.  I know that is typical of most Americans, but especially of me.  For instance, when we ride the subway together, if there is a seat alone,  I will go sit there instead of with my friends because I would be more comfortable there.  Anyway, on this little boat ride we all found our spot on the top floor of the boat.    Next thing I know---out of alllllll the open seats, this Asian lady comes and sits right next to me.  THERE ARE A MILLION OPEN SEATS!   So I just move seats on the other end of my friends.  No big deal.

5 minutes later.

An Asian man comes and sits right next to me.   While his wife is not evening sitting by him. All my friends start dying laughing. Can you believe that! It is not even like we had a great row or anything.  So, I move away from him and my friends, and sat in a row all by myself.  And I very much enjoyed all my leg room, putting my purse on an empty seat next to me (yes, I was still holding on to it) and relaxing while seeing Paris.

Next on the agenda was Notre Dame!  I was very excited.   Apparently it is almost the 850th anniversary.   It was free to enter, which was nice.   I even lit a candle and said a prayer inside.  How cool.   Like I said, there is no feeling like standing where so much history took place!  Just think of all the people that stood in there before me.  Incredible.

After Notre Dame we were very hungry---but I was NOT going to have another repeat of yesterdays lunch.   I think I might have been a little bit bossy in this moment, but it was for the good of everyone else!    All around Notre Dame was tourist-y restaurants.  They all had the same red umbrellas and writing on them that said,   "Hot Dogs, Crepes, Burgers"

Uhh, no.  That is not a legit French cafe!

After fast walking through the hustle and bustle, I found us the perfect spot!   We took our lunch to the park behind Notre Dame.  It was lovely!  Minus all the tourists that kept feeding the pigeons!  Ewwwwww.   

It was a good thing I bought that umbrella, because at this point it started to rain!  Everyone wanted to see Moulin Rouge.    After figuring out what subways we needed to take, and actually getting on the subway---you could tell we were leaving  the nice part of the city.   You could tell by the people on the subway where we were headed.   Actually you could tell by the smell of the people on the subway where we were headed.   It was very sad.   I felt a little unsafe.  Only on the subway though.  Perhaps since it was so crowded and smelled bad  it made me feel uncomfortable--I don't know. 

Once we got off the subway I felt better!  But still we were on "that" side of town.  I was thankful we had a male in our group this moment.  The girls and I made sure not to make eye contact with people, and walk fast.  We got to Moulin Rouge, snapped some pics and quickly headed back.

DISCLAIMER

*Mom, take deep breaths as you read this

But knowing me, I desperately had to use the restroom.  I had been holding it!  I did not want to go in that section of town, but we passed a single public restroom.  The group said I would be fine and that they would wait right outside.  The restroom was one of those where its in the middle of a little park, you push the door open, its one single room with a toilet and sink, and then you press the button for it to open.   Kind of like the US port-o-pottys.  Anyway, I press the button for the restroom to open, begin to walk in and all the sudden this large, lady wrapped in linens who was old and looked like she might be a gypsy starts going into the bathroom with me.  I push her out of my way and made it out.  She starts talking to me, I had no clue what she was saying, but my friends and I just walked away quickly.  I know that some people want to wash your hands for you so you will pay them, but not in a SINGLE ROOM TOILET.  Why would I want to use the bathroom in front of a stranger!! Maybe she was harmless, I don't know.   It was odd.

I was even more creeped out on the subway ride back after this event. I was happy to get out of there.

The Louvre!

The Louvre is a giant art museum in Paris.  It takes place in an old palace that was replaced by the palace of Versailles.  When we were waiting in line to get in, this couple handed me two free entrance tickets.  Can you believe that!   What a blessing.

I do not think the Louvre has air conditioning, or perhaps it was just broken that day.  It was so hot and so crowded inside.  There were so many incredible things to see, we had to press through.  There was not even a line to see the Mona Lisa!  I really felt like she was looking at me!  It was an experience, to actually be observing the most famous painting in the world. I got to look at the colors, the lines, the shadows, all in person.   I decided that da Vinci really knew what he was doing.    Incroyable!

After this, I really wanted to talk a little stroll on the Champs Elysées.   What an amazing, lovely, shopping street.   Finally found my way to the H&M.  I did not spent much time in there, because I am not in Paris to shop, but still, had to buy a few things on the Champs Elysees!  At the end of the street we got to see the Arc du Triumph.

I am so thankful that I got to see and experience Paris.  

I am very happy I decided to see Paris towards the middle of my stay here in France.  I really appreciated the city and it was great having known a little bit about the true culture here before seeing this city.  However--   In my opinion, southern France is the most beautiful, beautiful place.   Really, there is nothing like the French Riviera.  I am so grateful to be living here, even if for a short time.    I know I am right where I am supposed to be.

now..

You can't go all the way to Paris and not see southern France.

Leah