The rest of day 14, days 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22
So we didn't end up going to La Tour Eiffel for the fireworks. Instead, Raquel, Cynthia, Burgundy, Olivia and I went to the Firemen's Ball!!!! It was awesome!!!!! Loud music, hot firemen in tight uniforms, drinking, dancing, and all around a great time! We got in around 9:30 and left about midnight, then went back to the Foyer to go to bed. Finally got to bed around 1:30. We danced for nearly 3 hours and man were my legs and quads killing me the next day but it was so worth it!
Sunday, we had to get up early to head out to Giverny and Rouen. I still wasn't feeling all that great, and it didn't help that I danced for several hours in a smokey area then got little sleep. But the trip was nice, even if the bus ride was long and nauseating.
Giverny was beautiful! I got a lot of pictures and it was just amazing. Rouen was a little... morbid if you ask me. They've made it a shrine to Joan of Arc, but hundreds of years after the fact... It's really kinda creepy. And the monument they had in the spot where she was burned at the stake is a bit inappropriate if you ask me... But it was still awesome to see such an historic town. We had lunch at this quaint little French restaurant where the servers were really nice. it was called Le Torque d'Or. And then we walked around historic Rouen. We went to l'Eglise de Jeanne d'Arc, then walked through the historic bit of town to another church with the "butter tower."
Monday I ended up staying in all day because I just did not feel good at all. In the evening Cynthia and I found and booked a place for our stay in Scotland then booked flights so we are good there. Now we just need to catch a train and ride a bus and we'll be happy campers!
Tuesday we had class, then after class Michelle, Cynthia and I went to go have lunch at a small little restaurant Michelle had eaten at when she first arrived. Afterwards we walked around the district to find Gibert Joseph where we ended up losing each other! It was rather amusing. We stopped outside and I told them I'd be right back but apparently wasn't heard and didn't know they had followed me in, so when I found what I had went in to find I zoomed out of there so they wouldn't have to wait on me (not knowing they had followed me upstairs) and then promptly couldn't find them. I went around out front for about 5 minutes, went to the next building over with post cards, searched there, nothing. Went to the next building with the movies and cd's, still not there. Went back to the first building and waited outside for 10 minutes, nothing.
So then I thought maybe they were at the lingerie store we'd agreed to go to, so I hiked over there and sat outside for 15 minutes... Turns out they we're a handful of minutes behind me at every stop I'd made!!! Hilarious. But I didn't find this out til much later. So, having not found them I hopped on the metro to come back and shower since it was hot and muggy and I had been sweaty all day.
Wednesday was fairly low key, had the midterm, went home and watched tv.
Thursday was also low key. Had class, went over the midterm, I did fairly well. Went home with Cynthia where we made lunch before going back to Conde for the tour through Musée d'Orsay. We went to the museum, I got to see several of Monet's pieces which were nice but it was too crowded for me so I zoomed out of there, walked about 2 miles along the Seine back to the St Michel district. Since I had my camera this time, I took pictures of some of Les Jardins de Toiliers, the outside of Le Louvre and then went back to St. Michel metro station to get a snack and see if I could find any gifts for family. Not finding anything I went home.
Friday again, class, lunch with Cynthia, shopping for our trip to Versaille then we went and walked around The Gallery Lafayette, trying to find gifts for people, but found nothing. So then we went walking down Rue Vaugirard and tried to find something there. Ended up walking almost 2 hours. Got back to the Foyer and decided to go out for drinks for happy hour... Bad idea. The place we had chosen (which looked like they advertised cocktails for 2 euro, but really it was 2 euro off the price of regular price...) Hers was super syrup-y and mine was watery, we were not happy pandas.
Saturday dawned bright and early for me. Got up about 6:30 to have breakfast before going to Versailles. Met Vincent and the others at Gare Montparnasse where we took the RER to Versaille. We arrived about 9:30, walked through the Château, which was BEAUTIFUL, then met up for lunch.
The only thing I found odd about the Chateau was the modern art being displayed throughout that seemed to take up most of the rooms and we're just so obnoxiously out of place that they were distracting. However, the giant high heels made out of pots and their lids was cool. The giant helicopter covered in neon pink feathers, however, not so much...
We sat and enjoyed lunch on the grand steps of the garden then about 1:30, Ekaterina, Sadie, another girl and myself decided to go off to Le Hameau de la Reine. We stopped at the lake to sit and play with the geese where the babies tried eating Ekaterina's hand and the mama was down right mean!
When we finally made it to the Hameau, it was breathtaking! It was so gorgeous! We walked around Marie Antoinette's personal little village, saw where she housed her clothes, her food, her shoes, and of course, her cakes. I also got an amazing idea for my house and flowers.
Then we walked over to Le Petit Trianon, then back to the front gates for dinner.
Ekaterina, Sati and I ended up going off on our own and found a Turkish place that was delicious! Then afterwards, we went and got coffee since we were all so sleepy and still had to be up for a few hours yet. Afterwards, we headed back to Versaille for the Fountain, Lights and Fireworks show. We got a great spot on the grand stairs leading to the garden, and proceeded to sit for two hours guarding our spot while the sun set. The fire show was nifty, the fireworks pretty, but ultimately it was lacking in pizazz... For our program, we got to choose two extra activities. I had chosen the Ballet, and then the fireworks show at Versailles (which, by the way, going early, I had to pay an extra 25 euro to get in for the day, our ticket we had chosen was just for the fireworks). None of us felt that the fireworks should have been one of our special choices, but part of the regular program, because it was a 23 euro ticket, for 15 minutes of fireworks and fire show... and 2 hours of waiting on the steps in a large crowd...
After the show, we hiked back to the RER, got back to the dorm about 12:00. I took a long hot shower, because I was all grimy from the sheer amount of dust and sweat and muggy air then I went to bed.
This morning I slept in til about 9:30 when Raquel came and knocked on my door and asked me if I'd be ready to go in about 45 minutes to go to Les Marche's aux Puces (the largest flea market in all of Europe). We sat and ejoyed breakfast then hopped on the metro to get to the market.
All in all, the market was not that impressive... Yes it was large, yes it had a lot going on... However, everything was either over priced or made in China... not exactly my idea of a great outdoor market for gift ideas.
So I was feeling a bit despondent and down when we decided to head over to Sacre Coeur. We stopped off at Albert's a quaint little restaurant in the Montmartre district where from that point on, the day got amazing. I had a cafe creme avec Bailey's and the day got better. Raquel ordered duck, while, as I wasn't that hungry, I ordered deviled eggs, another cafe creme avec Bailey's and a mi-cuit au chocolat (a petite chocolate cake with ice cream and a delicious vanilla sauce). Then we sat and chatted with this old guy about Paris then hiked up to the Sacre Coeur district.
I FINALLY found little gifts for some of my family that I know they will actually like and appreeciate and aren't just tacky touristic gimmicky gifts. Then we went to Sacre Coeur and walked around the church, which was by far the most beautiful church I have ever been inside. Then we hiked the 300 stairs to the top of the dome of Sacre Coeur where we saw the most amazing view of Paris! It was a full 360 degree view from way high up on this hill atop the Sacre Coeur. It was truly breath taking and worht it!
Then afterwards, we trekked down and out, where my legs started spasming crazily. They just wouldn't stop! It was crazy!
So we decided we'd go and lay in the grass at this little park we had seen from up in Sacre Coeur. Along the way, we saw this group of Parisien's playing a game Raquel had never seen before, but I had, and had played before. Bocce Ball! Or as the French say Pétanque! One of my favorite games while camping!
So we stopped so I could explain to Raquel how the game worked, and watch as they played. Then one of the guys came over and started talking to us and explaining what I couldn't to Raquel the rules and the game itself then another of the guys invited us down for a drink. They were drinking Ricard, a drink made in Marseille that is, supposedly, the drinnk of choice for Pétanque. We ended up sitting, talking, playing and drinking with them for the next two hours then they invited us to dinner.
While we talked, we got to ask them all sorts of crazy and random questions that you don't want to ask in class, such as small cultural questions, personal questions, slang, dirty words, etc. They humored us so much and we're just such amazing people!!!
It was truly the most amazing afternoon in Paris I have had and I can honestly say I can leave Paris now, fully happy and fulfilled with this month. Only one thing I truly want/need to do, and that is go see La Tour Eiffel in person, and not while on a boat.
Tomorrow we have our last class of Phoentics, then our final on Tuesday. Wednesday Lisa gets on a place to get here and Thursday she arrives. Then Friday we are off to Scotland!
The time has flown, it doesn't seem like only 3 weeks have passed, but at the same time it feels like we've been here nearly 3 months with the sheer amount of stuff we have done, seen, accomplished, eaten, heard and experienced. It has been truly amazing, and this afternoon just made it all that more amazing.
Now, to bed.
Sunday, we had to get up early to head out to Giverny and Rouen. I still wasn't feeling all that great, and it didn't help that I danced for several hours in a smokey area then got little sleep. But the trip was nice, even if the bus ride was long and nauseating.
Giverny was beautiful! I got a lot of pictures and it was just amazing. Rouen was a little... morbid if you ask me. They've made it a shrine to Joan of Arc, but hundreds of years after the fact... It's really kinda creepy. And the monument they had in the spot where she was burned at the stake is a bit inappropriate if you ask me... But it was still awesome to see such an historic town. We had lunch at this quaint little French restaurant where the servers were really nice. it was called Le Torque d'Or. And then we walked around historic Rouen. We went to l'Eglise de Jeanne d'Arc, then walked through the historic bit of town to another church with the "butter tower."
Monday I ended up staying in all day because I just did not feel good at all. In the evening Cynthia and I found and booked a place for our stay in Scotland then booked flights so we are good there. Now we just need to catch a train and ride a bus and we'll be happy campers!
Tuesday we had class, then after class Michelle, Cynthia and I went to go have lunch at a small little restaurant Michelle had eaten at when she first arrived. Afterwards we walked around the district to find Gibert Joseph where we ended up losing each other! It was rather amusing. We stopped outside and I told them I'd be right back but apparently wasn't heard and didn't know they had followed me in, so when I found what I had went in to find I zoomed out of there so they wouldn't have to wait on me (not knowing they had followed me upstairs) and then promptly couldn't find them. I went around out front for about 5 minutes, went to the next building over with post cards, searched there, nothing. Went to the next building with the movies and cd's, still not there. Went back to the first building and waited outside for 10 minutes, nothing.
So then I thought maybe they were at the lingerie store we'd agreed to go to, so I hiked over there and sat outside for 15 minutes... Turns out they we're a handful of minutes behind me at every stop I'd made!!! Hilarious. But I didn't find this out til much later. So, having not found them I hopped on the metro to come back and shower since it was hot and muggy and I had been sweaty all day.
Wednesday was fairly low key, had the midterm, went home and watched tv.
Thursday was also low key. Had class, went over the midterm, I did fairly well. Went home with Cynthia where we made lunch before going back to Conde for the tour through Musée d'Orsay. We went to the museum, I got to see several of Monet's pieces which were nice but it was too crowded for me so I zoomed out of there, walked about 2 miles along the Seine back to the St Michel district. Since I had my camera this time, I took pictures of some of Les Jardins de Toiliers, the outside of Le Louvre and then went back to St. Michel metro station to get a snack and see if I could find any gifts for family. Not finding anything I went home.
Friday again, class, lunch with Cynthia, shopping for our trip to Versaille then we went and walked around The Gallery Lafayette, trying to find gifts for people, but found nothing. So then we went walking down Rue Vaugirard and tried to find something there. Ended up walking almost 2 hours. Got back to the Foyer and decided to go out for drinks for happy hour... Bad idea. The place we had chosen (which looked like they advertised cocktails for 2 euro, but really it was 2 euro off the price of regular price...) Hers was super syrup-y and mine was watery, we were not happy pandas.
Saturday dawned bright and early for me. Got up about 6:30 to have breakfast before going to Versailles. Met Vincent and the others at Gare Montparnasse where we took the RER to Versaille. We arrived about 9:30, walked through the Château, which was BEAUTIFUL, then met up for lunch.
The only thing I found odd about the Chateau was the modern art being displayed throughout that seemed to take up most of the rooms and we're just so obnoxiously out of place that they were distracting. However, the giant high heels made out of pots and their lids was cool. The giant helicopter covered in neon pink feathers, however, not so much...
We sat and enjoyed lunch on the grand steps of the garden then about 1:30, Ekaterina, Sadie, another girl and myself decided to go off to Le Hameau de la Reine. We stopped at the lake to sit and play with the geese where the babies tried eating Ekaterina's hand and the mama was down right mean!
When we finally made it to the Hameau, it was breathtaking! It was so gorgeous! We walked around Marie Antoinette's personal little village, saw where she housed her clothes, her food, her shoes, and of course, her cakes. I also got an amazing idea for my house and flowers.
Then we walked over to Le Petit Trianon, then back to the front gates for dinner.
Ekaterina, Sati and I ended up going off on our own and found a Turkish place that was delicious! Then afterwards, we went and got coffee since we were all so sleepy and still had to be up for a few hours yet. Afterwards, we headed back to Versaille for the Fountain, Lights and Fireworks show. We got a great spot on the grand stairs leading to the garden, and proceeded to sit for two hours guarding our spot while the sun set. The fire show was nifty, the fireworks pretty, but ultimately it was lacking in pizazz... For our program, we got to choose two extra activities. I had chosen the Ballet, and then the fireworks show at Versailles (which, by the way, going early, I had to pay an extra 25 euro to get in for the day, our ticket we had chosen was just for the fireworks). None of us felt that the fireworks should have been one of our special choices, but part of the regular program, because it was a 23 euro ticket, for 15 minutes of fireworks and fire show... and 2 hours of waiting on the steps in a large crowd...
After the show, we hiked back to the RER, got back to the dorm about 12:00. I took a long hot shower, because I was all grimy from the sheer amount of dust and sweat and muggy air then I went to bed.
This morning I slept in til about 9:30 when Raquel came and knocked on my door and asked me if I'd be ready to go in about 45 minutes to go to Les Marche's aux Puces (the largest flea market in all of Europe). We sat and ejoyed breakfast then hopped on the metro to get to the market.
All in all, the market was not that impressive... Yes it was large, yes it had a lot going on... However, everything was either over priced or made in China... not exactly my idea of a great outdoor market for gift ideas.
So I was feeling a bit despondent and down when we decided to head over to Sacre Coeur. We stopped off at Albert's a quaint little restaurant in the Montmartre district where from that point on, the day got amazing. I had a cafe creme avec Bailey's and the day got better. Raquel ordered duck, while, as I wasn't that hungry, I ordered deviled eggs, another cafe creme avec Bailey's and a mi-cuit au chocolat (a petite chocolate cake with ice cream and a delicious vanilla sauce). Then we sat and chatted with this old guy about Paris then hiked up to the Sacre Coeur district.
I FINALLY found little gifts for some of my family that I know they will actually like and appreeciate and aren't just tacky touristic gimmicky gifts. Then we went to Sacre Coeur and walked around the church, which was by far the most beautiful church I have ever been inside. Then we hiked the 300 stairs to the top of the dome of Sacre Coeur where we saw the most amazing view of Paris! It was a full 360 degree view from way high up on this hill atop the Sacre Coeur. It was truly breath taking and worht it!
Then afterwards, we trekked down and out, where my legs started spasming crazily. They just wouldn't stop! It was crazy!
So we decided we'd go and lay in the grass at this little park we had seen from up in Sacre Coeur. Along the way, we saw this group of Parisien's playing a game Raquel had never seen before, but I had, and had played before. Bocce Ball! Or as the French say Pétanque! One of my favorite games while camping!
So we stopped so I could explain to Raquel how the game worked, and watch as they played. Then one of the guys came over and started talking to us and explaining what I couldn't to Raquel the rules and the game itself then another of the guys invited us down for a drink. They were drinking Ricard, a drink made in Marseille that is, supposedly, the drinnk of choice for Pétanque. We ended up sitting, talking, playing and drinking with them for the next two hours then they invited us to dinner.
While we talked, we got to ask them all sorts of crazy and random questions that you don't want to ask in class, such as small cultural questions, personal questions, slang, dirty words, etc. They humored us so much and we're just such amazing people!!!
It was truly the most amazing afternoon in Paris I have had and I can honestly say I can leave Paris now, fully happy and fulfilled with this month. Only one thing I truly want/need to do, and that is go see La Tour Eiffel in person, and not while on a boat.
Tomorrow we have our last class of Phoentics, then our final on Tuesday. Wednesday Lisa gets on a place to get here and Thursday she arrives. Then Friday we are off to Scotland!
The time has flown, it doesn't seem like only 3 weeks have passed, but at the same time it feels like we've been here nearly 3 months with the sheer amount of stuff we have done, seen, accomplished, eaten, heard and experienced. It has been truly amazing, and this afternoon just made it all that more amazing.
Now, to bed.