I went to Brugges (Yes, that is the traditional spelling) today with Lauren! We had to get up at the atrocious hour of 5 am to leave at 6 am, and thank god we did. For some reason the universe wanted to make it difficult for us to get there. First, the line we were going to take was closed, so we had to go back to Chatelet, but we went to the wrong side and missed the train. FINALLY, we got on the right train and made it to skyrama. When we were on the bus and we started to take off, my tired state subsided and I was just excited!
On our way there, me and Lauren basically napped the entire time and did some reading. We passed the Somme area, and it was raining the entire bus ride to Bruges so I was afraid that we were going to have to spend our day walking in the rain. However, fates would have it differently and the weather was quite beautiful. We started off our time in Brugges with a walking tour of the city. If I had to describe Brugges in one word it would be enchanting. The city is so old and beautiful. All the buildings are brick and the streets are tiny. I felt like I should have been in a dress and bonnet. What I really liked about the city was that I saw only one Subway and NO Starbucks. This is a place that is basically untouched by global corporations, which just makes it all the more wonderful to me.
After our walking tour Lauren and I went to get some Mussels, beer and fries. We got the petit size for 15 euro, but there was nothing petit about our meal. We had Leffe beer, which was beyond delicious and then we each got these giant bowls, no buckets, of mussels. Add in the fries, and I was in heaven. We only had a limited amount of time in Brugges so Lauren and I finished up fairly quickly, and then headed off to the Christmas markets to get waffles. Ahh...Belgium waffles. I had a chocolate one, and I am not ashamed to admit that I devoured the waffle. It was sinfully good.
When we were done with our waffles we did some chocolate shop hopping. I don't understand how people in Brugges are not fat, because this was without a doubt the best chocolate I have ever had in my entire life. Each store was giving out samples and Lauren and I purchased some individual pieces of chocolate and some chocolate bars for friends at home. What I loved most about the stores were their window displays. Brugges really goes all out for Christmas, and seeing chocolate Santas and the lights really made me happy. I felt like I was in a movie. The smallness of the city with the overdone decorations for Christmas created this feeling that cannot be properly put into words. All I know is that this was such an amazing day.
Well this is my last week in Paris. I have four more days of classes, a final test and a paper. Then it is off to Rome with my family, then a couple more days in Paris with bubba. Two weeks from today I'll be home. Two weeks. Where did the time go?
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Last Saturday in Paris with friends...
I had a fantastic day in Paris with my friends. First of all, I woke up to snow flurries creating a gorgeous winter wonderland. Seriously, I cannot even write how happy I was. I love snow. Lauren, Jessen and I decided to go out in Paris and enjoy the weather, rather than stay in. We went to Les Philosophes to do some work and reading, and we had this amazing hot chocolate there. After doing work for a while, we went to King Falafel for dinner and then to Shywawa for a pint of McEwans. We hung out at the bar for a while before heading off to get gelato and crepes. By the time we were heading back we had been out for over eight hours during the day, making for a perfect day in Paris. This was the last Saturday in Paris with my friends. Just writing that makes me tear up. I have had such an amazing time with these people and I am so happy I get to share these memories with them. Even though I know I'll see them at Chicago and we will have new experiences and stories there, I have experienced something special with them. I lived in a foreign country and traveled with people who I had never met before this program, and they have become some great friends. It's such a wonderful thing. It's comforting to know that we'll always have Paris.
On to a more serious topic - I had an intense conversation with my mom tonight. I made a decision to spend more money here, and then I would just get a job at school or take out a loan. I don't regret that decision for a moment, but also the thought of money, signing my lease for winter, classes, RSO's, volunteering, and looking for jobs brought me back a little bit to the reality of Chicago. The simple fact of the matter is that I want to stay here. I commend my parents on trusting me to get on the plane by myself and actually go to the States. It is so tempting to put my brother on the plane and say bye bubba, and just stay here. I could find a job as a waitress I'm sure, and even though it wouldn't be the most lavish life style at least I'd be here. But alas I have the Catholic guilt without being Catholic, and thus I most likely will be on that plane home on December 19th.
But don't get me wrong. Am I looking forward to seeing my friends at school and home? One thousand percent yes. Am I looking forward to classes? Yes. What I fear about returning home is that I am going to get tied down and become a "someday" person. I don't want to go back, graduate and then just get a job and lead the typical American life of always working but never doing. So many people I know don't travel, don't indulge their selves, and are stressed out all the time. I cringe at this life. I fear it. I vow that I will not end up that way, even though the battle will be difficult. I will not become my job. I will not sacrifice my happiness for the almighty dollar. I will not make my life about another's.
I also fear regression and going back to the person I was back home. I wasn't a bad person or anything, but I hadn't lived. Rather, I was clinging to something, rather someone, and I have realized that I need to let them go. So that is what I am doing. While I appreciate the past, (duh, history major!) I have personally been too involved in my own. Time to make history rather than dwelling on what was.
Well in four and a half hours I have be up because Lauren and I are going to Bruges. Hello chocolate, waffles, mussels, beer, and Christmas markets! Good night from Paris all.
On to a more serious topic - I had an intense conversation with my mom tonight. I made a decision to spend more money here, and then I would just get a job at school or take out a loan. I don't regret that decision for a moment, but also the thought of money, signing my lease for winter, classes, RSO's, volunteering, and looking for jobs brought me back a little bit to the reality of Chicago. The simple fact of the matter is that I want to stay here. I commend my parents on trusting me to get on the plane by myself and actually go to the States. It is so tempting to put my brother on the plane and say bye bubba, and just stay here. I could find a job as a waitress I'm sure, and even though it wouldn't be the most lavish life style at least I'd be here. But alas I have the Catholic guilt without being Catholic, and thus I most likely will be on that plane home on December 19th.
But don't get me wrong. Am I looking forward to seeing my friends at school and home? One thousand percent yes. Am I looking forward to classes? Yes. What I fear about returning home is that I am going to get tied down and become a "someday" person. I don't want to go back, graduate and then just get a job and lead the typical American life of always working but never doing. So many people I know don't travel, don't indulge their selves, and are stressed out all the time. I cringe at this life. I fear it. I vow that I will not end up that way, even though the battle will be difficult. I will not become my job. I will not sacrifice my happiness for the almighty dollar. I will not make my life about another's.
I also fear regression and going back to the person I was back home. I wasn't a bad person or anything, but I hadn't lived. Rather, I was clinging to something, rather someone, and I have realized that I need to let them go. So that is what I am doing. While I appreciate the past, (duh, history major!) I have personally been too involved in my own. Time to make history rather than dwelling on what was.
Well in four and a half hours I have be up because Lauren and I are going to Bruges. Hello chocolate, waffles, mussels, beer, and Christmas markets! Good night from Paris all.
Visiting the Somme.
Before I begin divulging into this post, I want to say that I am so thankful to all the soldiers who have, do and will serve. A special thank you to my friend Brent. You are missed and I am more grateful than I can ever express.
So yesterday my class took a day trip to the Somme. It was a little challenging for me at first because the night before I had been out until 3:30 am at a club, and so the prospect of getting up at 7 am to catch a bus and then spend all day in the cold didn't not sound appealing. But upon seeing the winter wonderland of it all, my pessimistic attitude disappeared and I became excited! We first walked through the WWI museum, which is in this old castle. The museum had the uniforms and equipment of soldier spread out on the floor, like they were in a shallow grave. This was so fitting. The trench served the purpose as a home, defense, bed, etc. for the soldiers, but it could also just as easily become their grave. One of the things I found most striking was that a majority of the soldiers had music of some sort on them, whether it be a flute, accordian, record player, music was not just entertainment but a way to keep sane. It reminded me of the scene in Shawshank Redemption when he sneaks into the office and plays opera over the intercome. Music is good for the soul.
While the museum was impacting, nothing could have prepared me for the cemetery, memorial and trenches we visited. The snow in the cemetery had been untouched, and there were black crosses for gravestones all in a row. It was tragically beautiful. I felt horrible walking on the snow and creating foot prints, it was as though we were disturbing the peace. There were four mass graves, making over 17,000 people buried on that one small plot of land. What was most striking was that the Jewish-Germans who had served in the war had their own grave marker that wasn't a cross, but rather was a headstone with the Jewish star on it. One would have thought that during WWII the German soldiers would have decimated those grave stones, but there they were, intact. In fact, Hitler had visited that cemetery. This shows the profound amount of respect that the soldiers of WWI had, no matter what religion they belonged to.
The trenches gave an entirely different aspect. While the memorial and cemetery gave a visual for the amount of people lost, the trenches told the story of the battle itself. We stood on the front line, and as our tour guide told the tale of how the soldiers were ploughed down by the German machine gun, I could imagine the men climbing from the trenches, knowing that they were on a suicide mission. The machine gun took these men down like flies, and there was nothing that they could do about it. Imagine 800 Newfoundlanders coming from the trenches, and only a handful lived to see the next day. It's just so inhumane and horrific. But at the same time, I feel like weapons such as the machine gun take away the personal aspect of war so the soldiers don't feel so guilty about killing another human being. If you are simply swinging a gun around and it is shooting then there really is no target, whereas if you fire a gun you are aiming at someone. Same with bombs, you don't feel the guilt of connection if you drop a bomb on a town because you don't actually see the person who is dying because of what you are doing. Haunting isn't it?
I found the weather to be very fitting for our visit. The sky was white, and snow was everywhere. It was freezing and we were all cold, but while we were suffering one had to think of the soldier who lived in the trench during the winter. They didn't have a nice warm coach bus to go to, they didn't have the mittens, big puffy jackets, and the other materials that we have access to. No, they lived in the ground. They were always cold, always suffering. So even if they weren't being shot at, they were living an entirely different form of hell. And while I enjoyed the beautiful landscape of my winter wonderland, the soldiers wouldn't have seen white beauty, but most likely probably a blank canvas just waiting to be painted with the blood of soldiers and the black of bombs.
I want to visit more war sites. It puts things into perspective in a way that nothing else in the world can. And with that I say goodnight.
So yesterday my class took a day trip to the Somme. It was a little challenging for me at first because the night before I had been out until 3:30 am at a club, and so the prospect of getting up at 7 am to catch a bus and then spend all day in the cold didn't not sound appealing. But upon seeing the winter wonderland of it all, my pessimistic attitude disappeared and I became excited! We first walked through the WWI museum, which is in this old castle. The museum had the uniforms and equipment of soldier spread out on the floor, like they were in a shallow grave. This was so fitting. The trench served the purpose as a home, defense, bed, etc. for the soldiers, but it could also just as easily become their grave. One of the things I found most striking was that a majority of the soldiers had music of some sort on them, whether it be a flute, accordian, record player, music was not just entertainment but a way to keep sane. It reminded me of the scene in Shawshank Redemption when he sneaks into the office and plays opera over the intercome. Music is good for the soul.
While the museum was impacting, nothing could have prepared me for the cemetery, memorial and trenches we visited. The snow in the cemetery had been untouched, and there were black crosses for gravestones all in a row. It was tragically beautiful. I felt horrible walking on the snow and creating foot prints, it was as though we were disturbing the peace. There were four mass graves, making over 17,000 people buried on that one small plot of land. What was most striking was that the Jewish-Germans who had served in the war had their own grave marker that wasn't a cross, but rather was a headstone with the Jewish star on it. One would have thought that during WWII the German soldiers would have decimated those grave stones, but there they were, intact. In fact, Hitler had visited that cemetery. This shows the profound amount of respect that the soldiers of WWI had, no matter what religion they belonged to.
The trenches gave an entirely different aspect. While the memorial and cemetery gave a visual for the amount of people lost, the trenches told the story of the battle itself. We stood on the front line, and as our tour guide told the tale of how the soldiers were ploughed down by the German machine gun, I could imagine the men climbing from the trenches, knowing that they were on a suicide mission. The machine gun took these men down like flies, and there was nothing that they could do about it. Imagine 800 Newfoundlanders coming from the trenches, and only a handful lived to see the next day. It's just so inhumane and horrific. But at the same time, I feel like weapons such as the machine gun take away the personal aspect of war so the soldiers don't feel so guilty about killing another human being. If you are simply swinging a gun around and it is shooting then there really is no target, whereas if you fire a gun you are aiming at someone. Same with bombs, you don't feel the guilt of connection if you drop a bomb on a town because you don't actually see the person who is dying because of what you are doing. Haunting isn't it?
I found the weather to be very fitting for our visit. The sky was white, and snow was everywhere. It was freezing and we were all cold, but while we were suffering one had to think of the soldier who lived in the trench during the winter. They didn't have a nice warm coach bus to go to, they didn't have the mittens, big puffy jackets, and the other materials that we have access to. No, they lived in the ground. They were always cold, always suffering. So even if they weren't being shot at, they were living an entirely different form of hell. And while I enjoyed the beautiful landscape of my winter wonderland, the soldiers wouldn't have seen white beauty, but most likely probably a blank canvas just waiting to be painted with the blood of soldiers and the black of bombs.
I want to visit more war sites. It puts things into perspective in a way that nothing else in the world can. And with that I say goodnight.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Cannot believe it is already December
Today is December 1st. Usually when the month becomes December I get super excited because that means it is my birthday and Christmas month. In the past I have obsessed over my birthday and what presents I would get and how I would celebrate. But not this year. Even though I am turning the monumental 21, I am not excited to celebrate because that means I won't be here. Sure, I have a fantastic dinner planned at Chino Latino with some of my best friends and then a hotel party a week later, but in all honesty my dream birthday would be to walk the Champs Elysees at night with the Christmas lights and the Eiffel Tower light show in the background, a cup of Angelina's hot chocolate in my hand, and snow falling.
I basically had that perfection yesterday with Jake. We got Angelina's hot chocolate and I had a Mont Blanc, then we walked through the Christmas market and down the Champs Elysees with the christmas lights and the Eiffel Tower shimmering. It was pretty much a perfect night. And then this morning Jessen and I went to the Rodin museum and Napoleon's tomb. I have never before been moved by sculptures, but Rodin's moved me. They had such passion to them. They weren't ornamental or showy, but just these real, raw pieces of art. I loved it. After class today me and eight other girls went to the Frog and the British Library for drinks and dinner. It was so much fun to just sit and talk. But at the same time, for me, these types of moments are bittersweet because I know that there are so few moments like this to look forward to. Some people are leaving a week from tomorrow, and I follow soon after.
Yesterday after I got back from the Champs Elysees with Jake, I applied for jobs and apartment searched. I am going to be living at 51st and Woodlawn next quarter, and I already have two job interviews lined up for when I get back to Chicago. It's so surreal to me to think that I actually have to go back and start going back into the UChicago mode. I will be reading 1200 pages a week, writing a bazillion papers, working, doing RSO's, and trying to have a social life somewhere in there. I'm always busy, which I used to love but now I am not sure how I am going to handle it. I am used to being able to go out and just have fun, experience different cities and cultures, and do what I want. I am afraid of being thrust back into American society because I have realized that it is a society I do not like. I just keep telling myself that I have only 1.5 years and then I am going to be back in France teaching English and then hopefully somewhere in the British Isles for law school.
Night all.
I basically had that perfection yesterday with Jake. We got Angelina's hot chocolate and I had a Mont Blanc, then we walked through the Christmas market and down the Champs Elysees with the christmas lights and the Eiffel Tower shimmering. It was pretty much a perfect night. And then this morning Jessen and I went to the Rodin museum and Napoleon's tomb. I have never before been moved by sculptures, but Rodin's moved me. They had such passion to them. They weren't ornamental or showy, but just these real, raw pieces of art. I loved it. After class today me and eight other girls went to the Frog and the British Library for drinks and dinner. It was so much fun to just sit and talk. But at the same time, for me, these types of moments are bittersweet because I know that there are so few moments like this to look forward to. Some people are leaving a week from tomorrow, and I follow soon after.
Yesterday after I got back from the Champs Elysees with Jake, I applied for jobs and apartment searched. I am going to be living at 51st and Woodlawn next quarter, and I already have two job interviews lined up for when I get back to Chicago. It's so surreal to me to think that I actually have to go back and start going back into the UChicago mode. I will be reading 1200 pages a week, writing a bazillion papers, working, doing RSO's, and trying to have a social life somewhere in there. I'm always busy, which I used to love but now I am not sure how I am going to handle it. I am used to being able to go out and just have fun, experience different cities and cultures, and do what I want. I am afraid of being thrust back into American society because I have realized that it is a society I do not like. I just keep telling myself that I have only 1.5 years and then I am going to be back in France teaching English and then hopefully somewhere in the British Isles for law school.
Night all.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
I've had the time of my life
I just realized this, less than three weeks and I'll be back in Minnesota. I cannot express my sadness that accompanies this thought. If you have been reading my posts you know how much I love not just Paris, but Europe in general. I feel more at home here then I do in Minnesota or Chicago. I know that must not make sense since I speak barely any French, but it's the truth.
Today I had a conversation with someone from back home, and they said that your surroundings shouldn't determine your happiness, but that it should be the people and that where I am is what I make it. I know that I am going back to a horde of loving friends and family, and for that I am so grateful and I am excited to see them. But for me, surroundings and culture are essential. The history dork in me loves being constantly awestruck by Paris. In fact, every place I have traveled too has rendered me speechless in some aspect, whether it be the countryside or the architecture. Europe marvels me, and to know that I am going back to a place where I have never felt that is depressing. I love my feeling of inadequacy here, because it is the type of inadequacy that reminds of how rich and marvelous these cities are. It reminds me that while I am living in the present I am only able to do so because of the past. The person I was talking to countered my sentiment by stating that at our schools, millions of people have lived there and amazing things have happened there. I have no doubt this is true. I mean facebook was basically invented in a dorm room. But for me, that pales in comparison to standing in Notre Dame, knowing that this buildings has withstood 2 world wars, a Revolution, and a plethora of other wars and events. Or standing in a cobblestone alley in the Marais and imagining Revolutionaries marching through.
I heard the song "I've had the time of my life" the other day as I was listening to Glee's upcoming songs, and I realized that Paris has done this for me. The lyrics that really stuck out for me were:
Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt like this before
Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
and I owe it all to you
Paris has given me the time of my life. I know that the people in my program played a monumental role in my experience here, but mostly it's been Paris. I've become such a different and better person. And I owe it all to you Paris. Merci.
Today I had a conversation with someone from back home, and they said that your surroundings shouldn't determine your happiness, but that it should be the people and that where I am is what I make it. I know that I am going back to a horde of loving friends and family, and for that I am so grateful and I am excited to see them. But for me, surroundings and culture are essential. The history dork in me loves being constantly awestruck by Paris. In fact, every place I have traveled too has rendered me speechless in some aspect, whether it be the countryside or the architecture. Europe marvels me, and to know that I am going back to a place where I have never felt that is depressing. I love my feeling of inadequacy here, because it is the type of inadequacy that reminds of how rich and marvelous these cities are. It reminds me that while I am living in the present I am only able to do so because of the past. The person I was talking to countered my sentiment by stating that at our schools, millions of people have lived there and amazing things have happened there. I have no doubt this is true. I mean facebook was basically invented in a dorm room. But for me, that pales in comparison to standing in Notre Dame, knowing that this buildings has withstood 2 world wars, a Revolution, and a plethora of other wars and events. Or standing in a cobblestone alley in the Marais and imagining Revolutionaries marching through.
I heard the song "I've had the time of my life" the other day as I was listening to Glee's upcoming songs, and I realized that Paris has done this for me. The lyrics that really stuck out for me were:
Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt like this before
Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
and I owe it all to you
Paris has given me the time of my life. I know that the people in my program played a monumental role in my experience here, but mostly it's been Paris. I've become such a different and better person. And I owe it all to you Paris. Merci.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Mine and Ashlee's Parisien Adventures
It has been another fantastic couple of days with Ashlee. Yesterday she came to my school for lunch. I took her to Kayser so she could have a French sandwich. We split a brie and then a chicken sandwich, and enjoyed their amazing cookies. After I was done with my French class, we headed off to Monmarte. I took her to Sacre Coeur and I was so happy that the weather cooperated this time. The sky was blue with white, fluffy clouds. And of course the view from the top was absolutely beautiful. I find it hilarious that we can see the one skyscraper, and the Eiffel Tower. It is as though both of them are dueling. But I refuse to enter Monmarte based on principle. I don't think I'd forgive myself if I went into it. I also love Sacre Coeur because it is the one view where you can literally see everything in the city. Ash and I took some pics and then went inside for a tour of the Church. Afterwards we wandered around for awhile before heading off to the Moulin Rouge. As we were walking to the Moulin Rouge we passed through the red light district of Paris. It has nothing on Amsterdam, but did make for some interesting scenery while we were walking. The Moulin Rouge itself was a tad disappointing, but it was still worth the walk. From there we made our way to Van Gogh's house. When were done with that we wandered to Luxembourg gardens, but they were closed so we decided to come back the next day and went back to my dorm. We chilled there for a while and then we went to the Frog and the British Library for dinner. The Frog and the British Library is a British based microbrewery. They brew six kinds of beers, and have classic "pub" food. Ash and I each ordered a pint and the cheeseburger. It was my first cheeseburger in Paris! We had another pint after our meal, so now I have tasted all six beers and I must say that the Parisytic is my favorite. I have become a dark beer drinker. I blame Guinness. Also, our waiter was absolutely adorable. I had a crush on him. When we were going to leave he asked me about beer, and if I was studying in Paris. Definitely going back there for some drinks and a meal.
When Ash and I got back we skyped my family. It was so great to talk to everyone and see them. Despite the immense amount of happiness I have here, I do miss them. I loved hearing about Mark's collegiate experience, watching my mom do goofy things because I'm sure the concept of skype is amazing to her, and then to talk to Barby and Jim. It reminded me that I do have a life back home, a life that I do in fact love, just in an entirely different way. Ash and I decided to call it an early night (and by early I mean midnight), and go to bed so we could get up early tomorrow and have the quintessential Parisien day.
Ash and I woke up to the sound of a jackhammer. They are doing construction on the elevator and so naturally they had to start at 8:45 am. At least it gave us a reason to hustle out of the dorm. We hopped on the metro and headed off to the Eiffel Tower so Ash could see it during the day and from the fountain across the street. We had a pain au chocolat for breakfast, and then headed over. Even though the weather was freezing, the sky was crystal clear and the Eiffel Tower was looking as lovely as ever. We took some pictures, were hounded by some peddlers, and just took in the general splendor of the view. After seeing the Eiffel Tower, we went off to the Luxembourg Gardens. They are not as magnificent as if it were spring or summer, but they are still beautiful. We walked around the gardens and enjoyed the statues before it was time to head off to our lunch reservation at Procope, the oldest restaurant in Paris. The setting for the restaurant is still old-fashioned, and the music adds to the mood. We both had chicken and potatoes with gravy. We had a table by the alley window and so we enjoyed people watching. Our meal was quite good, and I am glad that I was able to take Ash somewhere that is considered to be "French", but really the French don't have a cuisine. They have a style of eating. You eat an appetizer, main course, dessert and coffee and you take your time doing so.
After the restaurant it was time to shop! We got off at Concorde so Ashlee could see the Obelisk de Luxor and so I could FINALLY get my picture by it. From there, we walked to the Champs-Elysses, but as we were walking we got to pass the Christmas Market. It was really cool and I am definitely going to be taking my family there when they visit. Ashlee and I shopped for a few hours. She got a top and sweater, and I got four new shirts. It started snowing as were walking in between stores, creating a perfect day in Paris and making me the happiest person in the entire world. We continued shopping, and then when we were heading back the lights came on. It put the cherry on top of a great shopping day. As we were walking to get macarons, we took pictures of the lights and the different side of the market. Since Laudre's line was ridiculously long, Ash and I decided to go to Angelina. It was a great decision. The woman gave us two free macarons and we got to get hot chocolate to go. I took a picture of Ashlee eating her first macaron, and I am happy to report that the macaron is her favorite dessert in Paris.
We were going to go get her jewelery and my Longchamp purse after, but the combination of the trains being full and me going to the wrong stop prevented that from happening. So we headed back to the dorm, and that is where we currently are. It wasn't until we got here that we realized that the twelve hours of being out was exhausting. In a few we are heading off to Chinatown to eat dinner, and then it is time to pack because Ash is leaving again for the states. But tomorrow is going to be another great day. Jennifer and I are going to one of the Frog Pubs, then I am going to see Harry Potter with Dasha. And then Sunday is a me day. I am going to wander Paris and just enjoy one of my last weekends in this beautiful city that I have come to love and adore more than anything in the entire world. Until next time.
When Ash and I got back we skyped my family. It was so great to talk to everyone and see them. Despite the immense amount of happiness I have here, I do miss them. I loved hearing about Mark's collegiate experience, watching my mom do goofy things because I'm sure the concept of skype is amazing to her, and then to talk to Barby and Jim. It reminded me that I do have a life back home, a life that I do in fact love, just in an entirely different way. Ash and I decided to call it an early night (and by early I mean midnight), and go to bed so we could get up early tomorrow and have the quintessential Parisien day.
Ash and I woke up to the sound of a jackhammer. They are doing construction on the elevator and so naturally they had to start at 8:45 am. At least it gave us a reason to hustle out of the dorm. We hopped on the metro and headed off to the Eiffel Tower so Ash could see it during the day and from the fountain across the street. We had a pain au chocolat for breakfast, and then headed over. Even though the weather was freezing, the sky was crystal clear and the Eiffel Tower was looking as lovely as ever. We took some pictures, were hounded by some peddlers, and just took in the general splendor of the view. After seeing the Eiffel Tower, we went off to the Luxembourg Gardens. They are not as magnificent as if it were spring or summer, but they are still beautiful. We walked around the gardens and enjoyed the statues before it was time to head off to our lunch reservation at Procope, the oldest restaurant in Paris. The setting for the restaurant is still old-fashioned, and the music adds to the mood. We both had chicken and potatoes with gravy. We had a table by the alley window and so we enjoyed people watching. Our meal was quite good, and I am glad that I was able to take Ash somewhere that is considered to be "French", but really the French don't have a cuisine. They have a style of eating. You eat an appetizer, main course, dessert and coffee and you take your time doing so.
After the restaurant it was time to shop! We got off at Concorde so Ashlee could see the Obelisk de Luxor and so I could FINALLY get my picture by it. From there, we walked to the Champs-Elysses, but as we were walking we got to pass the Christmas Market. It was really cool and I am definitely going to be taking my family there when they visit. Ashlee and I shopped for a few hours. She got a top and sweater, and I got four new shirts. It started snowing as were walking in between stores, creating a perfect day in Paris and making me the happiest person in the entire world. We continued shopping, and then when we were heading back the lights came on. It put the cherry on top of a great shopping day. As we were walking to get macarons, we took pictures of the lights and the different side of the market. Since Laudre's line was ridiculously long, Ash and I decided to go to Angelina. It was a great decision. The woman gave us two free macarons and we got to get hot chocolate to go. I took a picture of Ashlee eating her first macaron, and I am happy to report that the macaron is her favorite dessert in Paris.
We were going to go get her jewelery and my Longchamp purse after, but the combination of the trains being full and me going to the wrong stop prevented that from happening. So we headed back to the dorm, and that is where we currently are. It wasn't until we got here that we realized that the twelve hours of being out was exhausting. In a few we are heading off to Chinatown to eat dinner, and then it is time to pack because Ash is leaving again for the states. But tomorrow is going to be another great day. Jennifer and I are going to one of the Frog Pubs, then I am going to see Harry Potter with Dasha. And then Sunday is a me day. I am going to wander Paris and just enjoy one of my last weekends in this beautiful city that I have come to love and adore more than anything in the entire world. Until next time.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Ashlee is here!
I am so happy to announce that my cousin-basically-sister Ashlee is in Paris with me! It is so great to have family here, but especially Ashlee since we are so close. I am so glad that I get to show her around, and introduce her to my Paris. I had an intense day of school yesterday. We had a walking tour at 9, then class right after, an hour break before French, and then class again. So by the time I was done with all of that I was exhausted, but beyond happy that I was going to meet Ash! I met her at Notre Dame (I know how movie-esque) and then I took her for gelato because she had never had it before. She loved it! Then I took her to a crepe stand where we both had a jambon et fromage (ham and cheese) crepe. We then walked around the Saint-Michel area, before heading over to where I had French conversation. Ashlee was able to join us for it, and after the hour ended me and her made our way to the Eiffel tower. Ash was able to see the light show, and even though I have seen it a few times, it still takes my breathe away. We enjoyed the light show, snapped some pictures, and then made our way back to my dorm.
I didn't have class until the afternoon today, so Ash and I went to Musee D'Orsay in the morning, but not before I took her to a bakery for the traditional pain au chocolat breakfast. Then we made our way to the museum, where we wandered around and took in the amazing artwork. Ash's favorite things in the D'orsay were the giant paintings and mine was, of course, Van Gogh. After wandering around in the museum for a couple of hours I then took Ashlee to Angelina's. We had to cross the Seine and wander through the Tuileries to get there, so Ash got to see those and then at Angelina's we had the BEST hot chocolate in the entire world and amazing dessert. Well, actually the dessert was my lunch, because after Angelina's I had to go to class while Ashlee headed to the Louvre.
Class was interesting today. We are talking about the duplicity of man and images, so people are not what they appear, etc. Very Foucault in principle, and if you know me at all you know I have a love for Foucault. But I was anxious for class to end because I had made plans to meet Ashlee at the Saint-Paul stop for falafel! I took her to the famous falafel place, and while we were there Ash showed me pictures of what she had done that day. She wandered around and had a cheeseburger for lunch. I am glad that she was able to wander around because that is the best way to get to know France. After falafel, I took her to the Canadian bar me and my friends go to, The Moosehead. We enjoyed some beer and just chatted for a while. Ash told me that the bar was like the ones that she goes to in Chicago, and since I will be 21 when we get back I can hang out with her more!
When we were done with our cider's, we walked to Saint-Michel and had crepe nutella. I couldn't find the place that Jessen and I go to, but this place was quite delicious. This was the first crepe I had had since coming back from my trip and it was Ash's first crepe ever, so we both got a lot of merriment from those crepes. After wandering around Saint-Michel we headed back to the cite because I have class tomorrow early. But Ash is coming to have lunch with me at school and then after we are walking around Monmarte! Should be another amazing day in Paris with my pseudo sister. Night all.
I didn't have class until the afternoon today, so Ash and I went to Musee D'Orsay in the morning, but not before I took her to a bakery for the traditional pain au chocolat breakfast. Then we made our way to the museum, where we wandered around and took in the amazing artwork. Ash's favorite things in the D'orsay were the giant paintings and mine was, of course, Van Gogh. After wandering around in the museum for a couple of hours I then took Ashlee to Angelina's. We had to cross the Seine and wander through the Tuileries to get there, so Ash got to see those and then at Angelina's we had the BEST hot chocolate in the entire world and amazing dessert. Well, actually the dessert was my lunch, because after Angelina's I had to go to class while Ashlee headed to the Louvre.
Class was interesting today. We are talking about the duplicity of man and images, so people are not what they appear, etc. Very Foucault in principle, and if you know me at all you know I have a love for Foucault. But I was anxious for class to end because I had made plans to meet Ashlee at the Saint-Paul stop for falafel! I took her to the famous falafel place, and while we were there Ash showed me pictures of what she had done that day. She wandered around and had a cheeseburger for lunch. I am glad that she was able to wander around because that is the best way to get to know France. After falafel, I took her to the Canadian bar me and my friends go to, The Moosehead. We enjoyed some beer and just chatted for a while. Ash told me that the bar was like the ones that she goes to in Chicago, and since I will be 21 when we get back I can hang out with her more!
When we were done with our cider's, we walked to Saint-Michel and had crepe nutella. I couldn't find the place that Jessen and I go to, but this place was quite delicious. This was the first crepe I had had since coming back from my trip and it was Ash's first crepe ever, so we both got a lot of merriment from those crepes. After wandering around Saint-Michel we headed back to the cite because I have class tomorrow early. But Ash is coming to have lunch with me at school and then after we are walking around Monmarte! Should be another amazing day in Paris with my pseudo sister. Night all.
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