Paris, la belle villa

Paris, the beautiful city. Friday evening I packed up and headed via tube to St. Pancras/Kings Cross Station. I took a little bit getting accustomed to what the procedure is before boarding an international train ride, but initially you just have to hit the ground running! I headed in for security checks, and unlike the flight to Dublin, I didn't get asked to remove something or put it in a different bag! I arrived in the lounge, essentially one of the world's largest waiting rooms and I picked up some coffee and began playing with Instagram (marshcooke if you want to find me). Here was my first picture:

Once I boarded the train, all I could think of were scenes from "French Kiss". If you know Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline, you should know this film! Many different instances over the weekend immediately brought this movie to mind. The two hour train ride went by quite quickly, I completely missed the part when we were in the Chunnel! It looked just like the rest of the tunnels we had gone through, just a lot longer! I was able to work on some assignments for our London class, and for my requirements back home in Stevens Point; it was quite the productive train ride!

Of course, as I continue to find in Europe the times they tell you seem to be later than needed so that you always arrive earlier than anticipated, I arrived about ten minutes earlier than I told Emily to meet me! Knowing only how to say hello, thank you, pardon/excuse me, and one through five, I stood in one place until Emily arrived. Emily is one of my neighbors in Wisconsin, her family lives across the street from my parents and we often spend ample time together with our siblings around the holidays! While waiting for Emily, a man approached me and asked me something in French. I immediately put my hands in the air, as if I were surrendering, and completely forgetting how to say "I do not speak French". He then asked, "Espanol? Ingles?" I nodded at the option for english. He proceeded to tell me I looked French. He asked me where I was from. I understood the question as where did I arrive from. So I told him, England. He asked me how I liked Paris and I told him this was as much as I had seen so far! Then he badgered me fore living in England and never traveling to Paris before, he informed me that there were people who work in London and live in Paris (All of this became confusing to me considering the fact that I didn't sound British-English)! He ended up giving me his name and phone number and telling me to contact him over the weekend. I reminded him that my phone does not work in France and that I have no way for him to contact me in return. He seemed quite upset and persisted on asking. He then gave me directions to his house from the rail station and said he hoped to see me. Needless to say, I no longer have the number, did not contact him, and quickly forgot the directions.. Oops. One point to my type O-nationality, none for foreign men thinking they'll never get turned down!

Emily arrived shortly after my odd encounter at the station and told me about our plans for the night. We were to head to her classmate's apartment where there was a bit of a gathering. She informed me of small things to know while traveling on the public transportations in Paris and to keep in mind of over the weekend. We arrived at her friend's apartment and the drink of the night was Mojitos! Next thing we knew, the night had run away from us so Emily and I headed home!

TEA AT THE MOSQUE

Saturday was a largely anticipated day! Emily and I woke up early and headed to the Mosque for tea with one of her colleagues, who also had a friend visiting for the weekend! The tea was wonderful and the conversation was even better. We spent about an hour sitting and enjoying their company before we picked out different paths for the day. Emily's friend and her visitor were heading to the park to see the zoo and meet up with her cousins. Emily and I trekked off to Notre Dame! After deciding the line was too long to wait to get in, Emily and I recognized the sounds of our stomaches talking. What to do? Get crepes! Emily showed me the perfect little crepe place that wasn't too expensive and that had the cider she liked best. We chose salty crepes for lunch with the promise of getting dessert crepes on Sunday! What a tough decision that was.. 

CREPES WITH EGG, HAM,
CHEESE AND SPINACH.

After we picked up lunch at the crepe place, Emily set me off with a map and a metro pass. I knew where I wanted to go and what I wanted to accomplish! Since I was only going around by myself, don't be upset that I don't have more pictures of myself with the monuments and locations I visited! I'm not into the 'myspace self-take' photos.. :) The first stop was The Basilica in Montmarte. I did not climb all of the steps, but instead took the chair-lift type transport to the top and then walked around the base of the Basilica. I took a short video of some musicians performing and then took a number of shots of the overlook to the city. It was absolutely breathtaking. I could have sat and people watched all day long!

BASILICA

INSIDE THE ARC
DE TRIOMPHE

Once I rode the 'chair-lift' back down, I began my first stint of souvenir shopping. I picked up a couple small things with plans to get the rest later. Next stop? Arc de Triomphe. I walked and wondered until I found the passage way under the street and up onto the center where the monument stands. Deciding not to stand in the obnoxiously long line to go into and up it, I sat at the base and simply watched and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the funny people. As I was taking pictures, a number of vehicles started honking, and people started shouting. Then all the traffic was stopped for bicyclists coming through!! I took a couple shots before realizing I should know better.. the Tour de France does not come through here until tomorrow. I learned later, it was a dedicated group of obsessed Tour de France fans who were looking for a publicity stunt. Go figure! I continued to meander around the base of the monument and check out the carvings and statues from various places. I decided to leave when I was approached by someone asking me if my name was as beautiful as my face. Thanks, but no thanks!


For my next stop, I hopped on the metro and headed to the Eiffel Tower! I went straight for the east side (where all the grass is) to sit and enjoy the sunshine in the same view as the tower! By now, my feet were aching and beginning to blister from walking around in my Birkenstock sandals and I knew I should rest it for a while. I sat on the green and watched children play duck, duck, goose and grown men fight and bet over  bocce ball. I considered the idea of a nap but with the number of people around, I did not want to leave my bag as a security risk. Instead I just lounged for quite some time. As I began to get up, I was asked by the group behind me if I could take a couple pictures for them. I said it would be no problem and asked them where they were from. What would you guess, Iowa. Welcome to the midwest in Europe!

The last big to-do on my list was the Louvre. On this fact, I must admit something that is not the best of news. I went. I did not go in. Believe me, I have already been shamed enough by my brother. Instead, I shopped around the entrance and stole wifi from the Apple store there. After I stood around using their internet and thinking of how I haven't used the bathroom since we got crepes, what do you do now? I found out the stereotype of the French and their costly bathrooms, is true. So I headed to the WC (water closet) store and paid one euro and fifty pence to use the bathroom. While in there, I considered purchasing American dollar toilet paper, but I figured it really was not a necessity. I headed back to have another thought of whether or not there was something in the Louvre that I actually wanted to see and experience. Once I decided there was not anything in there I couldn't die without seeing or taking a picture of, that I should head back to Emily's and find something to eat for dinner. Here comes an adventure in itself.

I got onto the metro and headed home just fine. I had remembered Emily telling me about any small stands with green awnings being a good place and decently priced location to pick up food of any sort. Since I didn't pass one, I didn't go to one! I couldn't quite place where the one was when she showed it to me and pointed it out, I figured it was earlier on Saturday, it must have been back in the neighborhood where she lives! Unfortunately, this thought was wrong. I did successfully find find at the grocery store near Emily's apartment though! I picked up a few slices of meat, brie, croissants, yogurt, Leffe beer, and biscuits (aka cookies)! I intended on not needing to actually cook to eat which ended up being a semi-success. Since I ate the four containers of yogurt and some of the biscuits I didn't leave a lot of room for the cut meat and brie! Or the croissants! I also fell asleep before 11pm. While doing homework. You know it's a good trip when... :)

I left a note for Emily and Vladimir saying that I was not setting an alarm and suggested that they did the same! We'll sleep until we wake up! When I woke up, Emily had gone out and gotten supplies for one of the most wonderful meals I have had since traveling abroad. Huevos rancheros with salsa. YUMMY. And my stomach actually was able to take the salsa talk about an accomplishment! We planned out our day with a bike ride the the Chateau de Sceaux and bring a frisbee along. Then we were to come home, eat, then head to the Seine near the Eiffel Tower for a river cruise/tour, dessert crepe and then home! And really, we did just that!

Before Emily and I headed out to the Chateau de Sceaux, Emily asked Vladimir to play accordion. It was fantastic. He did it in exchange for the dishes, and then asked Emily to sing the next song with him. It was such a fun time!!
Emily and I jumped on bikes and rode to the Chateau de Sceaux and went inside for a brief tour of the house. When we finished we biked over some more of the grounds and found a nice place to play frisbee! We played frisbee for about a hour and then headed back to the apartment when we got hungry!
When we got back from playing frisbee, Emily and Vladimir made us dinner: french burgers (without the bread) cooked in onions and mushrooms with bread and vegetables! After dinner, we also had biscuits and cheese.. so delicious. I could eat all day long if I were to go back to France!

BACK OF NOTRE DAME.

Emily and I headed to the river for the cruise and I learned of the few places I should have had on my to-do list: Museum d'Orsay and the Champs Elysees. Next time perhaps?! We met up with Vladimir and went for dessert crepes. Of course by the time we got there and ate, we were hungry enough for a salty crepe AND a dessert crepe. Naturally! We took a little nighttime stroll down the river as the sun was setting. It was a beautiful night! This is probably one of the first pictures that immediately after taking, I know I want to frame it. I'm in love with traveling!

At the end of the night, Emily and I realized that we never took any pictures together. So here is proof that we did all of the above together, in Paris! We were getting ready for bed and discussing the time frame for the next morning before she went to work, and I was off to the train!

Thanks Emily for the help and the place to stay! I had such a wonderful time!!

More updates to come! Cheers!!
Sarah Marsh