This weekend we took out first out-of-Italy trip - to France! I knew it would be amazing, but it really was even better than I had ever expected. We flew out after class thursday evening and got in around 1130, grabbed dinner and headed to our hostel for bed. It was my first hostel experience and it really wasn't bad - although we did have two roommates and the two bunk beds barely fit, it was very cheap and relatively clean - and we also had a pretty nice bathroom to ourselves. It was right next to the Moulin Rouge and also right next to a metro stop, so it was extremely easy to get to where we wanted to go.
FRIDAY
First, we took the metro to the Arc de Triomphe - it was beautiful. The arc is kind of on an island in the middle of a VERY big street where there are no lanes - it's basically a free for all for the drivers. We were very confused as to how everyone made it there alive. We froggered our way to the Arc and avoided cars, only to realized there was a underground tunnel to get there. That was the excitement for the day.
These guys were awesome street performers - amazing dancers. Lisa and I stopped and watched whenever we saw them - they really made their way around.
One of the many bakeries lining the streets of Paris. People would just be walking around eating long baguettes on their own...another reason why I love Paris - they love bread as much as me.
We grabbed some chocolate croissants and shopped around a little, then took the metro to the Eiffel Tower. It's an incredible building. And the day was perfect - I didn't even need a jacket. It really made Lisa and me want to live there.
There were a ton of people walking around trying to sell tourists random useless things like battery-powered stuffed animals and tiny empire state buildings. The little stuffed animals had minds of their own and seemed to be wandering around everywhere on their own...
After the Eiffel Tower, Lisa and I ventured to St. Germaine - a huge shopping street with a lot of high quality brand names. We explored for a while, went back to the hostel to change, and then went back for dinner. After dinner, we went to a little bar just to hang out since we really didn't want to go back to the hostel yet - Lisa had found the place online (Zero de Conduite.) All the drinks came in baby bottles, and then there was a huge list of games you could choose to play. Lisa and I played uno, ate candy, and drank from the bottles. It was very odd...but a good time and definitely memorable!
SATURDAY
Lisa and I slept in a little and then found a breakfast place near our hostel. We were thrilled because people in Paris actually eat breakfast - we were able to get omelets. In Florence, it's tea, yogurt and fruit for breakfast. Afterwards we took the metro to the Louvre and stayed from about 12 to closing (6.) It's by far the most amazing museum I've ever been to - I knew it would be big, but I was actually taken aback by its grandeur...it was incredible. I could easily have spent the whole trip there.
There's Lisa! (I stood inside and she peeked in)
Winged Victory
Mona
One of the amazing painted ceilings - the building itself and its decor and frescos were just as incredible as the artwork hanging on the walls...it was difficult to pay attention to everything at once.
The glass pyramid and one side of the Louvre...it loops around and is the same length running parallel.
Really neat exhibit about Ancient Egypt
After the Louvre closed at 6, my friend who had been in Paris last semester told us we had to go to this cafe called Angelina for the best hot chocolate in the world, and it happened to be near the Louvre. So we stood in the mile long line for some hot chocolate and dessert, it was easily worth the wait.
After the dessert we figured we needed a little dinner, and my friend had also recommended a restaurant called Les Editeurs and said to get the french onion soup...so we did. It was perfect.
The metro stop signs
Lisa in front of the Moulin Rouge - literally 2 minutes away from our hostel.
SUNDAY
We didn't have a ton of time since we had to be at our bus to the airport at 2:50, so we had breakfast/lunch (Croque Madame, I had never had it but apparently it's a French thing) and then took the metro to Notre Dame, it was beautiful and a perfect way to end the perfect weekend!
Paris is amazing!
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