Day 12:
Wednesday, April 1, 2009: Today we didn’t have class but we had to meet at the Palais des Papes for a tour. We had to be there at 9am!
The tour was guided and mildly interesting. The Popes lived in Avignon 700 years ago so the building was constructed in the 1300s. It had many uses over the years and is a museum now. We saw the Pope’s bedroom, etc.
After the tour, we went to the Pont d’Avignon. It was used to traverse the Rhone River in ancient times but part of it has collapsed and now it is a tourist attraction. After that a small group of us: Lance, Shawna, Zoe, and I. we had lunch at an outdoor café and then the girls left to go shopping.
Lance and I walked down Rue de la Republique and sat on a bench and had a bottle wine. Afterwards, Lance had to use the public restroom. It is completely automatic and self-cleaning. When you are finished using it, the door closes and it hoses itself down from top to bottom. Very high-tech!
After that, I needed to go to the Post Office to buy postcard stamps. The Post Office has the most bureaucracy in France. We could not use the automated machine to buy stamps because it would not take my Mastercard. Note: when you come to France, bring your Visa; they are accepted everywhere! So I had to take a number like I was at the deli and wait for service like you would for a pound of salami.
Finally, they called my number and I got my stamps – 12 for a little more than 10E or 0.85c/each. So then we called it a day and I went home. I had dinner, did homework and went to bed.
(Use Google)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Day 11
Day 11:
Tuesday, March 31, 2009: Today was my long day. I have six hours of classes. We started with grammar again. Christophe has a good way of explaining grammar; he made it seem easier. We read and discussed the first part of the play and that was class.
We met Monsieur Boura for history next. Lots of students were overwhelmed and scared because he speaks quickly and with a Provencal accent. I did not think he was too hard to follow. We will be discussing the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. We also talked about Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc, en Francais). French professors do not give syllabi of book lists.
After a cafeteria lunch for 3E, it was internet time! I started by Skyping with my Dad at 8:30a.m. Ohio time; 2:30p.m. in France. It was good to talk to him and then I called my Mom and Grandma. I updated this blog and checked my lifelines – Facebook and email – then it was time to go back to class.
The next class was literature with Monsieur Bory. We began by talking about Charles Baudelaire and reading one of his poems, Le Vin. He was pretty easy to understand as well. We ended class by indulging in the wine and cheese he brought to welcome us.
I returned home for dinner and the news once again. Bernard left to go skiing in the Alps with a friend so it was just John, Jacqueline, and me. After dinner, we went to the Pub again because we don’t have class on Wednesdays!
Note: My name is extremely hard for native French-speakers to pronounce. Introducing myself if extremely difficult. I need a French name (thanks parents! JK!). Ninety-five percent of the time, it becomes Blad; not Brad. The French ‘r’ is really different and it’s placement in the middle of my name causes the difficulty. I have to say: “My name is Brad, like Brad Pitt!”
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009: Today was my long day. I have six hours of classes. We started with grammar again. Christophe has a good way of explaining grammar; he made it seem easier. We read and discussed the first part of the play and that was class.
We met Monsieur Boura for history next. Lots of students were overwhelmed and scared because he speaks quickly and with a Provencal accent. I did not think he was too hard to follow. We will be discussing the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. We also talked about Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc, en Francais). French professors do not give syllabi of book lists.
After a cafeteria lunch for 3E, it was internet time! I started by Skyping with my Dad at 8:30a.m. Ohio time; 2:30p.m. in France. It was good to talk to him and then I called my Mom and Grandma. I updated this blog and checked my lifelines – Facebook and email – then it was time to go back to class.
The next class was literature with Monsieur Bory. We began by talking about Charles Baudelaire and reading one of his poems, Le Vin. He was pretty easy to understand as well. We ended class by indulging in the wine and cheese he brought to welcome us.
I returned home for dinner and the news once again. Bernard left to go skiing in the Alps with a friend so it was just John, Jacqueline, and me. After dinner, we went to the Pub again because we don’t have class on Wednesdays!
Note: My name is extremely hard for native French-speakers to pronounce. Introducing myself if extremely difficult. I need a French name (thanks parents! JK!). Ninety-five percent of the time, it becomes Blad; not Brad. The French ‘r’ is really different and it’s placement in the middle of my name causes the difficulty. I have to say: “My name is Brad, like Brad Pitt!”
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Day 10
Day 10:
Monday, March 30, 2009: Today was the first day of classes! Well really just one class – grammar with Christophe. The day began at noon with all the students and their host families meeting at the university for authentic Provencal cuisine and wine! An aperitif, en Francais.
After meeting, socializing, and mingling (and getting a buzz to help my language confidence) we began class at a later time. He gave the syllabus and book list and called it a day. There is also the Résistance class about World War II but I was not taking it because it requires a higher level of French. I’m taking everything else – 20 hours this quarter!
So Katy (Christophe’s squeeze), Jenny (the grad student assistant), Shawna, Kelby, Lance, Melissa, and I went into town to buy the books. We are reading three plays by Marcel Pagnol, set in Marseille. They cost 16E. I skipped lunch.
The group gradually broke apart and we were left with Lance, Melissa, and me. We walked to see Lance’s house because he and Kelby live in a guest house in their host family’s courtyard. It is really cool, but no internet here either. France might be behind with the wifi service. I walked Melissa home and went home for dinner.
We had a casserole with cheese and the leftover sausage from last night. We also had leftover cauliflower. I watched the news again then had to do grammar homework. Grammar is two hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, not what I am used to.
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Monday, March 30, 2009: Today was the first day of classes! Well really just one class – grammar with Christophe. The day began at noon with all the students and their host families meeting at the university for authentic Provencal cuisine and wine! An aperitif, en Francais.
After meeting, socializing, and mingling (and getting a buzz to help my language confidence) we began class at a later time. He gave the syllabus and book list and called it a day. There is also the Résistance class about World War II but I was not taking it because it requires a higher level of French. I’m taking everything else – 20 hours this quarter!
So Katy (Christophe’s squeeze), Jenny (the grad student assistant), Shawna, Kelby, Lance, Melissa, and I went into town to buy the books. We are reading three plays by Marcel Pagnol, set in Marseille. They cost 16E. I skipped lunch.
The group gradually broke apart and we were left with Lance, Melissa, and me. We walked to see Lance’s house because he and Kelby live in a guest house in their host family’s courtyard. It is really cool, but no internet here either. France might be behind with the wifi service. I walked Melissa home and went home for dinner.
We had a casserole with cheese and the leftover sausage from last night. We also had leftover cauliflower. I watched the news again then had to do grammar homework. Grammar is two hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, not what I am used to.
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Day 9
Day 9:
Sunday, March 29, 2009: Today was very chill and relaxing. After breakfast with John, he and I walked to Melissa’s house. She lives the closest to us. Breakfast consisted of fresh bread with butter and raspberry jam and a cup of coffee.
We decided to walk around the city some more to see what was up. We walked to the Place d’Horloge at the end of Rue de la Republique again and around the Palais des Papes. There is a park nearby so we went there too. It overlooks the Rhone. The day was overcast but the Mistral was really strong. These are really strong, cold arctic winds that whip down the river valley.
We walked down to the river and crossed it to the island. This is the largest island in a river in Europe. There is a free ferry that makes the ten-minute journey at least 20 times a day. There is also a little restaurant on the island that looks toward Avignon that would be a good place for lunch one day. It was closed today. Almost everything is closed on Sundays (except for bars!).
We walked around the island and crossed back to the city via the traffic bridge (Pont d’Europe, I think it is called). There are also the ruins of Pont d’Avignon which was built by the Romans in like 40 A.D. (more on that and the Palais des Papes on Wednesday).
We walked home and had a dinner of sausage and cauliflower with a cheese cream sauce and vegetable soup. We again had wine, cheese, and bread. One thing you hear about the French and dinner is that meals generally are drawn out for hours savoring delicious course after course. Well at least not true with the Zemmits. They devour dinner! The food is delicious but I find myself struggling to keep pace.
After dinner we watched the news again. I received a text that a group was going to the Pub in preparation of our first day of classes, so naturally, I partook too. John followed along. The Pub is really cool because you can sit on the patio/sidewalk and socialize when the weather is good. It was also Zoe’s birthday and her mom was buying the drinks; what more could I ask for (at almost 6E a beer!)
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Sunday, March 29, 2009: Today was very chill and relaxing. After breakfast with John, he and I walked to Melissa’s house. She lives the closest to us. Breakfast consisted of fresh bread with butter and raspberry jam and a cup of coffee.
We decided to walk around the city some more to see what was up. We walked to the Place d’Horloge at the end of Rue de la Republique again and around the Palais des Papes. There is a park nearby so we went there too. It overlooks the Rhone. The day was overcast but the Mistral was really strong. These are really strong, cold arctic winds that whip down the river valley.
We walked down to the river and crossed it to the island. This is the largest island in a river in Europe. There is a free ferry that makes the ten-minute journey at least 20 times a day. There is also a little restaurant on the island that looks toward Avignon that would be a good place for lunch one day. It was closed today. Almost everything is closed on Sundays (except for bars!).
We walked around the island and crossed back to the city via the traffic bridge (Pont d’Europe, I think it is called). There are also the ruins of Pont d’Avignon which was built by the Romans in like 40 A.D. (more on that and the Palais des Papes on Wednesday).
We walked home and had a dinner of sausage and cauliflower with a cheese cream sauce and vegetable soup. We again had wine, cheese, and bread. One thing you hear about the French and dinner is that meals generally are drawn out for hours savoring delicious course after course. Well at least not true with the Zemmits. They devour dinner! The food is delicious but I find myself struggling to keep pace.
After dinner we watched the news again. I received a text that a group was going to the Pub in preparation of our first day of classes, so naturally, I partook too. John followed along. The Pub is really cool because you can sit on the patio/sidewalk and socialize when the weather is good. It was also Zoe’s birthday and her mom was buying the drinks; what more could I ask for (at almost 6E a beer!)
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Day 8
Day 8:
Saturday, March 28, 2009: Today we started with breakfast at the hotel. It was basic but good. We had time to shower and pack up before moving our bags to the lobby. We would be meeting our host families there at 5pm.
Christophe, Katy, and Jenny took us on another tour of the city to orientate ourselves at noon. It was insignificant. We were on our own for lunch so a few of us had Italian. I had lasagna. It was excellent. The French really know how to eat. Afterwards, we had time to shop on Rue de la Republique but I wasn’t really interested. Shocking, I know.
So we found our way back to the hotel by 4:45ish and waited for the selection. Some were terrified, I was anxious. Basically, it is like an orphanage full of Americans. French families would come in and demand a name and you would go. I was selected first! (and my housemate, John; more on him later).
My new dad, Bernard Zemmit, walked in and we went with him. He put our luggage in his car and off we went. He did not live far, but of course: it was raining. We turned a few times and we were at our new house, pool included.
He helped us with our bags and we walked through their yard to the front door. Jacqueline, his wife (the French have no word directly translating to wife. The closest they get is calling her “his woman”. Sorry feminists) opened the door with a smile. We gave her bisous (kisses on the cheeks the French way; three in Avignon) and she sat us down for first impressions.
They both are very nice and willing to work with us on our French. Jacqueline wants to use us to improve her English too. They have two sons and a granddaughter. One son works for L’Oreal in Paris and the other is an English professor nearby in Aix-en-Provence. He is moving to New York City in July to teach French. They have been hosting foreign students for ten years.
We took the tour of their house which is very un-French. Normally, it is an extreme privilege to be invited to a Frenchman’s house for dinner and guests are never given a ‘tour’ like in American; that is seen as bragging. They explained at dinner that we were now a family so there were mutual expectations and boundaries. Next, we were shown to our new rooms.
John went first and got the upstairs room; smaller and more loft-like. I got the spacious downstairs bedroom with a huge window looking into the garden and my own door to the pool! We were given about an hour to settle in and relax by ourselves before dinner. Normally, I am a picky eater, but I knew that would not be possible here. It is seen as very rude to not eat what is put in front of you.
Dinner began with a fresh salad. Salads in France usually consist of only lettuce and tomatoes and in the south they generally use a balsamic dressing. The main course was a vegetable soup with carrots, potatoes, and chicken. We had bread, cheese, and wine for dessert.
After dinner, we watched the news and afterwards, Jacqueline and John went to bed, but I stayed up with Bernard for a while to watch the French soccer team play Lithuania. The Blues won 1-0 but I only watched about half the game and went to bed.
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Saturday, March 28, 2009: Today we started with breakfast at the hotel. It was basic but good. We had time to shower and pack up before moving our bags to the lobby. We would be meeting our host families there at 5pm.
Christophe, Katy, and Jenny took us on another tour of the city to orientate ourselves at noon. It was insignificant. We were on our own for lunch so a few of us had Italian. I had lasagna. It was excellent. The French really know how to eat. Afterwards, we had time to shop on Rue de la Republique but I wasn’t really interested. Shocking, I know.
So we found our way back to the hotel by 4:45ish and waited for the selection. Some were terrified, I was anxious. Basically, it is like an orphanage full of Americans. French families would come in and demand a name and you would go. I was selected first! (and my housemate, John; more on him later).
My new dad, Bernard Zemmit, walked in and we went with him. He put our luggage in his car and off we went. He did not live far, but of course: it was raining. We turned a few times and we were at our new house, pool included.
He helped us with our bags and we walked through their yard to the front door. Jacqueline, his wife (the French have no word directly translating to wife. The closest they get is calling her “his woman”. Sorry feminists) opened the door with a smile. We gave her bisous (kisses on the cheeks the French way; three in Avignon) and she sat us down for first impressions.
They both are very nice and willing to work with us on our French. Jacqueline wants to use us to improve her English too. They have two sons and a granddaughter. One son works for L’Oreal in Paris and the other is an English professor nearby in Aix-en-Provence. He is moving to New York City in July to teach French. They have been hosting foreign students for ten years.
We took the tour of their house which is very un-French. Normally, it is an extreme privilege to be invited to a Frenchman’s house for dinner and guests are never given a ‘tour’ like in American; that is seen as bragging. They explained at dinner that we were now a family so there were mutual expectations and boundaries. Next, we were shown to our new rooms.
John went first and got the upstairs room; smaller and more loft-like. I got the spacious downstairs bedroom with a huge window looking into the garden and my own door to the pool! We were given about an hour to settle in and relax by ourselves before dinner. Normally, I am a picky eater, but I knew that would not be possible here. It is seen as very rude to not eat what is put in front of you.
Dinner began with a fresh salad. Salads in France usually consist of only lettuce and tomatoes and in the south they generally use a balsamic dressing. The main course was a vegetable soup with carrots, potatoes, and chicken. We had bread, cheese, and wine for dessert.
After dinner, we watched the news and afterwards, Jacqueline and John went to bed, but I stayed up with Bernard for a while to watch the French soccer team play Lithuania. The Blues won 1-0 but I only watched about half the game and went to bed.
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Day 7
Day 7:
Friday, March 27, 2009: Today we began by waking up and packing up. We needed to check out and head to Le Gare de Lyon to catch our train to Avignon. We arranged for a taxi to pick us up at the hostel so that we would not have to drag our bags on the metro again, although I believe we could have done it. The cost was 12E between the four of us.
At the train station, Melissa and Shawna left Zoe and I with the bags and found the ticket counter. Once they bought theirs, Zoe and I did the same. We bought a ticket to Avignon and a Carte 12-25 for discounted fares on our next trips. The total cost was 120E which I put on my Mastercard.
We waited until the train was at the station then headed to the platform (unfortunately not platform 9 ¾ for all of you Harry Potter fans). We boarded the train and stowed our bags for the nearly three-hour journey. Along the way, I listened to my Ipod and relaxed while looking at the French countryside. We arrived at the TGV station in Avignon and dragged our bags to the taxi terminal. The station is a short ride outside of town. We could have taken the public bus and walked to our hotel but decided we did not know the exact distance we would have to walk so we got a taxi instead.
We had to get two taxis because we could not all fit, with baggage, into one. Zoe and I had to share one. This fare was 14E. We checked into the hotel, which was selected and paid for by the program, and were assigned a room. The girls got a triple room in the courtyard and I shared one on the balcony with Kelby, another student in our group that had arrived the day before.
We settled in for awhile and waited for more group members to arrive before heading out to walk around the city. Only Shawna and I went, Melissa and Zoe decided to stay in the room. Jenny, a grad student on our trip who participated two years ago, acted as our guide. This was our first look at our new A-town (Avignon; not Athens).
We had to be back at the hotel for a group meeting with Christophe and Katy (the professors in charge; who are a couple by the way!) by 5pm. Basically, they welcomed us and told us that we had two hours to get ready and relax and they would be back at 7pm to take us to dinner. During this time, I got my internet fill and watched the new series on MTV, Taking the Stage. It is set at SCPA, a high school in Cincinnati and produced by Nick Lachey.
At 7pm, we all headed out and walked to the restaurant. Because the program paid for this as well, we had a set menu with about six or seven different choices. I had poulet (chicken) and it was excellent! We also had an aperitif, which is a French custom of having an alcoholic drink before the main course. I had Les Planters with rum and other delicious things. Dinner also included wine, paid for by the program as well.
The waiter kept the wine coming and we enjoyed our first night in Avignon. Conversations interchanged between French and English. Afterwards, some of us decided to visit a pub on the way back to the hotel. I again had 1664.
We sat on the terrace at the pub and enjoyed ourselves before returning back to the hotel. Most of us wanted to continue drinking because it was only like 1am. We bought four beers from the hotel, the only place to get drinks at this hour, for 3E each. We had a mini party in Shawna, Melissa, and Zoe’s room before calling it a night.
(Google any proper noun that you are unfamiliar with.)
Friday, March 27, 2009: Today we began by waking up and packing up. We needed to check out and head to Le Gare de Lyon to catch our train to Avignon. We arranged for a taxi to pick us up at the hostel so that we would not have to drag our bags on the metro again, although I believe we could have done it. The cost was 12E between the four of us.
At the train station, Melissa and Shawna left Zoe and I with the bags and found the ticket counter. Once they bought theirs, Zoe and I did the same. We bought a ticket to Avignon and a Carte 12-25 for discounted fares on our next trips. The total cost was 120E which I put on my Mastercard.
We waited until the train was at the station then headed to the platform (unfortunately not platform 9 ¾ for all of you Harry Potter fans). We boarded the train and stowed our bags for the nearly three-hour journey. Along the way, I listened to my Ipod and relaxed while looking at the French countryside. We arrived at the TGV station in Avignon and dragged our bags to the taxi terminal. The station is a short ride outside of town. We could have taken the public bus and walked to our hotel but decided we did not know the exact distance we would have to walk so we got a taxi instead.
We had to get two taxis because we could not all fit, with baggage, into one. Zoe and I had to share one. This fare was 14E. We checked into the hotel, which was selected and paid for by the program, and were assigned a room. The girls got a triple room in the courtyard and I shared one on the balcony with Kelby, another student in our group that had arrived the day before.
We settled in for awhile and waited for more group members to arrive before heading out to walk around the city. Only Shawna and I went, Melissa and Zoe decided to stay in the room. Jenny, a grad student on our trip who participated two years ago, acted as our guide. This was our first look at our new A-town (Avignon; not Athens).
We had to be back at the hotel for a group meeting with Christophe and Katy (the professors in charge; who are a couple by the way!) by 5pm. Basically, they welcomed us and told us that we had two hours to get ready and relax and they would be back at 7pm to take us to dinner. During this time, I got my internet fill and watched the new series on MTV, Taking the Stage. It is set at SCPA, a high school in Cincinnati and produced by Nick Lachey.
At 7pm, we all headed out and walked to the restaurant. Because the program paid for this as well, we had a set menu with about six or seven different choices. I had poulet (chicken) and it was excellent! We also had an aperitif, which is a French custom of having an alcoholic drink before the main course. I had Les Planters with rum and other delicious things. Dinner also included wine, paid for by the program as well.
The waiter kept the wine coming and we enjoyed our first night in Avignon. Conversations interchanged between French and English. Afterwards, some of us decided to visit a pub on the way back to the hotel. I again had 1664.
We sat on the terrace at the pub and enjoyed ourselves before returning back to the hotel. Most of us wanted to continue drinking because it was only like 1am. We bought four beers from the hotel, the only place to get drinks at this hour, for 3E each. We had a mini party in Shawna, Melissa, and Zoe’s room before calling it a night.
(Google any proper noun that you are unfamiliar with.)
Day 6
Day 6:
Thursday, March 26, 2009: We decided early that today was going to be our busy day. We had a list of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris that we needed to visit. We began with breakfast and left for the Eiffel Tower at 9am.
We took the metro from Place d’Italie. Everyone can always expect a long line for the elevators. We well decided that to save time, and money, we would climb the steps to the top. We paid 4E and began to scale the landmark. We stopped at the first and second platforms and were a little disappointed to find out that after climbing 640 steps, there were no more and we needed to buy another ticket for the elevator to the top. Another 4E.
So finally we were at the top. It was really cool and really breezy. We took lots of pictures and then were ready to continue our schedule of activities. This was an awesome view of Paris but in my opinion, still not the best.
After waiting in line for the elevator to the bottom, we decided to walk along the Seine to Notre-Dame. We took lots of pictures of the Eiffel Tower on the way. Zoe was meeting her mom there at noon but it was a hike getting there. We didn’t realize how far it was. Thanks Frommer’s. We contemplated taking the metro but ruled it out because it was almost 2E to o one stop. Along the way it began to rain – of course. And we stopped to buy postcards.
Finally at Notre-Dame, Zoe left to find her mom and we started looking around. I stood on Kilometre Zero where distances in France are measured from. For example, it might be 300km to Avignon and that point of reference begins in front of Norte-Dame.
The three of us entered and walked around and took pictures of the Rose Windows. Melissa and I signed the guest book. Then we decided to climb to the bell towers which I really wanted to do. I’m not sure Shawna and Melissa were that interested in doing it but I talked them into it. We waited in line for 15 or 20 minutes before paying 5E for the climb.
While in line, we were punked by a Frenchman dressed in a Quazzie Moto (no idea how to spell his name) mask. He just sneaks up on people as they wait in line or walk down the street. It is hilarious to watch it happen but freaks you out when it happens to you. He grabs peoples’ arms or scarves or taps them on the shoulder… then he asks for money. One thing I have noticed in Paris: there are lots of beggars.
An aside about Paris: the city is very clean except for one thing, dog poop on the sidewalks. But apparently it is good luck to step in dog shit. I’m not sure who came up with that idea but I liked my luck the way it was and decided I wanted to pass on that. Each morning, a system of water spouts built into the curb pumps water into the street gutters. They have many public workers whose job it is to sweep up the cigarette butts and litter that is washed up by the water. Many people have jobs because of this even though they are not very glamorous.
One other thing: I really liked that there was no law about drinking publicly on the streets. The one downside that I noticed about this was that there was lots of broken glass on the sidewalks and in public spaces.
So we climbed the steps to the top of Notre-Dame. We saw the grand bell then climbed higher to the top of the bell towers. This is by far the best view of Paris! The pictures I took from here are excellent! The cathedral looks awesome and you can see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Trimophe, Sacre-Coeure, everything!
We climbed back down and headed across the street for a light lunch. Everywhere in Paris, the street vendors have hot dogs but they are footlongs covered in cheese. I decided that I had to try one, costing 7E with an Evian. Shawna had a type of chicken salad sandwich and Melissa had un crocque monsieur that looked delicious. Zoe had decided to walk, with her mom, to the Louvre which was our next attraction. The only problem was that I had her ticket.
She called and asked how long we would be but it was still a fair walk there too. We didn’t want to feel rushed and took our time eating and walking there. On the way, we stopped to buy souvenirs. Melissa bought a bunch of prints of Paris for her house in Athens next year. I bought two t-shirts, one of a subway map and the other of the sites of Paris, an Eiffel Tower shot glass, and sexy playing cards for my roommates.
Along our walk of Ile de la Cite (where Notre-Dame is), I also bought a cup of hot wine from a street vendor. It was like hot cider and very good. It cost 3E. So we crossed another pont (bridge) and headed to the Louvre.
The Louvre is huge. I read that it would take two weeks to see every work of art there if you were there all day every day. We had about two hours to play there, seeing the essentials before moving on to the next attraction. Near the glass pyramid, we ran into three other members of the group that we had not seen yet – Rachel, Catherine, and Adam. We exchanged cell phone numbers and parted ways.
Once inside, we met Zoe and gave her the ticket and she went off with her mom. We got maps and went off to see what we wanted. We started with the Winged Victory and then saw the Mona Lisa. There were tons of people there; once again more slow Asian tourists that had to be avoided. The Mona Lisa was cool but smaller than expected and behind bullet-proof glass and museum security. It was stolen in 1911 by a former employee who walked out with it under his overcoat and later found in Italy.
The painting opposite the Mona Lisa is even more impressive. It is by the French painter Louis David who is now one of my favorite painters. After that, we decided to walk the corridors and see some more art before finding the Venus de Milo. It was very cool as well. The Louvre was awesome but we felt a little burned out and decided that we were finished.
We then chose to walk the Les Jardins Des Tuileries to Place de la Concorde and take the metro to the Gallerie Lafayette, one of the most famous French department stores flagship Paris locations.
Once there, it began raining again. We entered the store and were overwhelmed by how huge and crowded it was. We walked around a little bit and decided that we were finished here as well. We agreed to head back to the hostel to wind down and prepare for dinner.
Back at the Oops, we met Lance – another member of our group that flew in that day. Melissa, Lance, and I decided to go to the restaurant next door for dinner. Before leaving, we polished off a bottle of wine we had bought earlier. Shawna chose to pack and not eat because she did not feel well. This was an Italian restaurant next to the hostel. The French must love Italian food! I had another pizza avec fromage et jambon. Melissa had the same and Lance had a calzone.
After dinner, we returned to the room to drink another bottle of wine before the three of us went to the bar. Zoe had returned when we got back and decided not to go out. I also Skyped with my mom for the first time since I had been it in France and that was really nice. I had Skyped with my Dad once before but she was working. I also left my Grandma in Florida a message from Skype earlier as well but she was not home.
The three of us returned to the same bar as the night before. We had 1664 again. After two or three beers, I was so tired, I was falling asleep at the bar and so Melissa and I decided to go back to the hostel. We left Lance with some students playing shuffle board and he made friends quickly. I also wanted to get back because the hostel says that there is a 2am curfew. We were home by 1:30am but Lance told us later that he did not get back until almost 3:30am and had no problem getting in, although there was no one at the desk – not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
(As always, Google any proper noun that you are unfamiliar with.)
Thursday, March 26, 2009: We decided early that today was going to be our busy day. We had a list of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris that we needed to visit. We began with breakfast and left for the Eiffel Tower at 9am.
We took the metro from Place d’Italie. Everyone can always expect a long line for the elevators. We well decided that to save time, and money, we would climb the steps to the top. We paid 4E and began to scale the landmark. We stopped at the first and second platforms and were a little disappointed to find out that after climbing 640 steps, there were no more and we needed to buy another ticket for the elevator to the top. Another 4E.
So finally we were at the top. It was really cool and really breezy. We took lots of pictures and then were ready to continue our schedule of activities. This was an awesome view of Paris but in my opinion, still not the best.
After waiting in line for the elevator to the bottom, we decided to walk along the Seine to Notre-Dame. We took lots of pictures of the Eiffel Tower on the way. Zoe was meeting her mom there at noon but it was a hike getting there. We didn’t realize how far it was. Thanks Frommer’s. We contemplated taking the metro but ruled it out because it was almost 2E to o one stop. Along the way it began to rain – of course. And we stopped to buy postcards.
Finally at Notre-Dame, Zoe left to find her mom and we started looking around. I stood on Kilometre Zero where distances in France are measured from. For example, it might be 300km to Avignon and that point of reference begins in front of Norte-Dame.
The three of us entered and walked around and took pictures of the Rose Windows. Melissa and I signed the guest book. Then we decided to climb to the bell towers which I really wanted to do. I’m not sure Shawna and Melissa were that interested in doing it but I talked them into it. We waited in line for 15 or 20 minutes before paying 5E for the climb.
While in line, we were punked by a Frenchman dressed in a Quazzie Moto (no idea how to spell his name) mask. He just sneaks up on people as they wait in line or walk down the street. It is hilarious to watch it happen but freaks you out when it happens to you. He grabs peoples’ arms or scarves or taps them on the shoulder… then he asks for money. One thing I have noticed in Paris: there are lots of beggars.
An aside about Paris: the city is very clean except for one thing, dog poop on the sidewalks. But apparently it is good luck to step in dog shit. I’m not sure who came up with that idea but I liked my luck the way it was and decided I wanted to pass on that. Each morning, a system of water spouts built into the curb pumps water into the street gutters. They have many public workers whose job it is to sweep up the cigarette butts and litter that is washed up by the water. Many people have jobs because of this even though they are not very glamorous.
One other thing: I really liked that there was no law about drinking publicly on the streets. The one downside that I noticed about this was that there was lots of broken glass on the sidewalks and in public spaces.
So we climbed the steps to the top of Notre-Dame. We saw the grand bell then climbed higher to the top of the bell towers. This is by far the best view of Paris! The pictures I took from here are excellent! The cathedral looks awesome and you can see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Trimophe, Sacre-Coeure, everything!
We climbed back down and headed across the street for a light lunch. Everywhere in Paris, the street vendors have hot dogs but they are footlongs covered in cheese. I decided that I had to try one, costing 7E with an Evian. Shawna had a type of chicken salad sandwich and Melissa had un crocque monsieur that looked delicious. Zoe had decided to walk, with her mom, to the Louvre which was our next attraction. The only problem was that I had her ticket.
She called and asked how long we would be but it was still a fair walk there too. We didn’t want to feel rushed and took our time eating and walking there. On the way, we stopped to buy souvenirs. Melissa bought a bunch of prints of Paris for her house in Athens next year. I bought two t-shirts, one of a subway map and the other of the sites of Paris, an Eiffel Tower shot glass, and sexy playing cards for my roommates.
Along our walk of Ile de la Cite (where Notre-Dame is), I also bought a cup of hot wine from a street vendor. It was like hot cider and very good. It cost 3E. So we crossed another pont (bridge) and headed to the Louvre.
The Louvre is huge. I read that it would take two weeks to see every work of art there if you were there all day every day. We had about two hours to play there, seeing the essentials before moving on to the next attraction. Near the glass pyramid, we ran into three other members of the group that we had not seen yet – Rachel, Catherine, and Adam. We exchanged cell phone numbers and parted ways.
Once inside, we met Zoe and gave her the ticket and she went off with her mom. We got maps and went off to see what we wanted. We started with the Winged Victory and then saw the Mona Lisa. There were tons of people there; once again more slow Asian tourists that had to be avoided. The Mona Lisa was cool but smaller than expected and behind bullet-proof glass and museum security. It was stolen in 1911 by a former employee who walked out with it under his overcoat and later found in Italy.
The painting opposite the Mona Lisa is even more impressive. It is by the French painter Louis David who is now one of my favorite painters. After that, we decided to walk the corridors and see some more art before finding the Venus de Milo. It was very cool as well. The Louvre was awesome but we felt a little burned out and decided that we were finished.
We then chose to walk the Les Jardins Des Tuileries to Place de la Concorde and take the metro to the Gallerie Lafayette, one of the most famous French department stores flagship Paris locations.
Once there, it began raining again. We entered the store and were overwhelmed by how huge and crowded it was. We walked around a little bit and decided that we were finished here as well. We agreed to head back to the hostel to wind down and prepare for dinner.
Back at the Oops, we met Lance – another member of our group that flew in that day. Melissa, Lance, and I decided to go to the restaurant next door for dinner. Before leaving, we polished off a bottle of wine we had bought earlier. Shawna chose to pack and not eat because she did not feel well. This was an Italian restaurant next to the hostel. The French must love Italian food! I had another pizza avec fromage et jambon. Melissa had the same and Lance had a calzone.
After dinner, we returned to the room to drink another bottle of wine before the three of us went to the bar. Zoe had returned when we got back and decided not to go out. I also Skyped with my mom for the first time since I had been it in France and that was really nice. I had Skyped with my Dad once before but she was working. I also left my Grandma in Florida a message from Skype earlier as well but she was not home.
The three of us returned to the same bar as the night before. We had 1664 again. After two or three beers, I was so tired, I was falling asleep at the bar and so Melissa and I decided to go back to the hostel. We left Lance with some students playing shuffle board and he made friends quickly. I also wanted to get back because the hostel says that there is a 2am curfew. We were home by 1:30am but Lance told us later that he did not get back until almost 3:30am and had no problem getting in, although there was no one at the desk – not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
(As always, Google any proper noun that you are unfamiliar with.)
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