A lot of trips have happened since the one highlighted in my previous post - a loooot. But as it turns out, I'm too lazy to write about my adventures consistently. But you know what's kind of worth blogging about? PARIS.
I went to Paris with my friend Steph. A month or so before the trip took place, I went to France for the first time ever - to Grenoble, to visit my aunt, Rony - and discovered firsthand that the stereotype pertaining to the French's preference for black clothing is not a myth. So I asked Steph: "Hey, when we go to Paris, do you wanna wear all-black so that we look Parisian?". Steph's typical reply? "Sure!". It was a deal. Fortunately for Steph, 90% of her wardrobe is black. Unfortunately for me, 90% of mine is... beige. If I ever want to go on a safari, I am soooo set! So I bought a black coat and a black purse (left the tags on, planning to return them post-trip... hilarity ensued when multiple people stopped me in the streets of Paris to point out the tags - and instead of pretending to be embarrassed and thanking them, I nodded my head and said "Je sais"...), borrowed Erin's black boots, slapped on some red lipstick, and voilà! I was ready for France! But my predominantly beige closet was not the only obstacle to Parisian success... As I might have mentioned previously, Soria is small. And isolated. And somewhat backwards in certain areas of societal existence. Example: completely awful bus schedule. The buses to Madrid are always full and always in demand, so why are there so few of them?? We were planning on taking the 3:30am bus, which would have gotten us to the airport at 6am, giving us barely enough time to transfer terminals and make our flight. Too stressful! After a lengthy discussion full of indecisiveness, we flipped a coin and decided to take the 8:30pm bus the night before. Sleepover at the airport! FUN TIMES FOR ALL. Especially poor Steph, who was suffering from an unfortunate multitude of self-diagnosed conditions, such as tonsillitis and bronchitis.
We made it to Paris and proceeded to explore the historical amazingness everywhere: l'Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Élysées (where we witnessed a steet fight amongst a group of gypsy women! hysterical), the Place de la Concorde (fun fact: that's where Marie-Antoinette and hubby were decapitated), and the gardens by the Louvre. We ended the day at the Musée d'Orsay, a beautiful train station that now houses a fantastic collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art. That was just the first day... we pretty much saw every important monument and neighborhood in Paris over the next 3 days. I could go on and on and oooon about all the stunning monuments, but frankly, everyone is familiar with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre and Notre-Dame, so I'll simply try to provide you with some tips from what I've learned in this historically and museumically rich city:
Go to Paris. Have some croissants for breakfast. Skip the coffee if you take it with milk, because it costs 5 euro. Bring your own bottle of water, because all beverages cost upwards of 5 euros. Eat crepes with Nutella. Eat more crepes with Nutella. If you feel as though your body requires food that is not purely made up of sugar (what is the matter with you???), you may take a break from the crepes and croissants and feast upon a quiche lorraine, or the confit of a duck. If you do so, make sure you do not go to Versailles and sit by the lake in the glorious gardens, because the ducks that inhabit it will be cute and you will feel very guilty. Stop by Paris's ancient and colorful Jewish quarter for some of the best falafel on the planet. To end your trip, stock up on pastries at a local patisserie before heading to the airport, to get you through the 10 hour trip back to Soria. If you lack self-control, eat those pastries on the 20-minute metro ride to the airport.
The Egyptian Obelisk in the Place de la Concorde, wherein I practice my history-teaching skills by demonstrating the practice of guillotining that took place on this very spot
At the artists' square, Place du Tertre, in the quartier Montmartre, where the beautiful Basilique du Sacre Coeur is. You can spot it in the background!
A view from the back of the gothic and incredibly impressive, majestic, and creepy Notre-Dame
The Seine and the Eiffel tower
Requisite shot in front of the Eiffel tower, which definitely deserves its title as the most famous monument in the world because it is freaking COOL
At the Palais Garnier, which houses the Opera de Paris. Stunning. Posh. Luxurious. Home to the incredible chandelier from the Phantom of the Opera.
MACARONS. If you have ever seen these somewhere, perhaps in an upscale bakery or a restaurant, and have had doubts or reservations: GET THEM. EAT THEM. EXPERIENCE THEM, for they will delight your palate and soul. Forever.
nice blogging - hang on to it! express yourself!
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