Paris Day 1 and 2

Saturday March 28

Got up and checked out, then back to King’s Cross/St. Pancras, where I waited around for hours as my train wasn’t until 1:30, I couldn’t check in until around noon, and I had to be out of the hostel by ten. So I finished reading “Fire Watch,” bought some flip flops for use in hostel showers, had a crepe (right before going to Paris), eventually checked in and went through security (which included a dog sniffing all bags), then waited for the train to board. Found my seat and relaxed for the just over 2 hour ride. I got to the train station in Paris and only waited about 20 minutes for Heather to arrive!

Heather wowed me with her French skills as she figured out what type of Metro pass would be the best option for me to get. Bought a five day pass (which I couldn’t use until Sunday) for unlimited travel on the Metro and buses, as Heather had some other tickets I could use in the meantime. We dropped off my laptop and iPod/headphones at her home and so she could grab a bag of clothes, then headed to the hostel. It was about two blocks from a Metro stop on Rue Mouffetard, a pretty hopping street/area. Checked in and dropped off our stuff, then wandered the streets of Paris! Saw Notre Dame at night, and went to a creperie for dinner and conversation.

Afterwards, we met up with some of Heather’s friends outside a bar they frequent (The Smile) which was literally down the street and around the corner from the hostel. I don’t think either of the two Emilys recalled the most hilarious situation of the night, wherein Emily 1 (who shall be called Emily) crepe-slapped Emily 2 (who shall be referred to as her initials, EHC) with a nutella crepe, and then ran off to get another crepe but it had to be from a different crepe stand. Wandered some more, but ended up that Heather, myself, her friend Jess and her visiting boyfriend went briefly to a place in Bastille called The Hideout. We had one drink, but we weren’t really feeling it, so we headed back to the hostel area, got some nutella crepes and ended up talking for a couple of hours in the hostel lobby area. It was three by the time we went to bed (damn daylight savings time), but it was an auspicious start to the visit!

Sunday March 29

We got up in time for the hostel breakfast (of rolls and croissants, some cereal if you wanted it, orange juice and tea) and to take showers. The showers were kind of gross, but not overly, and shower shoes make all things tolerable. Heather’s program gives them passes that claims they are art history students so they can get into museums for free, and EHC never attached her picture to hers… so we went to pick it up for a little temporary doctoring. We intended to use it that day for the Louvre, but we couldn’t find a photobooth, and we didn’t have scissors or tape, so I sucked it up and paid for the Louvre (well worth it). Saw amazingly famous works of art up close and personal!

We took a break from the Louvre to go to Angelina’s for pastries and hot chocolate – but this hot chocolate was no watered down crap. It was basically like, pure melted chocolate. And then they give you a type of whipped cream to stir in yourself. Almost went into a sugar coma. Then we sat outside in the Tuileries gardens for a bit before going back into the Louvre to check out some of the Egyptian stuff. Also very cool!

After we were finally done with that whole scene, we went to the Arc d’Triomphe. How ridiculous is it that I can just type that? Oh, the Louvre, the Tuileries, the Arc d’Triomphe. No big deal. We walked a bit on the Champs Elysees, and when it threatened rain we headed back for a break at the hostel to use their Internet, and also to buy some soap and some Surf Fizz (a candy Andrew specifically requested). We met this girl who had just arrived from Canada who was going backpacking around Europe. So we invited her to come with us to get dinner and head our to the Eiffel Tower after. So we got fondue and wine, thenwent to the Eiffel Tower and the Champs de Mars to see it all lit up and chill there. So we did that, and all of a sudden the Eiffel Tower starts sparkling! It was crazy, crazy, awesome. After that wound down, we headed back to the Metro as it was getting a bit chilly, and went to bed.

Also at some point this night, I took my photobooth pictures in order to doctor myself up an ID. Oh yeah.