Wine and Bread

Hey there internet family!  I'm pretty excited to be talking to you all the way from Paris France!  It's been a wonderful and overwhelming 36 hours.  Yesterday when I stepped off the plane I hadn't slept and was extremely tired.  That wasn't going to stop me from doing something fun.

I got to my hostel at around noon, but since check in wasn't until 3, I dropped my bags off and headed for a walk around my new neighborhood.  I am positioned in a very traditional Parisian neighborhood full of shops and cafes and a great view of the Sacre Coeur.  I have never seen so many fabric stores on one street.  My crafter friends would be in heaven!

My roommates last night were so sweet.  They have been traveling for 3 MONTHS.... and had 5 days left of their adventure.  I really enjoyed getting to know them and hearing about all the places they had been.  All the way from Seattle, they were really happy I was American.  6 weeks feels like a long time for me to travel.  I couldn't imagine 3 months living out of a suitcase.  I would have to buy a house and have a home station with a bathtub and shower.  I spent this morning with them and we walked up the stairs of Sacre Coeur.  What a beautiful view of Paris.  Looking at all the places I had yet to explore got me excited for an afternoon of walking.

The subway here was really easy to figure out, even if it is in French.  I saw most of the major attractions in 3 hours.  Just hopping on and off the subway I was able to find all the things I had been dreaming of seeing since I was little.  The first stop was the Eiffel Tour.  As I walked up the subway steps I felt butterflies in my stomach.  Such a weird reaction to seeing a monument  but I was nervous/excited!  Would it be everything I wanted it to be?  Would it be a let down?  I didn't know, and as I scanned the horizon outside the metro I was confused that I couldn't see it.  This thing is supposed to be huge right?  Looking for signs I saw a group of people next to an opening.  It had to be there I decided and as I walked closer to the gap and turned the corner my eyes teared up a bit when I saw the real life version of the thing I've had posters and statues of around the house since before I can remember.  It really is a magnificent sight.  I of course wanted a better look so I slowly began walking towards it, taking in all the beautiful buildings, trees, and fountains that line the walkway.  I wasn't about to spend 15 Euro to go to the top as I knew the view would look like a city from high above.  I can picture that in my head.  Instead, I strolled down the river walk and took pictures of it from all angles.  Satisfied, I waved goodbye and headed back to the subway.

There are a lot of stairs in Paris.  Yikes.  My legs are killing me.  The wedding photographer in me stalked a bride and groom while they were getting portraits taken, secretly critiquing their photographers techniques.  I would love to see what kind of images he was getting at 1 in the afternoon, full sun, and a flash pointed at the sky.

Next I stopped by the Arc de Triomphe.  It's lovely, but another thing you have to pay a ton of money just to walk up and stand next to it.  I instead walked in a full circle around it, admiring it's beauty and smiling at the people dressed as clowns for no apparent reason.  They were awfully excited about something and I was very entertained.  Back on the subway I switched lines and headed to the Louvre.  When I got off at the stop I wasn't sure if I was in the right place.  There was a square with an extremely talented chalk artist drawing a picture.  I watched him for a long time.  I noticed a lot of people going into a building and thought I might check it out.  Lucky for me, it was the place I was looking for!  Through a long dark hallway I could see the light reflecting off the famous Louvre Pyramid.  I was astounded by the size of this amazing building.

Well people, I'm about to go out with my roommates for the night!  Here are some pictures!  Enjoy!  Miss you all.

PS:  Wine and Bread is the cheapest thing you can buy at the grocery store!  Awesome!