Woke up extremely early to get on a metro, which I had to learn by myself and it was extremely easy. Go me. I'm actually very surprised because last year I was confused by a simple train in Italy and the year before that, I was incredibly confused by New York City's subway. Now I can easily get around London and Paris by the underground/metro. Anyway, I headed to the Louvre. I was the first one in line and the first one to be let in. Sprinting to the Mona Lisa on the first floor, room six. I got there and there was only five people including myself surrounding her. Later there was a huge crowd. I was actually disappointed. Bullet proof case and about ten feet away was the closest I was ever going to get. I mean, I get it. The most famous painting should be protected. Have you seen what ISIS did to the Lamassau? I can see some crazy person trying to ruin Leonardo's work of art. Anyway, I say the Mona Lisa, Liberty Leading the People, Raft of the Medusa (teared up), and a few more that were amazing.
Met up with the girls in front of the Louvre Pyramid. Took selfies and such. And the street people selling souvenirs ket coming up and I said I would buy a keychain and the small metal Eiffel Tower, both for five. Then they wouldn't leave Michaela alone, trying to get her to buy. No means no dude. We also saw love lock bridge, it's massive. Love lock bridge is where couples go to put a lock with their names on it and then lock it on the bridge and throw away the key (in the river). Also river is "La Seine".
I keep finding Space Invaders! So many in Paris! http://www.space-invaders.com/home/
Off for lunch. Starved. We got to see out outside of this cute street cafe/restaurant. We all got a sandwich. Mine was camembert cheese in a baguette, it was okay. Also, I laugh at all the French people carrying around baguettes in striped shirts. I really wish they would put a beret on. After lunch, we headed towards the Eiffel Tower. On the way, Michaela had the most clever begger. This lady comes up and picks up a ring off of the ground next Michaela's feet and asks if it was hers'. Michaela said no and the lady said it was to big for her so she let Michaela have it. The lady walks away for a few seconds and comes back asking for change because she was hungry and Michaela said she didn't have any so the lady took the ring and walked away. The ring scam, pretty clever.
Had a pistachio macaroon. I decided on having one a day. Too good to miss.
When we got to the Eiffel Tower, it was surreal. We came from behind and walked underneath it and to the front. Laid out in front of it and took selfies. laying back down for half an hour and looking at it, it was still surreal. The tower looks like a toy that I can just pick up. It's not how I imagined the Eiffel Tower. But it's still beautiful.
Walked to the Statue of Liberty. Yes, they have one. It's really small, probably five of them stacked would make up the torch of the real one in NYC. After seeing that, we headed to a metro and went back to our hotel. Stopped at a grocery store for dinner. I picked up Buffalo Mozzarella. It was better than the ones in England. Probably because France is closer to Italy. Also more variety. Skyped Grandma for a few minutes back at the hotel. Ate food and rested. Then off to a different hookah bar then the one yesterday. Got peach flavour. This one was a bit more expensive but better service. Maybe too good of service. Alie got hit on by the guy serving us and asked for a photo of them together. Bye.
For Grandpa Lee. Miss you.
Day Three:
Woke up early again for Musée d'Orsay. I actually got there an hour earlier than I needed. Went to a cafe to have an expresso as I waited. It was way to cold outside that morning. Windy all day, made it really chilly. If the wind stopped it would be hot outside. At this museum I saw Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass. Then a guy that worked there came up to me and asked in French if I got coffee at the cafe this morning (only knew that he said that because he asked in English after French). Apparently he saw me and we talked about America and such. Then he asked if I had a ticket to the exhibition and I didn't. Only to the permanent collection. He asked if I would like to see the temporary exhibit and I said yeah, and he let me in for free! That was pretty cool. Leaving d'Orsay, I headed to Musée de l'Orangerie for Monet's Nymphéas. Got in for free because I'm 20 and a student. The rooms and the paintings were gorgeous. I took panoramas and gawked for half an hour.
After my museum morning, I met up with the girls at the Victoria monument and went to see Notre Dame. Took awhile to find. Selfies and candids later we headed to the Luxembourg gardens. They have a huge fountain and kids put boats in and have sticks to push them around when they hit the fountain's edge. We then laid out on the grass and we all fell asleep. Power nap. It was really nice, and I got a little burn on my chest. After our nap, we walked to the catacombes. Taking a stop for a vanilla macaroon. The catacombe line was a three hour wait so we left, we didn't really care to see bones underground. Stopped at a grocery store for dinner, I bought more buffalo mozzarella. And then we passed out in the hotel again.
Oh I tried a chocolate eau claire. Tasted like heaven.
Going out on a Saturday night in Paris was great. We bought Ricard (we think it's like their Bacardi). It was like drinking really strong black liquorice. Went to a Scottish pub and we crashed a private party. Left and kept going into bars. Alie and I tried a shot called "After 8" and then we crashed another private party. On the streets, I found a lot of space invaders. Later, we decided to head back and right before we got on the metro, we found a Canadian Bar. Hockey themed, hockey playing on the television. I got a shot of Absinthe. Heard a lot about it because I was going to France. It was the worst thing I have ever drank, never again. It took me like five minutes to recover.
On the metro, this creepy guy kept trying to talk to Alie. He did not get the picture that we wanted to be left alone so we did a lot of things to get him to leave. Did not work. I was relieved to get to our stop to get away from the creep.
"We are just doing the French thing, being assholes."
Today:
We have a picnic at the Eiffel Tower, a trip to Versailles, and up on top of a building-that-I-forgot-the-name-of planned and probably a trip at night to see the tower lit up. Tomorrow we leave but not until 8pm so we plan on seeing the arc de triomphe and the shopping streets. Fashion in Paris. I guess I will come back to see the two Modern Art Museums and to go to the top of the tower later.
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