france

Mary Shannon: Bonjour! Wee, Kelsi and I just got back from Paris, France! It was such a GREAT weekend. We got to see and do a lot. We are also really getting a sense of what seperates European culture from American culture, and what seperates each European city from the next.
Thursday evening Kelsi, Kate, and I packed our bags once again - actually I hadnt even really had time to unpack from the weekend before so half of it was done for me. Then we headed out for Santa Maria Novella Train Station, where I only had to walk back twice, first forgetting my phone..then my iPod! So after having to take a taxi to catch back up with Kelsi and Kate, ordering McDs no.8, and validating our Eurail passes for the first time, we were finally on the train.
The sleeper cart we were placed in was made for 6 passengers. I am still amazed how our bodies and luggage all fit in this extrordinarily small place. The only other passenger in our cart though was a middle-aged family photographer from Sri Lanka (he said we should all go there because it is hot this time of year...) Even though it was only about 8:30pm when we got our stuff settled, we all realized how exhausted we were. Kelsi figured out how to unlatch the seats on either side of the cabin to make them fold down into four beds. Up above these beds, were mattresses on either side. We were also given blankets (ew), pillows (ew!), and sheets (thankfully wrapped in plastic and unused). Kelsi and I slept on the very bottom row across from each other, this was comfortable except for the head rests protruding off the tops of the folded down seats onto our bodies... Kelsi and I also both had hoodies on to cover our hair-heard lots of scary stories of shared head lice on trains, buses, etc! I also took a sleeping pill for the TWELVE hour journey, and after locking, tucking in, and tying my bag to my foot, fell asleep.
The next morning around 7am, I woke up to see the Dijon mustard fields south of Paris. It was a sight I hadnt seen in six years and was just as magnificent as I had remembered them being. Unlike Tuscany, the villages of France seem to have more of a medieval look to them, lots of stone and rock buildings. We then pulled into Paris-Bercy train station around 8am and took the metro to the Republique subway stop. This stop is where we first saw classic, magical Paris. We also were only a short walk from our 2-star PLUS hotel room. (Which was actually really clean and perfect for us three girls)!
After showering, Kelsi, Kate, and I jumped on the metro again to find the Paris su mode fashion trading show. Kelsi and Kate had planned to meet their international business teacher there at 2:30pm on Friday - I was then going to just wander around Paris and shop and sight-see - but then I decided, 'hey why not tag along?' So I did. We walked past the Louvre and Palace, through the big gardens to the big white heated tents, bustling with fashionable people from all over the world. Here, I was definately out of my element haha; I can't really relate to the woman I saw walking past with her 10,000USD gold Louis Vutton bag....hmm. We then had to leave and go get lunch because their teacher's plane had been delayed, and without him and a badge there was no way to get in. For lunch I had a club sandwich and pom fritz (french fries) with real Heinz ketchup! The girls sitting behind us were also study abroad students from Illnois, one from Paris, and the others from Madrid-small world.
Back at the fashion tents an hour later, we met up with their teacher Mossimo, wearing a fashionable sports outer-wear jacket, big sunglasses, and tangled hair. He didnt really strike me as the stereotypical American teacher haha. He's actually the CEO of an advertising company in Florence, with clients from all over in many different business fields-including the fashion industry. So even I got to go in with the girls to see all the different booths set up, with samples of each designers collection for winter 2007-2008. It was neat to walk around and see all the clothes that will be in style next year, hint: lots of greys, blacks, dark browns as usual, and a lot off different shades of purple. Also, more of the different flats (all colors and fabrics) and boots with leggings or tights, really tight jeans. Lots of loose, draping tops and dresses, lots of tapering.
Hungry and wanting to walk around a little more before dark, we walked across the Seine River towards the St. Germaine area. It started raining again and got really windy (we had bought a €9 umbrella earlier bc of the weater!) and then our umbrella blew inside out and the pole broke!! Of course! So, soaking wet, we ran into the closest restaraunt where Kelsi and I had apple tart with cinnamon ice cream! We sat here trying to waste time until we had to meet at a tourist office around 9:30 near Notre Dame. Then, we lost track of time and ended up having to sprint through the streets of Paris in pouring rain, people looking at us out of breath with lost expressions on our faces. We never ever ever look native to ANYWHERE we go. Finally finding the right streets, we started looking for the bus that would take us on our next destination. No one was in either bus parked at the location that had been directed to us!!! Thats when we realized we were supposed to meet inside the office, doors we had been standing in front of for like ten minutes while still getting rained on. (Looking at a map of Florence, when you see that a building is just one street over, it literally is. We figured out in Paris, that one street over might mean take a metro then walk 20 minutes then look to the left, and over that hill you will see what you are looking for)haha.
Finally meeting up with the rest of the group, we boarded the van and began driving around Paris. We got to get out and look at the Eiffel Tower while its lights were going off (I think it does this on the hour every hour for like ten minutes...) Then, we drove into the 'red light district' to drop off some the tourists at the Moulin Rouge. I never knew an area like this existed-I will leave it to your imagination instead of using creative imagery! : ) Last, we pulled over on the Champs Elysses (the main strip in Paris) in front of the Lido cabaret! Kelsi, Kate, and I, though soaked to the bone, were really pumped. Kelsi's passion is dance, she has grown up working and learning at her own mom's dance studio in Stuttgart, so going to cabaret was a really cool experience for her. She could tell you technically how it was, but we both agreed it was extremely entertaining with a contortionist on a trapeze, feathers and glitter, singing, stage airplane that came down from above us to drop off dancers, an ice skating floor with a couple doing olympic-type tricks, a man using just muscle to balance one-handed upside down on a pole and do tricks, a million costume changes, etc. (Oh yeah, and a glass of champagne)!
On Saturday, Kelsi and I made our way on our own through the metro to the Eiffel Tower. Thankfully this day was much prettier, only absurdly windy! We waited in line for about an hour to get our tickets and ride the elevator up to the middle of the tower. Here, we waited another 1\2 hour to get to the very top! I hadn't been to the top during the day, and I have to say it was a much different experience. Paris is much more industrial than what I always imagine it to be. It was hard picking out where the Grand Palace, Petit Palace, Louvre, and Notre Dame were. The wind was even crazier up here and we could barely stand up straight! After about 20 minutes we decided to head back down (not after I used the toilette on the top-thats a long wait after drinking a big bottle of water haha)! At the halfway point heading down, Kelsi and I got off and I had a Fanta and sandwich - just for you Mrs. Tatman!
Kelsi and I then met Kate at the Louvre. Kate had wanted to walk around Paris and find the little boutiques while we climed the Tower. There were no lines at this museum, probably because it was SO massive! It was only €8.50 for a ticket, and we also paid €5 for the audio headphones (it was €10 for the 'Da Vinci Code' audio tour haha). Then we realized we only had an hour and a half until closing! So, like Americans are known for, we sprinted passed room after room of paintings, sculptures, artifacts, and statues to find the Monna Lisa by Da Vinci. Then, we came upon this one wall, in the middle of a room, adorned with only this one painting. I'd probably have to be an art major to appreciate this piece on some level, but it truly was an experience to behold something you have heard so much about. I feel the same way about the Madonna and Child, and the Aphrodite sculpture. My personal favorite was The Wedding of Canaan, the largest painting in the Louvre, and the French royaltys' coronation crown and HUGE diamonds! I loved the fact that this big BIG huge gargantuan building was where people had lived, I imagine to get from one side to the other would at least take an hour. (And then they wanted a bigger one and built the Palace of Versailles out in the country)! Goodness.
After searching for about 20 minutes, I finally humbled myself enough to ask where the inverted pyramid from the Da Vinci Code was! haha. I had to see where the fictional, supposed 'holy grail' was in the movie-I mean, I was there, why not?? It was actually in the shopping center of the Louvre! Right next to like a Guess store and a Starbucks! So we stopped and had a caramel macchiato (mmm).
For dinner we walked from the Louvre a few blocks to a restaurant suggested to us by a former study abroad student in Paris, called Buddha-Bar. It had one of the coolest atmospheres! It had two floors, dimly lit by candlelight. Instrumental Indian music was playing low in the background. The first floor was a bar wrapped around by a balcony over looking the bottom floor where all the dining tables were set up. We had reservations for 7pm and ended up sitting there until 10 because we were so relaxed! We had Vietnamese spring rolls, these salted peas, bottle of red wine, fried rice, and three different types of sushi! Kate and I also got dessert; she had a chocolate cream-filled chocolate cake, while (since I gave up choco for Lent) an assortment of three differently flavored sorbets! A great choice on my part I must say: there were three small scoops with mango, peach, and wild strawberry surrounded by three different dipping sauces!!! MMM! After dinner and discussions on life, we decided to walk down the Champs' Eylsses then get home to bed.
Sunday morning we checked out of our hotel at 10am (storing our luggage there for the day since our train didnt leave until 7pm). We ate brunch on Rue de Rivoli at a place renowned for its hot chocolate-Angelina. There is also a scene from this cute French-style cafe\restaurant in the last episodes of Sex & the City when Sarah Jessica Parker is sitting alone feeding a big dog. Since on Sunday I can cheat with my chocolate I had a mini choco-filled croissant with a piece of toast with the BEST strawberry jam and honey I've tasted. I also, of course, had the hot cocao which was literally melted chocolate brought in a small ceramic pourer with an empty cup, and a bowl of whipped cream. I dont think I have to say how great it was! Then, why Kelsi shopped at all the cool stores on Rivoli, Kate and I decided we would go see Monet's Waterlilies at the Orangerie Museum. HOWEVER, we realized that on the first Sunday of every month in Paris all museums are free, which also meant HUGE crowds. So after scrapping that idea due to the three hour wait, we took the metro to Sacre Coure, or Montemarte. Its the only hill in Paris, and on top is a magnificent old church, great view, lots of green green grass, and a quaint village with an artist market. (It is also the location of one of the scenes from the movie Amelie-where she has him follow arrows up the hill to look through binoculars so she can put his book back on his scooter, near the carousel..which is there).
Kate then took out her map to indicate the world's largest antique market on the outskirts of Paris. Her teacher had told her to ignore the first ten minutes of stuff, and that at the end would be magnificent antiques, no trinkets or crap. So, since Kate has an interest in fashion we jumped on the metro towards the last possible subway stop. And what do you know, Paris is NOT all magical. Parts of it are real-big-city-metropolitan-scary-new-york-type-stuff! We got off that subway looking like two scared puppy dogs dropped off in the middle of an unsuspecting land! It was very industrial, crowded, and dirty. We thankfully ran into two American girl students who knew where they were going. So we followed them like 5 blocks to this big outdoor market. Here, we did like her teacher said and put our heads down and walked ten minutes through the most disgusting, cliche tourist booths filled with Ecko, Levi, and fake Nike. Only, after a few blocks it still all looked the same and the booths started spreading out in all directions...I saw no antiques! Right when we were about to turn around and sprint back to the subway, we stumbled into the center of the enormous market. Little shops lined so close together they made small alleys just big enough to walk through. The roofs of the stores (no bigger than the size of a room) on the left, touched the roofs of those on the right. It was like a small hidden town of antique booths! My granny would have a fit if she saw this! After wandering aimlessly for about 20 min, and buying a €2 ring, we got on that dirty subway and headed back towards the romantic center of town! Then- I finally had my chocolate Nutella crepe! mm. Then we headed home.
Back in Florence at 8am, Kelsi and I only had to time to run from the train station to our apt, then back to the school for class at 9! These weeks are getting shorter and shorter! I cant believe it is already Wednesday! We are hopefully already about to leave for Prague TOMORROW! I am really excited about it, but even more excited about mom coming the next week and relaxing in Florence-finally getting to visit all the museums and Tuscan area!
New Stories? Well, not really. Except that yesterday I walked out of our front door to see a construction site being built literally three steps from our apt. This morning starting at 8am there has been non-stop hammering, talking, smacking, banging, and LOUD noises! Then, last night our land lady came by to fidget with our hot water because she said it was set on the incorrect dial or something. Since our hot water has actually been really great and we've finally gotten used to our shower, its only possible that now our hot water won't turn on AT ALL! When you turn the faucet, not even a DRIP comes out. We called her about it last night and she said she'd be there in a few minutes...24 hours later and we are still waiting...
O well haha. love you all, miss you all. CIAO