Finally, after months of planning, waiting, and second guessing, I am here in the City of Light...Paris!
After a nice bit of turbulence on the way to Stockholm, then a 3hr layover followed by a 1hr plane change due to a "technical problem" I finally arrived in Paris! With my 3 roller suitcases and a huge Puma bag as my "personal item" I made my out of the airport. Thankfully I met a really nice cab driver from Cameroon who actually thought I spoke French decently and had been to Paris before! HA!
I met my landlord at my apartment who have me a key big enough to lock a bank vault. And this is just for my apartment door. All street doors here open with a keycode so at least that's easy.
Yesterday, I went on my first Parisian excursion! The closest station to my apartment does not have someone stationed there and only a machine to reload your Navigo pass. But...I just so happen to have a Metro ticket someone gave me before I left Chicago (thanks Roxanne!)
I went to meet a new friend Anna who has been living in Paris, but is actually from Chicago. While waiting for her I began to pace a little and figured I'd get my first shots of Paris. I walked to the corner and just so happened to look to my right and...
This place is huge by the way, 224,500 m². There's a park for kids, a few tennis courts, a pond and...
I saw all of this yummy-ness at La Grand Epicerie de Le Bon Marche. This is a HUGE international supermarket. These pics were of the first display case I saw when I walked in. I would have taken more pics but I got yelled at. (kinda embarrassing, stupid American). More food pics to come though. After all, Je suis une Chef de Cuisine!!
After a nice bit of turbulence on the way to Stockholm, then a 3hr layover followed by a 1hr plane change due to a "technical problem" I finally arrived in Paris! With my 3 roller suitcases and a huge Puma bag as my "personal item" I made my out of the airport. Thankfully I met a really nice cab driver from Cameroon who actually thought I spoke French decently and had been to Paris before! HA!
I met my landlord at my apartment who have me a key big enough to lock a bank vault. And this is just for my apartment door. All street doors here open with a keycode so at least that's easy.
Metro Station-Guy Moquet
Yesterday, I went on my first Parisian excursion! The closest station to my apartment does not have someone stationed there and only a machine to reload your Navigo pass. But...I just so happen to have a Metro ticket someone gave me before I left Chicago (thanks Roxanne!)
I went to meet a new friend Anna who has been living in Paris, but is actually from Chicago. While waiting for her I began to pace a little and figured I'd get my first shots of Paris. I walked to the corner and just so happened to look to my right and...
...Notre Dame Cathedral! So amazing to see something in person that I have been reading about or hearing about since European history in high school. We don't have buildings this old in America! I am going to love being surrounded by all of this history.
I met with some students from school to take a walking tour of the Left Bank, Latin Quarter provided by Discoverwalks.com. I loved the tour but I won't bore you with the details because this post would be super long. But... I did get my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower!
La Tour Eiffel
Its small and in the distance, but its there. More to come, trust me!
Lily, Mashav, Ze, and Caitie at Le Jardin Du Luxembourg
After my first taste of Paris, it was time for my first taste of Parisian wine! More of that to come too, trust me!!! Here we are sitting in the Luxembourg Garden.
Palais du Luxembourg (home of the French Senate)
This place is huge by the way, 224,500 m². There's a park for kids, a few tennis courts, a pond and...
...pay toilets! Which is how it is everywhere, but this was my first time so it still tripping. What was even worse was that it was .40 euro for women and only .20 euro for men! I might use a urinal if I'm short on change one day!
Chocolates and Tartes
Macaroons (just for you Gina!!)
I had no idea you had to pay to use the toilets! Crazy. And I truly think there needs to be some kind of debate on why men pay less- that's ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteAre those people in your class with you or did you just randomly meet them- they look fun!
Glad you are having a good time though- so jealous!
Wow! the presentation in the Macaroon display makes me almost want to reconsider my contempt for coconut. Wonder what the logic is behind the difference in the cost for the ladies toilets.
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