So Paris has been another interesting experience. I came here when I was 16 years old for two days and I don't remember much and think I was a quawky young teen that was just trying to fit in with my friends and waste tons of film, so it's interesting to come back, and hopefully my fashion sense has improved a bit. I mean, hey, I actually match this time and my pants are not 3 sizes too big, that's gotta be an improvement. I got a picture taken of me in front of the Eiffel Tower which should be an interesting comparison of my 16 year old self in front of it and now. I somehow do feel that there is some classy Parisian lady perched on my shoulder who continually sighs when I'm trampling through the streets of Paris with sneakers and hair all wild, eating a piece of cake like a piece of pizza(they don't give me forks at bakeries), but hey, my imaginary parisian lady wears uncomfortable heels and probably smokes too much, so I'm okay with doing my own thing.
My first day in Paris was not the best, it was one of those days where you feel like the entire city is spitting and tripping you. I got lost with my bags, had multiple rude encounters, and was just overall frustrated. So by the time I was standing in front of Notre Dame, it was hard to take in the beauty while I was cursing Paris. Luckily things turned up, I had breakfast with a Taiwanese-kinda-Texan who now is part of the French Legion and is one of those who guards the Eiffel Tower with a machine gun. I got to learn lots of French Legion facts, I'm really tired of having the whole travel-conversation of where-did-you-go-where-are-you-from, so I am always quite excited to meet people who actually have a job, and an interesting one at that.
The next day I took at free tour of Paris and ended up spending the whole day with two zimbabweans (if you say it that way) who now live in England. We had such a giddy time going around Paris, we saw everything, climbed the Eiffel Tower, ate tons of crepes, it was maaaarvelously fun. I'm still sore today from all the walking (basically from 10:30am-12am). I probably was a bit of a loud annoying tourist, but I didn't care, I had a great time.
Today, I decided to go the Lourve and wanted to get a power breakfast since I didn't know if I would get food all afternoon since the Lourve is quite an experience so my mind created a new crepe combination--having egg (normal) and banana (normal) together (not normal). I chatted with the crepe man and asked it and he didn't seem to be bothered, but through understanding bits of french and random english, I was quite amused by the following conversation between him and his coworker (translated, accuracy questionable but overall idea):
Co-worker: So what crepe are you making there?
Mr.Crepe Man: Oh with egg and banana
Co-worker: Egg and Banana?? What the hell?
Mr.Crepe Man: Well, that's what she told me. I dunno, she's from America
Co-worker: So that's what they eat that there? Crazy americans.
::While Mr.Crepe Man prepares my coffee with milk::
Co-worker: You're giving her milk?? You're supposed to charge another Euro!
Mr.Crepe Man: Oh, its fine
Co-worker: You're not supposed to do that!
Mr.CM: ::Pouring:: Just a liiiiiittle bit of milk. Look, just liiiiiiitttle bit.
Co-worker: ::Hands up:: Man, but you can't--
Mr.CM::pouring more:: --liiiiiiittle bit of milk, not much, liiiiiitle bit.
Co-worker: Bah! ::To me:: Hey, in exchange for milk, you think I can have your address in America? I want to find work...
Probably need to witness the scene, but I was amused for the day. And no, I didn't give my address. Anyways, I went to the Lourve which was enormous, but quite enjoyable. I felt like I saw pretty much everything my heart desired, and being 24 instead of 16 years old, I enjoyed it much more this time and actually paid attention to the art instead of just running around all camera-happy. I then went on a night free tour around the burlesque-Moulin Rouge area as well as saw the bohemian area (with tons of places where Amelie was filmed). I got to learn fun facts such as the red light district has on average about 3000 prostitutes working every night, and where Pablo Picasso did his paintings while suffering from a venereal disease. Good times!
Last note--I don't know what it is about me, but in every country, no matter how out of place I look, natives always seem to ask me for directions. Chile, Germany, France--women always approach me for directions. And I get to respond like a deer in headlights--"english? No?". Well except in Chile, I actually knew the answer there--which was still ironic because I would be standing next to a chilean sometimes and the person would still turn to me and ask. I must look very approachable or something! I could put that on my resume--"international approachability".
My first day in Paris was not the best, it was one of those days where you feel like the entire city is spitting and tripping you. I got lost with my bags, had multiple rude encounters, and was just overall frustrated. So by the time I was standing in front of Notre Dame, it was hard to take in the beauty while I was cursing Paris. Luckily things turned up, I had breakfast with a Taiwanese-kinda-Texan who now is part of the French Legion and is one of those who guards the Eiffel Tower with a machine gun. I got to learn lots of French Legion facts, I'm really tired of having the whole travel-conversation of where-did-you-go-where-are-you-from, so I am always quite excited to meet people who actually have a job, and an interesting one at that.
The next day I took at free tour of Paris and ended up spending the whole day with two zimbabweans (if you say it that way) who now live in England. We had such a giddy time going around Paris, we saw everything, climbed the Eiffel Tower, ate tons of crepes, it was maaaarvelously fun. I'm still sore today from all the walking (basically from 10:30am-12am). I probably was a bit of a loud annoying tourist, but I didn't care, I had a great time.
Today, I decided to go the Lourve and wanted to get a power breakfast since I didn't know if I would get food all afternoon since the Lourve is quite an experience so my mind created a new crepe combination--having egg (normal) and banana (normal) together (not normal). I chatted with the crepe man and asked it and he didn't seem to be bothered, but through understanding bits of french and random english, I was quite amused by the following conversation between him and his coworker (translated, accuracy questionable but overall idea):
Co-worker: So what crepe are you making there?
Mr.Crepe Man: Oh with egg and banana
Co-worker: Egg and Banana?? What the hell?
Mr.Crepe Man: Well, that's what she told me. I dunno, she's from America
Co-worker: So that's what they eat that there? Crazy americans.
::While Mr.Crepe Man prepares my coffee with milk::
Co-worker: You're giving her milk?? You're supposed to charge another Euro!
Mr.Crepe Man: Oh, its fine
Co-worker: You're not supposed to do that!
Mr.CM: ::Pouring:: Just a liiiiiittle bit of milk. Look, just liiiiiiitttle bit.
Co-worker: ::Hands up:: Man, but you can't--
Mr.CM::pouring more:: --liiiiiiittle bit of milk, not much, liiiiiitle bit.
Co-worker: Bah! ::To me:: Hey, in exchange for milk, you think I can have your address in America? I want to find work...
Probably need to witness the scene, but I was amused for the day. And no, I didn't give my address. Anyways, I went to the Lourve which was enormous, but quite enjoyable. I felt like I saw pretty much everything my heart desired, and being 24 instead of 16 years old, I enjoyed it much more this time and actually paid attention to the art instead of just running around all camera-happy. I then went on a night free tour around the burlesque-Moulin Rouge area as well as saw the bohemian area (with tons of places where Amelie was filmed). I got to learn fun facts such as the red light district has on average about 3000 prostitutes working every night, and where Pablo Picasso did his paintings while suffering from a venereal disease. Good times!
Last note--I don't know what it is about me, but in every country, no matter how out of place I look, natives always seem to ask me for directions. Chile, Germany, France--women always approach me for directions. And I get to respond like a deer in headlights--"english? No?". Well except in Chile, I actually knew the answer there--which was still ironic because I would be standing next to a chilean sometimes and the person would still turn to me and ask. I must look very approachable or something! I could put that on my resume--"international approachability".
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