Eating My Way Though Europe
I can't spend all my time eating. Sometimes I wish I could.
I felt enormously silly for crying on the airplane while watching the movie Bride Wars. I rarely cry during movies, especially cheesy girly ones. But the tears just kept on streaming for all the sad parts. I'd like to blame it on the combination of going without sleep and feeling emotional about leaving on my trip. Then again, maybe I just hate to see a friendship wrecked over something as silly as a wedding date.
When I woke up on my first morning in Paris, I was pleasantly surprised by the large market forming just below my window. In Austin I'd call it a community yard sale, but that's probably not what they would call it here. The market covered both sides of the street for a whole block right outside my apartment, so I spent a good half hour perusing the offerings. I bought a fan for my room, since I'm not used to the total lack of air conditioning that I've encountered in Europe thus far. I'm convinced school here would be a lot easier to sit through if there was AC. However, I was kicking myself for not speaking French, since I wanted to negotiate the price, but I didn't feel entitled to negotiate in English. So I paid the full price of 20 euros. I also bought a French picture book for 1 euro, thinking that translating it would be an interesting lesson in reading French.
I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time tonight - and it sparkles! The sparkling Eiffel Tower is breathtakingly beautiful. Even better, one of my classmates told me that if you lean out the apartment window, you can see the top of the Eiffel Tower, and she's right! Now I can see it sparkling from the comfort of my own home - every night.
I decided I need to start tackling my Paris experience differently than I have been.
This morning (my third full day), I woke up early and left the apartment by 7, to get in some sightseeing before school started at 9 (as it does most days I attend school in Paris). The streets and subways were fairly deserted, so Parisians must like to sleep in. Even though nothing was open except for the breakfast eateries and local markets, I was more than happy not to have to deal with any crowds. Also, the weather was perfect - sunny, but still cool. I enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the streets of Paris with a delectable breakfast pastry in hand. I am now determined to get up early every day so that I can have the same wonderful start to each day.
Unfortunately, waking up early means I need to rethink my strategy for getting enough sleep. So far, I've had a lot of trouble falling asleep any earlier than midnight or 1. I believe it is because the sun doesn't set until 9:30 or 10, which throws me off. Not only that - Paris is beautiful after dark, and I don't want to miss out! So my new strategy is to try waking up early AND staying up late, but I will probably also try to take a nap after lunch. Napping after lunch is more of a Spanish custom than a French custom, but whatever gives me enough energy to see as many sights in Paris as I can fit in works for me. However, I will sometimes try to power through the long days with caffeine. But my plan for tomorrow is to take a nap. After all, it's already well past midnight, and I have yet to finish (or start...) my homework.
This morning (my third full day), I woke up early and left the apartment by 7, to get in some sightseeing before school started at 9 (as it does most days I attend school in Paris). The streets and subways were fairly deserted, so Parisians must like to sleep in. Even though nothing was open except for the breakfast eateries and local markets, I was more than happy not to have to deal with any crowds. Also, the weather was perfect - sunny, but still cool. I enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the streets of Paris with a delectable breakfast pastry in hand. I am now determined to get up early every day so that I can have the same wonderful start to each day.
Unfortunately, waking up early means I need to rethink my strategy for getting enough sleep. So far, I've had a lot of trouble falling asleep any earlier than midnight or 1. I believe it is because the sun doesn't set until 9:30 or 10, which throws me off. Not only that - Paris is beautiful after dark, and I don't want to miss out! So my new strategy is to try waking up early AND staying up late, but I will probably also try to take a nap after lunch. Napping after lunch is more of a Spanish custom than a French custom, but whatever gives me enough energy to see as many sights in Paris as I can fit in works for me. However, I will sometimes try to power through the long days with caffeine. But my plan for tomorrow is to take a nap. After all, it's already well past midnight, and I have yet to finish (or start...) my homework.
If the Eiffel Tower is breathtakingly beautiful, then Notre Dame is hauntingly beautiful. Too bad my camera battery died the minute I stepped inside. Oh well, I'll just have to try and go back if I want pictures of the inside. I loved studying the stonework on the outside and the stained glass on the inside. I'm finally glad I took that art history class a couple years ago that spent so much time focusing on cathedrals. If I do go back, I have to bring bread or bird seed, because I saw an elderly couple in the square in front of Notre Dame that were feeding flocks of pigeons and sparrows right out of their hands. The birds were landing on their arms, shoulders, and head! I'd like to see if I can get the birds to do the same for me.
