Saturday, February 25, 2012

BONNNNNNJOURRRRR PAREEEEE


"BONNNJOURRRR PAREEEEE!!!!!" is not what I first said upon arrival in the City of Light. In my head, possibly, but in general I try to pretend to be more cool than that. This welcoming phrase was in fact shouted inches from my face by a strange man while walking down the street. Initially, I was quite alarmed; this man probably got his kicks from frightening tourists. Also, how did he know I was a tourist? I try so hard to blend in here, and I wasn't even wearing my backpack. I was slightly offended. However, I decided to take it as a welcome gesture from the city (which really hadn't gotten off to a good start with me anyway, if you remember the metro door incident previously mentioned) and plodded on to my hostel.

Before this, I'd spent several lovely days with my roommate from Mizzou, where many pastries and baguettes were eaten. The lovely thing about baguettes is that they're only one euro. In Paris, this is about the cheapest food item you can find. Let me tell you, Paris is expensive. Food was expensive, but more importantly, drink prices are RIDICULOUS. Happy hour prices in Paris are more expensive than regular drink prices in Lyon. Every night that I went out (and there were not many of these, mind you) I wondered and really hoped that Parisians have heard of pregaming, for their sake. However, the food was good. And those one euro baguettes were to die for. M and I had a very nice lunch by the Seine with baguettes, meat and cheese and were ecstatic about it. Also, once you find the places run by foreigners who cater to cheap tourists, you'll be okay. I don't know why, but these are the best-priced places. I had a gyro with unknown meat for only 4.50 euro (plus fries), and it was the best gyro I have ever eaten in my life. I wish I knew what kind of meat that was, though.

In the middle of the week I left M's to stay at the hostel with buddies from Lyon. It was centrally located, close to the Notre Dame, clean, and had a free breakfast with really good coffee. We spent every day out for about 12 hours, and walked most everywhere. We walked up the Eiffel Tower, down the Champs Elysees, up Sacre Coeur, down the Seine. Needless to say, my feet have been hurting for about four days now. It was worth it. Now that I'm back, though, I appreciate Lyon a lot more. Paris was lovely, but exhausting. I'm glad to be back.


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