Hello all, sorry for the change of venue, but the other site decided to delete everything that I had :( really annoying. Anywho, I'm at le hostel in Montmartre, I have this private room thing which is really nice, like 600 times better than sharing something, and orientation starts tomorrow! I'm waaaay excited to start meeting people.
Brief overview on what I've seen before today far:
- My school (ESTACA)
- Basilique du Sacre Coeur (literally right around the corner from my hostel)
- Moulin Rouge Theater (even closer to my hostel)
- Catacombs (super creepy, check out the pictures)
- A crazy bag lady at the airport. I'm not kidding. I can't upload the picture until I'm in the states again but it was WILD.
Today I decided to go exploring again (the apartment search will commence tomorrow). I started out at le Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise, which is this MASSIVE ornate cemetary. ENORMOUS, it's honestly like a small city of dead people and the tombstones are so decorative and pretty and whatnot. While I was there someone stopped me and asked me for directions in French and I responded...oh my gosh I felt so French that I didn't know what to do with myself.
Anywho, I jumped on the closest metro, and it turned out to be the wrong one (of course). I got off at a stop that looked pretty decent, and it turned out to be RIGHT in front of Les Deux Magots, which is a famous Parisian cafe, was very cool.
LITTLE SIDE NOTE: I AM TERRIFIED OF CAFES AS OF NOW, SO NO I DIDN'T GO INTO THE CAFE, AND YES I HAVE BEEN VERY HUNGRY AND LIVING OFF OF BAGETTES AND THIS JAR OF PEANUT BUTTER THAT MY MOM MADE ME PACK.
After getting off of the metro, I decided to wander, and I wandered right to la Seine River, which is bordered by sooo many museums and monuments. It was so cool, pictures can explain it. I went to the Musee de L'Orangerie, which holds Monets largest two works of art, and then this other little palace thing. I'm not sure how I got to either of them, so don't ask for a tour if you come and visit :)
(these are the biggest original paintings of the Water Lilies ever, offered to Paris by Monet to give the city a peaceful haven. Ironically, finding a place for the paintings to be put on display was a long process that was far from peaceful.)
By this time, I am starving. All I've eaten is the leftover stale bagette from the night before and half of this god awful sandwich which I'm sure my dog would have vomited up (this whole 'fear of cafes' thing is not working out too well for me). So I decided to leave, and head for the nearest metro station. Big surprise, I get lost again, EXCEPT THIS TIME I end up right underneath the Eiffel Tower!!! It is massive, I had no idea it was that big. Wonderful little fact, some snobby Parisians call the monument the 'Metal Asparagus'. I see no resemblance.
Moral of today: Getting lost is not a curse, because it directed me to many new and exciting places. While it makes driving at home a pain, it definitely makes exploring different cities much more fun.
I have survived thus far. I will report on how my school is, and if I ever find an apartment or if I end up living on the streets. That would really be a shame.
