Blogs from Paris, Île-de-France, France, Europe - page 374

iPod use #23: Light your way through a Paris apartment corridor by turning on your iPod screen. It seems hallways and stairwells in the apartment buildings I've been in so far stay completely dark until you hit one of the many switches that turn on the flourescent lights throughout the building. It was a little annoying at first and I almost cracked my head open going down some stairs where the light refused to turn on, but I appreciate and admire the conservation effort so much that I'm living with it. Besides, in a pinch, I have my wonderful iPod to help me out. I've been in Paris three whole days now. And I'm beginning to realize something... there are hardly any fat women here. It's like the fat gene has been selected out of the ... read more

On our first day David and I walked to the Louvre, Musée Rodin, the tomb of Napoleon, the Musée d’Orsay, and finally knocked over some interesting Parisian food at the famous cafe Les Deux Magots. After buying the Museum card that allows us to hit 36 of Paris’ major museums and monuments for free (€18 for 1-day card), we joined the mile long line to enter the Louvre. Seeing the Winged Victory was a throw-back to a book I read freshman year at JBU called Mrs. Bridge; having also read the book, David and I were able to laugh at the blunt joke surrounding the statue in the book. But I’ll leave that for honor’s comp. grads to laugh about (and still end sentences in prepositions). Stumbling upon the new room for the Mona Lisa, I ... read more

Well, we've got little time left and Paris then we're off for our first night train! We're heading to Barcelona where the weather should be very different than the weather we've seen in Europe so far! So far it's been a little chilly, but wonderful except for the occasionally rain cloud... almost like Florida in late fall or early winter. Barcelona is supposed to be pretty hot right now, but maybe the heat will help us kick these colds! :) Over the past day, we've visited Notre Dame, went to the Louvre (I couldn't believe how incredibly HUGE it is), hung out at the park at the Louvre, and just relaxed strolling through the city! We didn't go inside the Louvre since it was late, and I heard and read that the Mona Lisa is so ... read more

Our stay in Paris began a little slowly. Both Keith and I have been pretty sick with colds since Brussels, but Monday was probably the worst of it. When we arrived in Paris early Monday morning, we walked to Notre Dame (which is very close to where we are staying), found some lunch, then headed back to the room to rest for the remainder of the day. The day of rest gave us enough energy to get out and see the Eiffel Tower, the Arch de Triomph, and many other sights both during the day and at night. Although I have pretty much lost my voice as of typing this, I am still able to converse (mini conversations, of course) with the natives due to my 2 years of French in high school! It is amazing ... read more

Bonjour les petit pommes! Yes my French is atrocious. Lucky I've seen The Little Mermaid and Charade - they are both certainly getting me by verbally. Wild gesticulations get me a lot further. I cannot express the frustration I am currently feeling from my computer freezing and wiping my extremely creative, quirky and insightful previous email I was typing. Here is the abridged version.... The sights we have seen and the things we have done... *Sacre Coeur - amazing big white basilica on top of Butte Montmartre. 1 million stairs to get there, but the rewards are breathtaking views and buns of steel. *Arc de Triumphe - egotistic Napoleanic monument. Crazy motorists zooming around the bottom. Very awesome. *Eiffel Tower - I didn't spit off it. * Moulin Rouge - topless dancers singing in pretty costumes ... read more