Spring Break Pt. 3/3: Bonnies Invade Paris

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Part Three of my Spring Break Adventure! Paris—My destination of choice!

I have been in the process of these 3 blogs since 1:30..it’s almost 6:30 now. I did stop for a lunch break and random distractions, obviously.

So. I left off with us leaving London on a TRAIN for Paris. Yes it is possible! When I suggested to Carrie and Abby that we could take that way to get to Paris, they thought I made it up. See, guys?? Told you.

We had tickets for the 11:31am train from London St. Pancras station to Paris Nord. We showed up 30 minutes early, went through security and hopped on the train. It was a pretty short ride, a little less than 3 hours I think. After getting off the train, we found the Metro station and had to figure out to get to our hostel. We were confused for a while, getting different directions from what the hostel told us compared to what staff members were saying. We ended up figuring it out eventually. However, when we came out of the metro, we were at the right stop, but were again lost. We had a tiny map in our hands for 20 seconds and a nice woman offered to help us by calling the hostel, plugging it into Mapquest on her iPhone and asking other Parisians around us all while apologizing for her English. She did her best to help, but we actually ended up finding it on our own, and we ran into her again when we were right across the street from it and she apologized for giving the wrong directions but pointed us to the way we were already headed. It was nice that the first person we talked to in Paris was so kind!

From there, we checked into the hostel, which was really a hotel, with the owners who spoke only French, Spanish or Italian. I did my best with French from high school and college and actually ended up speaking with them many times. At that point, we were starving so we dropped our stuff and headed out to eat something. I went to this bakery right across the street and ordered, in French, a Croque Monsieur! I remember we made them in French class in high school, but they were definitely not this good. I was so happy with it and so happy with Paris, already!

Right after, we went back to the hotel and I began my mission to buy a Longchamp bag while in Paris by asking the owners for directions. They got 2 other workers in the conversation, too so everyone was telling me what Metro to go on and I was loving it. They were too nice.

The roomies agreed to go on this hunt with me, and we ended up taking a different route than previously told. I thought we weren’t going to make the 7pm closing time, but I was very fortunate and was actually out of there by 7, after asking 2 more people for directions and purchasing a GREAT big, red bag with the Eiffel Tower on it. Actually, while on this hunt was the first time we saw the Tower. I was so, so happy but I was on a mission so I had to stay focused.

After fulfilling my Longchamp dreams, and unintentionally persuading Abby to get one too, we walked around Paris for a while, then went back towards our hotel to grab dinner somewhere. The only place nearby that was inexpensive was a pizza and pasta restaurant. I know, we leave Italy and still end up eating it. We ordered the biggest pizza on the menu, one we saw a couple tackling at a table near us. It was HUGE. Of course we ate the whole thing, while the couple brought half of theirs home (amateurs).

The next morning, we knew we had to get stuff done. It was our only full day in Paris. We woke up, I went back to the bakery for some breakfast pastries (yum) and we headed by Metro to the Arc de Triomphe. It was a sight to see from across the street, but getting to it was actually really funny. We followed the lead of the woman in an American couple. She ran through a street of maybe 3 lanes of busy traffic with her arms up yelling “I’m going I’m going! Don’t hit me!” and took us and her husband with her. After, of course, we learned there was an underground route you were supposed to take. Whoops. We snapped a bunch of pics, and decided to climb to the top of it! 6 euro and 284 steps later we were at the top and out of breath. The view was incredible with I think 13 roads coming off the traffic circle where the Arc is the center. From one side we could see the Eiffel Tower!

We head back down, then started walking towards the Champs Elysees, a shopping street I also learned about in French classes and just loved being on. We stopped for a too-expensive lunch and sat outside eating a sandwich of things I can’t even guess. It was still good. We then made our way to the Louvre by walking down an enormously long road that was under construction at some points. We stopped by a fountain to take a break, there were 2 kind of a distance apart with chairs all around them just so people could sit and enjoy it. After more walking we made it! The Louvre! After learning it was only 10 euro to get in, we jumped in line and got inside the huge museum. We really only wanted to see the Mona Lisa, but they of course had her in a very random location, on the second floor, down a huge hall, after turning a corner, in a room with other art pieces. Why wasn’t she alone in a room that people could just hang out in a look at, like how David was in Florence? The crowd was pretty big and we had to push a bit to get pictures. But we got them!

After that we took a bus to the Eiffel Tower and finally got to marvel at how big it really is. None of us expected it to be that huge. We walked all around it and under it and got crepes across the street that were so delicious but so messy! After that, we hung out for a bit, waiting for the Eiffel Tower to light up at 6pm, like we were told by a woman on a bus that it would. Unfortunately, it did not, maybe because it was still light out, so we headed to dinner. There I had another French food I only learned about in classes. I was a chevre chaud salad and I was so happy to be eating it IN Paris. It was delicious! Goat’s cheese, wrapped in a crepe and cut in half over a salad. Carrie sat with us but didn’t order anything, and then got a giant baguette for her dinner! So French. We then headed back to the Tower at least wanting to see it lit up, and had to stop (of course) for dessert. I got a tarte aux pommes, yet another French food I wanted to try! While sitting on a bench right by the Tower enjoying our snacks, we didn’t realize the clock hit 8, (or 9?) and the Tower began twinkling. We were freaking out. We knew it would only last 5 minutes so we whipped out cameras ASAP and even got it on video. It was amazing.

I loved Paris more than I can say and already want to go back. Too bad all my weekends are full! I successfully ate every French food I went there to eat: croissants, croque monsieur, crepes, chevre chaud, tarte aux pommes and some of Carrie’s baguette. Paris was pretty and charming and movie setting-like. And I liked trying to speak French! It was much easier for me than Italian.

The next morning we headed back to the Paris Orly airport by Metro and got a plane to Rome at 3pm. Sunday we went to a friend’s house for dinner, he made a ton of burgers for a group of more than 10 people and they were great. Monday we went out, then made our way to a bar (same place we saw the Superbowl) and noticed that the Bonaventure woman’s team was being projected on the screen for the A-10 Championship! Luckily, us 3 Bona girls and boy Bona Alex was with us so we all got to see the end (which was a loss for Bonaventure, unfortunately.) Last night we went to a Welcome Back Apertivo held by Umbra with a bunch of finger food, pasta, and wine. This weekend a trip to Bologna might be in the cards and I’m going to Madrid next weekend! And the weather is finally improving so I’m happy : )

Thanks for reading!

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Photos

Dinner the first night
it was the size of our table. But not even that good...

Mona Lisa
no big deal

too French
my crepe and the EIffel Tower

Chevre Chaud
loved

Comments

[elizabeth olivia]

Longchamp, England
Claire, I am looking forward to reading your blogs... I've not been to Europe.. one day, though. Since it's 72 degrees and sunny in the cuse... going to get outside for every bit of it- but going to pour through your blogs later today. I especially loved the photo of you in front of the Longchamp store in England. Any purchases??? Enjoy every bit of your time and studies in Europe....Be safe/love Beth

[ClaireInItalia]

Thanks for reading!
Hi Beth! Thank you for reading my blogs, I appreciate your interest. Yes I did get this great bag at the Longchamp store in Paris. It's red with the Eiffel Tower on it and I'm in love with it. Thanks for the update on the Syracuse weather :) ~claire