We finally made it to Paris

---

Sorry for breaking the Tim Tebow promise as early stated but man was that internet machine terrible to type on, it was like typing from a pay phone. Anywho, the trek from Brussels to Paris did not go as planned. Where to begin, where to begin...well first of all, we were told in Amsterdam that we could just hop on and off trains, not the case. We had to make a reservation for the hi speed and leave it to Beaver (Brandon...and Mack...and Me) that we did not make any reservations. So, we were left taking local trains and of course nothing goes right again. It just so happened that the train schedule we were given was for Monday not Sunday, and since we had to switch trains three times we were stranded at the first stop, Charlesi Sud. Luckily for us, no one spoke english again and we had to use our amazing communication skills to translate that we wanted to end up in Paris. No train ran to our next stop at Juemont, in France, so we took a little two compartment train to Equestriville (don't know exactly) across the very beautiful Belgium country side. From here we had to hike 3 km across the border to Juemont to catch the train to Maubeuge then to Paris. And after a decent little trek and asking for directions from a book of translations, Brandon speaking French like Brad Pitt from Inglorious Basterds, we found our way to the train station. But another wrench got tossed into our plan. The awesome conductor with his blue hat, jacket and cowboy boots informed us, once again in all French that no train is running from Maubeuge to Paris and that Hotel Ibis in Maubeuge is a decent place to stay. When we arrived in Maubeuge we decided to ask if the train was indeed cancelled, to our amazement and good luck they said, really nothing just held up a ticket with platform B and it said "Juemont to St. Quentin; St. Quentin to Paris". We pretty much high fived each other in mid air, and it was pretty much the coolest thing they had ever seen, they didn't have to speak English, their faces pretty much said it for them. After waiting a good 20 minutes for our train, a woman came up to us asking something in French, Mack spoke Spanish and said, "De nada, No habla Frances". To which we then said Paris? They directed us to in French and hand motions to a bus. All of us hop on willingly (That's what she said-Mack), and we were headed to St. Quentin. Mack was laughed at for being from Arkansas, Brandon was being stared at because he almost threw up, and I was speaking fluent French to the man sitting next to me, laughing the ride away. Finally we got to St. Quentin after a two hour bus ride frolocking through the poppy fields France has to offer (or some type of yellow flower). 23:31 We arrive in paris Grand Nord train station. Oh did I mention we did not have any idea where we were going to stay for the night (actually same as tonight) the ground was/is a good possibility. We found a telephone and called a hostel, Brandon spoke but had difficulty communicating over the telephone without sign language. The receptionist told us to take a taxi to 4 C, Brandon kept repeating. It turns out the street name is Fourcy. That leads us up to our time in Paris. Very quickly recap our first day in Paris: Louvre, Walk of Champions, Arc de Triumph, Monumnet of WW1 and WW2, Eiffel Tower, Dinner at Le Bosquet, and wine flowing every which way we walk. Today we are going to visit the Catacombs and Notre Dame with some little sights mixed in. Enjoy the pictures, they are from Amsterdam and Brussels, Paris is yet to come. If you are questioning why we seem to be wearing the same thing in every picture...its because we are. Boats and Hoes.

---

Comments

[debra fisser]

Europe is quite the experience!
We are enjoying your blog notes. Laughing away not only because of your humor because we were just in Italy lost and doing the same sign language! We like to refer to it as our "adventure" Isn't Paris amazing? it sound sounds like are you all our having the time of your lives which makes your Mother very happy! Do a group hug from me and see how excited that makes the locals! Love you! Mommy

[The Fisser Brothers Extravaganza]

revolution steps, that smelled like a bathroom