L'Adventure Parisian

Yesterday was a lot of fun! After our 8:30 class, Alicia and I went to les Catacombs. It was crazy! So many bones! And, it was really cold underground, so that was a nice little break from the heat. It stays pretty hot here until about 6:00, so any cool air we get, nous adorons!

After the Catacombs, though, my feet were aching. I’ve been doing so much walking since we got here that I’ve rubbed blisters between my toes. I wear flip flops everywhere in the states, but here, I guess my feet sweat more or something. I was trying to wait and see if the blisters would go away, but today I couldn’t take it anymore and I broke down and bought a pair of tennis shoes. I wear a size 40 shoe in France.

The night before last, Doug, Warren, Alicia and I went out to celebrate Independence Day. We had heard that Hard Rock was having a celebration for Americans in Paris, but when we got there, it was full, so everybody decided they would just eat McDonald’s since it is an American staple. McDonald’s here isn’t as greasy as McDonald’s in the U.S.

Last night, Jenny, Alicia and I went out with almost all the girls who were with our group to go watch France play Portugal at Haggan Das. We all wore blue and screamed, "Aller Bueu!!" and "Viva la France!!" with the French people who were there. They loved that and tried to teach us more cheers. Afterwards, most everyone decided they were going to this Canadien bar down the street, but Alicia and I took the Metro back to the FIAP because she had to catch a train this morning and I had a field trip. I was glad we left when we did, because the Metro closed at about 1:00 and several of the girls didn't get home until about 9:00 this morning. Some of them even missed their field trips. CRAZY!! France was absolutely INSANE last night after we won the game!! I've never seen anything like it!!

Today, I had another field trip. We went to a medieval museum that I never would have known about or gone to myself. It was really cool. It was called the museum de Moyen. There were a lot of Christian relics dating back to the 1200s. Statues, tapestries, crosses, etc.

Jenny and I just went and had gelato down the street. It was tres bien! We made a new friend who worked there. She was a French girl who was really interested in knowing where we were from and why we were in Paris. Between her broken English and my broken French, we were able to have a semi-conversation. I actually understood a lot of what she said, but it was just because she spoke really slow and said simple words.

I have not run into a rude person yet. We try to speak French, and the French people seem to love that. They help us out and teach us phrases. Alicia had to use another really weird bathroom today at the shoe store that was unisex. There were men using the urinals at the same time she was in a stall. I didn’t see it though because I was trying on shoes.

I'm going to London tomorrow. Going to ride through the chunnel and see "Mary Poppins." I'm really excited! However, the exchange rate right now is horrible! For every dollar I spend in London, I will only be able to get fifty cents worth of stuff! Needless to say, my one and only splurg in London is going to be on fish and chips.

I miss you all!!