So I officially made it through my first week in Europe! I arrived in Paris and was able to meet up with my good friend Ayala, from my university, who was studying abroad in Paris. Before catching up with her (I missed her at the affiliate university she studies at!) I happened to bump into another friend, my former roommate Kevin. He hastily shoved a spare map in my hands and wished me good luck as he went out the door to explore the city. That map was one of my guiding lights in Paris.
I was admittedly more than a little disoriented my first day. I had slept on the plane, but only a little, and none at all the night before my flight to Paris. So I was really tired. Plus there was the language barrier, which was huge for me since I speak only the French I have learned from Disney movies (Sacre Bleu!). On top of all that, not being able to set up useful means of communication beyond bumming wifi for a few moments from one place or the next. I went out for a walk in the city while I was waiting for Ayala, hoping to grab some lunch and orient myself a bit. I managed to get lost. It finally took the patience of an old French woman who patiently oriented me to the map on the nearest public toilet, before I made my way back to my stuff and Ayala.
For the rest of the first day, I spent it getting acclimated to the city (and language) with Ayala, wandering around and getting a feel for the layout of the downtown area. She managed to impart more wisdom about being an American in Paris then I had ever hoped for! We ended the day with some wine in front of the Eiffel Tower, sharing the evening with friends studying from my university and the marvelous lights, before we headed back to her place for the night.
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| The Sienne from the famous bridge of lovers' locks. |
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| Ladies and gentlemen: The Hunchback of Notre Dame |
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| What?! My friend Ayala at the Notre Dame?! No way! Its almost like we planned it... |
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| Notre Dame from the bride of locks. |
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| Where all the American expats like Hemmingway hung out in Paris, pretty awesome to go do some reading there. |
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