Hello out there to all my faithful and loyal readers (aka John, cause I know you're re reading every word). Welcome to the latest installment of Frenchiness and ramblings that come from my fingers to your computer screens. As is my usual style, I'll begin from where I last left off.
Last Thursday night, the school here hosted a "buddy party" where basically, each exchange student was partnered up with a French student to meet and talk and what not. I seem to have a knack for the cool numbers out here, as after being given dorm room number 007 when I arrived, I was given buddy-matching-number 69. I found my buddy who was working the event serving beer, and after introducing myself, this was the extent of our conversation:
Me: So you're going on exchange next year, right?
Her: Yeah but I don't want to go to Canada, cause it's too cold in the winter.
Me: Ok... so... I'll go walk around now... See ya later.
The rest of the "party" was spent playing foozeball with my suite-mate Pedro from Argentina and a couple of guys from India. Then we headed out to a bar called Big Ben's, named that way because it's next door to the large clock in the center of downtown Rouen. When I say we, I'm not referring to my multiple personalities, but rather our usual crew, which typically includes most or all of Heather, Chantale, Stephanie, Kelsey, John, Igor, Nick, and/or Pedro. Anyway, WE weren't the only ones with that idea, as the place was absolutely packed. And this place is a 6-floor place where the only way to get off a floor is a single staircase, making the crowds into a fire hazard that was compounded by the fact that many people were smoking, there was a smoke machine on the dance floor, AND confetti was being thrown. Fortunately, we escaped with our lives, and most had a good time. Our lives were then nearly endagered again as we past what I could swear was a robbery in progress on the way to the night bus stop. There was a small store, all dark inside, with the front door open but the only thing visible being pitch blackness. And this at like 1:30 AM. If not a robbery, something else sketchy. Like maybe someone wanting to do a B&E, then deciding they didn't really want to do a B&E, but just a kick a door in?
Anyway, our hero (that would be me) woke up the next morning and headed down to the train station to board one bound for Paris along with Chantale, Kelsey, Stephanie, Heather, Igor, and Nick. We arrived at noon and began the loooonggg walk to our hostel, which including a bit of time for getting lost, took us just over 2 hours. Once checked in, the guys took a brief power nap while the girls chat chitted and unpacked over in their room. Then it was time for lunch, and the only nearby aggreeable place turned out to be a Quick (European McDonalds equivalent/competition). After recharging the batteries grace a un crunchy chicken sandwhich, we walked on over to the Louvre, and went in after discovering it was free for students on Friday nights. Even though I'd been there just 2 weeks ago, the Louvre is a place I could visit EVERY SINGLE TIME I come to Paris. The Mona Lisa, Madonna of the Rocks, Venus de Mailo, Winged Victory... I'm getting to know them all well... in fact, I'm even on first name basis with Mona.
Anyway, enough of me trying to be funny. From the Louvre, we walked up to the Champs Elysees and after passing expensive+fancy store after expensive+fancy store, we stopped at McDonalds for dinner. Yes, I realize that is terrible. We just arrived in Paris and did Quick for lunch and Mickey D's for supper, but hey, we were on a budget, and they were convenient. So dinner consisted of french fries and ice cream for pretty much everyone, and then we continued on to the Arc de Triomph that rests at the top of Champs boulevard. Nick and Igor paid to climb the nearly 300 steps of the Arc while the rest of us hung around down below taking pictures of the monument's underside and chillin.
Next we walked up one of the countless streets that intersects the Arc in order to arrive at the Eiffel Tower, but we didn't go up as it was closing soon. We did, however, have some random English-speaking dude overhear us discussing who would take a picture of who, and he interjected that he would take a picture of all of us, eventually actually lying down on the sidewalk in order to get the perfect angle. That resulted in the Louvre-worthy masterpiece you see to the left. After all of that, we simply hopped on a metro to head back to our hostel in the third district, and we met Pedro outside as he had just gotten there due to having class till 5. The other boys made a beer run for us, and then joined me in our room for drinks and a fun night of Texas Hold'Em before going to bed.
The next morning we were awoken by the ladies, and once we were ready to go, we headed on a long and uphill march to Sacre Coeur cathedral, but it was well worth it. Not only is there a great view of the city from the top of the hill, but the cathedral itself is magnificent both from the inside and out. From there, we walked around the cathedral into Montmartre and eventually to the Moulin Rouge. But that was a short stop for a couple of photos of the outside, as seeing a show there costs upwards of 140 euro. We also, erm, went into the sex shop across the street, and erm, noticed a dvd box featuring, erm, interspecies erotica, erm, so that became our running gag for the rest of the day. After leaving there a little uncomfortable, we boarded a metro for the Eiffel Tower, and crossed the street to the Trocadero from which you can get some great photos of the Tower, and a good sandwich for lunch from a street vendor (which we did). We then went under the Tower and around the other side, before following the Seine up to the Musee D'Orsee, but we didnt wait in line to get in there as the line was long and the museum was closing shortly. Instead, we kept along the Seine, eventually crossing it to arrive at the Notre Dame cathedral (yes, the very one that inspired the Hunchback of Notre Dame). Like Sacre Coeur, it was a beautiful thing to see, but if you were to ask me to compare it and its brother, I found the Sacred one to be the more impressive of the two. Pedro and Chantale decided to stick around for mass at Notre Dame, while the rest of us walked back to our hostel, passing (but not stopping at) a Canadian bar called The Beaver on the way.
Once everyone was back, we headed out to a very nice dinner at a small and semi-fancy Italian place. Another beer run was made next, and then back to the hostel for drinking games (Kings and Never Have I Ever for those that may be familiar with them - but if not, don't worry, I wasn't either), and then another round of Texas Hold'Em.
"Sunday morning, rain is falling" is what the song says, but for us, Sunday morning was beautiful, as the sun was out and the sky was a clear blue. After checking out by 11, the ladies headed out to the train station, while us guys claim to have gone up the Eiffel Tower, gone through the whole Musee D'Orsee, and been invited over to some French billionaire's mansion for a gourmet lunch, though in fact all we really did was walk by the Eiffel Tower and then slowly walk through the streets of Paris back to the train station as well. In any case, we met up with the ladies again at around 2 PM, and boarded the 2:25 train back up to Rouen. And that right there was the end of an incredibly fun weekend, where the amazing sights and experiences were matched by the great company. Upon returning to my dorm room, it really felt like I was "back home", as I've really gotten used to living out here. I cooked myself some ravioli with a bolognaise sauce for dinner, and took it easy, uploading my pics, doing some more chat chitting with some folks, and writing this.
Now I must get to bed as there is in fact class tomorrow. But thanks for reading through this, enjoy the pics, and world peace. Or something like that.
Dan
