Alors, Wednesday we woke up, enjoyed our odd hostel breakfast, and headed off toward le Louvre. Obviously, it goes without saying that I'm so excited! It's the Louvre after all! We hop on the metro and exchange a few stops, and before we know it we're walking through the courtyard of the Louvre. It's spectacular like a grand palace with high walls, intricate architecture, and large courtyards. Ahead of us, we see the petite arc and the infamous pyramid!
We head underground where we take turns posing beside the inverted pyramid beneath the surface.
We're each given a map of the Louvre because it's so gigantic and told to meet in the international food court at 1:30. Without hesitation, Tara and I head off for the Sully area of the museum to see the Ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman artifacts.... They honestly had a real mummy on display. Gave me the creeps. It's so extensive, Tara and I are walking up and down levels, we're weaving through corridors, we're searching for sorti (exit) signs to guide the way... It would take weeks to see the entire Louvre. We couldn't even appreciate an eighth of what was on exhibition there! Among this once-in-a-lifetime artifacts and artwork, there is the Louvre itself which is beautiful! It's almost difficult to admire the artwork within the Louvre.
I see the Venus de Milo, Nike Alighting a Warship, Accroupi, Psyche and Eros, the Code of Hammurabi, and -of course- the Mona Lisa...
As you can see from the pictures, getting even remotely close to the Mona Lisa required elbowing multiple Japanese tourists out of the way, and no, I do not feel bad about that. For the record, Japanese tourists are the rudest people I've encountered in France. We all jointly agree on that. They will literally elbow you in the gut, step on your feet, push you out of the way, cut you in line, and more...
By the time 1:30 arrives, Tara and I are completely exhausted. My feet ache. I'm starving. We make our way to the international food court where little stands offer food from Greece, France, Spain, America (haha), and more. I do a tour of the place while Tara goes to the bathroom downstairs (did I mention many French bathrooms aren't free?) and decide on a roasted chicken salad, water, and piece of bread. I haven't had a salad in so long that I'm savoring this like it's the best salad in the world. Professor Vessely sits with me and gradually our group forms.
After lunch, we separate into two groups, and I follow Madame Kelton to l'Arc de Triomphe. First, we alight the stairs and return to the surface of the Louvre. We walk past the Petit Arc which Napoleon first built and through the gardens. It's a beautiful day. The sun has finally decided to stay. Tourists and French mingle in the gardens.
We pass through les Jardins de Tuilieres, see the Obilisk again, and I'm surprised by the street performer dressed in full, golden, Egyptian garb in the heat. Only in Paris...
Rather than walking, we decide to save our feet and take the metro up to the base of l'Arc de Triomphe. We arrive right beneath it, and using our museum passes, we take the stairs. I didn't realize what I was in for... 284 steps later up a winding, narrow staircase, we arrive at the top of l'Arc de Triomphe sweating and dizzy and out of breath. Immediately, the fresh air and view make it more than worth while. Around us we can see all of Paris stretching out for miles and miles and miles... It doesn't seem real.
Madame Kelton leaves us there to wander through the streets of Paris on our own. Her parting words "Explore! Discover!" The girls head straight for les Champs-Elysses. The entire time, I hear Taylor and other girls who have visited Paris raving about Laduree and their macaroons. I've never had a macaroon in my life. I can picture them in my mind, but I haven't the slightest clue about their texture, taste, or such. Easily, Taylor and the others have Tara and I convinced macaroons from Laduree will change our lives, and eagerly, we follow.
I order two: a salted caramel and chocolate. It's too expensive, but I buy into the Parisien charm of the place. The macaroons do not change my life sadly (but maybe the girls built them up too much), but I'm pleased to say I've now had my first macaroons from Laduree in Paris. That in itself is a memory worth keeping.
By this time, Tara and I wander down les Champs-Elysses in search of the metro back to the hostel. 4 days walking around Paris non-stop is beginning to catch up with us. My feet feel bruised so that every step and moment standing is throbbing pain. Along our adventure in search of the metro, we find a pharmacy for Tara to get some medicine for her nose. Pharmacies in France are amazing. The pharmacists do not blow up balloons and sell chocolate. They're an integral part of the French health care system, and they know their shit! They're the step before the doctor. You explain your symptoms, they offer you the best (not necessarily the most expensive) options for you, and they'll direct you toward a doctor if necessary.
After buying her meds, we wander along a side street, and I discover something I've heard much about: Paul's Bakery! (Where's Hunter?) I've just had my macaroons, but I know that this is meant to be. Tara and I slip inside. I order a mini beignet au chocolat and a cafe creme (cafe latte). It's ridiculous... Image a fluffy, airy, buttery donut filled with hazelnut chocolate! Thank you Hunter!
Tara and I finally make our way back to the metro and then the hostel. We take a small rest, and I head with a few girls down to the super market where we buy a cheap dinner. The markets in France are adorable. They have sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc pre-made for purchase as well as bread and other things. Feeling guilty about my two desserts, I have a roasted chicken wrap. It's not amazing, but it's not bad either. Again, we don't go to bed until after midnight.
By this time, I'm in a full relationship with Paris.
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