Europe in Photos: France

Part Duex of Lillie's excellent adventures in Europe.

Amiens: We took a bus to France and they didn't even check our passports. I understand this sort of thing is pretty lax in Europe. So I don't have a stamp for France (although I have one for Germany as I was in the country for only 4 hours) We stopped in Amiens! I ordered a sandwich in French (végétarien avec fromage), had my first kinder egg, and learned that there is more than one Notre Dame. The picture on the bottom middle is a *replica* of John the Baptist skull. They had in caged in so we thought it was the real thing; alas, twas not. The cathedral has these amazing floors all through out. Cathedrals are one of my favorite things about Europe. Speaking in general, Europe is probably my favorite place because of the history. Things that were hundreds of years older than my country are still around and still holding out their purpose. It's very surreal. We played Uno on the way there and on the way to Paris AND I WRECKED EVERYBODY.

 Paris: It's been a life-long dream to go to Paris. All this time I have thought that New York City was my city, but when I visited Paris everything felt right. Being in Paris made me feel like I was home. Cliche as it sounds, it's exactly how I felt. I didn't want to be anywhere but there. I call Paris the Golden City because everything is golden. The way the sunset hits the Sine is golden and beautiful. Paris wasn't all pastry and sunshine. It's actually scary at times. There are loads of sketchy people selling you things (they are harmless really) but it feels like you will mysteriously get taken or robbed. I felt like this most in Montmartre because there were people searching the crowd and waiting for prey. Montmartre was actually one of my favorite parts of the city. My favorite restaurant on the whole trip was there; I tried escargot and had the most heavenly dessert. Breakfast in Paris was probably the best overall, though Bruges had a lot working for it. Our hotel room had a leaking toilet. I notified someone about it before we left to explore the city for the first day, but when we got back the bathroom was completely flooded. Our hotel was less than a block away from this AMAZING place where we ordered banana and nutella crepes at least 3 times.

We visited Versailles one day, which has always been on my bucket list since I saw Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. To be honest, the move gives you a much better view of the palace than the tour does. I felt claustrophobic and basically wanted to die the whole time. I was pushed and shoved by many a asian tourist during that time. Side note: if you know how to say Pardon, oui, non, Je suis végétarien, and excusez-moi, you are golden in french speaking nations as a tourist. You literally need to know nothing else.

 I knew a few phrases here and there and I can read key words, but I don't have very extensive french vocabulary.The photo on the top left corner is a rack of naughty french themed condoms. It because a very juvenile joke with my group to say "Eat my Baguette." I think we found them so hilarious because they were EVERYWHERE. I'm sure most of my classmates don't even know where to get condoms in America, so it was interesting to see them everywhere. We also saw a condom vending machine in Amiens. Holler at your safe sex practices France. Also, the photo in middle bottom is me. At Versailles. You can tell I was just overwhelmed with culture.

 

I don't drink. It's just never been something I wanted to partake in. But, when you are told the drinking  age is much lower in Europe and French wine is included in your dinner ON THE EIFFEL TOWER, you sure as hell want to partake in that. Alas, the group from my school was not allowed. A hilarious side note: the school group from California evidently got wasted on multiple occasions and their wack job, french teacher let them roam around Paris ALONE while intoxicated. Class act. So, because we were not allowed wine, we got free drinks. I grew particularly fond of European Fanta, it's kind of the best stuff ever. It's the drink below. The meal at the Eiffel tower was pretty good, but not exactly remarkable. They did have excellent mashed potatoes and the dessert was the best part.  I can't believe I missed the best part of this experience though. It deserves it's own paragraph.

Earlier in the day, we had spent a few hours in the Louvre. It was the only thing on the schedule for the day for the entire group. We were then able to split off and do our own thing. Because none of the other groups wanted the tour guide we got Mariam. She had to take someone back to the hotel room, so we were instructed to go across the bridge to the Musee D'orsay, which was on our list of things we wanted to do. Once we got there we realized that we had to pay to go to the Museum and we didn't want to rush through, so my group and I walked around to some shops, found a free war museum, and waited till our guide was going to meet up with us. We waited for over an hour for the guide at the front of the Musee D'orsay. Our guide NEVER CAME. We tried to call her but she never answered. So, my teacher had to figure out how to get to the Champs Elysees on a bus. It was hectic, and we eventually got there but we had very limited time because we had to get back to our hotel at a certain time 

 

Being able to visit France was amazing. Every second, I felt myself falling in love with the this gorgeous, golden city of Paris. Hopefully I will be able to recount another adventure in Paris soon.