Bonjour!
I spent a fantastic weekend in Paris to celebrate Laura's birthday!
It was just the 7 AHA students, and it was a blast!
We left Angers at 5:40, and got to Paris a little after 7, figured out the Metros and went to the Hostel, then we foudn a meal for 12 euros, and headed out for the night!
Sparkling wine on the TGV!
(side note: it's sparkling wine because only wine made in the Champagne region of France is techinally champagne, hence sparkling wine)
Our Hostel!
Young and Happy on Rue Mouffetard!
Look at the Sky!
Day 1:
Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower
The first day in Paris was a long one, we started the day at 8:30 with breakfast at our hostel, and then showers (we forgot shower shoes, yuck!) and then headed out for the day. Since we were staying the Latin Quarter, we wandered around there for a bit, on our way to Notre Dame. We even walked past the Sorbonne. We then went into Notre Dame and it's SO beautiful. After, we went to Shakespeare and Company, which is a really famous Anglophone library on the banks of the Seine, people like Ernest Hemingway used to hang out there! We then walked across the river to Rue Rivoli, which led us to the Louvre, we didn't go in though, we did that Sunday.
We walked in the Jardin de Tuiliers, and ran into fabulous looking people leaving the Viktor and Rolf show! It was fantastic! We then walked down the Champs d'Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, but not without stopping at Laduree for Macaroons (although I was the only one to purchase them). We then walked to the Arc, and walked under the tunnel to the middle of the circle that the Arc is on. We didn't climb up though. We then walked to the Eiffel Tower. We also didn't climb that because the line was REALLY long. So we headed back to the hostel and napped. Then Nick made us dinner! Cous Cous with veggies and lentils!
And we headed out for the night!
The first day in Paris was a long one, we started the day at 8:30 with breakfast at our hostel, and then showers (we forgot shower shoes, yuck!) and then headed out for the day. Since we were staying the Latin Quarter, we wandered around there for a bit, on our way to Notre Dame. We even walked past the Sorbonne. We then went into Notre Dame and it's SO beautiful. After, we went to Shakespeare and Company, which is a really famous Anglophone library on the banks of the Seine, people like Ernest Hemingway used to hang out there! We then walked across the river to Rue Rivoli, which led us to the Louvre, we didn't go in though, we did that Sunday.
We walked in the Jardin de Tuiliers, and ran into fabulous looking people leaving the Viktor and Rolf show! It was fantastic! We then walked down the Champs d'Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, but not without stopping at Laduree for Macaroons (although I was the only one to purchase them). We then walked to the Arc, and walked under the tunnel to the middle of the circle that the Arc is on. We didn't climb up though. We then walked to the Eiffel Tower. We also didn't climb that because the line was REALLY long. So we headed back to the hostel and napped. Then Nick made us dinner! Cous Cous with veggies and lentils!
And we headed out for the night!
Saint Etienne-du-Mont
near the Pantheon in the Latin Quarter
inside
I love candles in churches!
The Pantheon
Law School of the University of Paris
Mayor's Office of the 5th Arrondisemont
Pantheon
La Seine!
Notre Dame
Hey! It's me in front of Notre Dame!
Lighting a candle
Stain glass window in the crossing of the nave
Flying Buttresses and Gargoyles!
La Seine
Shakespeare and Company!
Harry Potter, anyone?
Le Louvre
And then we accidentally walked into Fashion Week in the Jardin de Tuileries
(they were leaving Viktor and Rolf)
click here for more pictures!
Ferrari and Rolls Royce!
The Obelisk in the middle of the Place de la Concorde
Zoe and Alyssa goofing off
La Tour Eiffel!
LADUREE
My Macaroons
L'Arc de Triomphe
I stood in the middle of the street to take this...
Not a very safe idea in France
From the Place
Laura, Alyssa and I at the Arc
Gettin' all artsy
:]
[across the river]
Birthday Girl and I
Day 2:
Le Cimetière du Père-Lachaise et Le Louvre
On Sunday, we woke up 6 minutes after breakfast ended. Nick was going to make us hashbrowns, but the grochery store next door wasn't open. Since we had to be out of the hostel in less than 2 hours, we decided to clean up and checked out. We were able to keep our bags there which was great! So we found some crepes on Rue Mouffetard and headed off to the Cemetary. I'm NOT a huge fan of cemetaries. But this one was actually really cool. Because it's not a normal cemetary. The tombs are little houses where entire families are buried. Plus Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde's graves are there. After the cemetary, we headed to the Louvre. It was the first Sunday of the month, and it's free! So, it was PACKED! I love the Louvre though. The Winged Victory is one of the first sculptures you see when you walk in, and it's my favorite piece of art, even in front of a Monet, which is saying something. We looked at art, drank coffee, ate, looked at more art, and then headed back to the hostel. We grabbed our bags and headed to the train station. The train station was really stressful, because the platform got put up at the time the train was supposed to leave, and it was delayed about 5 minutes. We were in the 19th car... long walk. Laura almost got left, because the door closed right as she got on, she had to push the door back open a little. But we got safely back to Angers at 10:35!
On Sunday, we woke up 6 minutes after breakfast ended. Nick was going to make us hashbrowns, but the grochery store next door wasn't open. Since we had to be out of the hostel in less than 2 hours, we decided to clean up and checked out. We were able to keep our bags there which was great! So we found some crepes on Rue Mouffetard and headed off to the Cemetary. I'm NOT a huge fan of cemetaries. But this one was actually really cool. Because it's not a normal cemetary. The tombs are little houses where entire families are buried. Plus Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde's graves are there. After the cemetary, we headed to the Louvre. It was the first Sunday of the month, and it's free! So, it was PACKED! I love the Louvre though. The Winged Victory is one of the first sculptures you see when you walk in, and it's my favorite piece of art, even in front of a Monet, which is saying something. We looked at art, drank coffee, ate, looked at more art, and then headed back to the hostel. We grabbed our bags and headed to the train station. The train station was really stressful, because the platform got put up at the time the train was supposed to leave, and it was delayed about 5 minutes. We were in the 19th car... long walk. Laura almost got left, because the door closed right as she got on, she had to push the door back open a little. But we got safely back to Angers at 10:35!
Heloise and Abelard
Jim Morrison's Grave
Oscar Wilde
In 2011, the Irish government restored his grave and put up the plexi-glass to protect it
The Louvre
Pyramid
Geeking out about Hamurabbi's Code
Through the glass
WINGED VICTORY!
Celebrating Laura's Birthday
Blue Lagoons for Laura's Birthday
Always knowing what's going on/ Figuring out where we need to go next
Alyssa, Laura (Birthday Girl) and I
Me and Lily
Random Photos from the weekends:
Musician on the Metro!
So close to my face!
Hangover food, France Style
Egg, cheese and "bacon" crepe!
Delish!
I bought Harry Potter this weekend, and started reading it! (those purple words are what I looked up), since I already know the story, I can really concentrate on the words I don't know, so I learn more)
I also bought A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway at Shakespeare and Company! (It's actually teh bookstore he's standing in front of on the cover).
I bought a magazine, if I can't read it, I can at least look at pretty pictures!
Bonjour Moira! C'est Felicia, your traveling companion from Medford. So glad to find that little slip of paper with your blog address and see your adventures and beautiful photos - you've already done so many great trips! I had a great week in Paris and am sooo jealous that you get to still be in France for a whole semester! Have fun, a bientot
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