more nostalgia.

I know I am a little late in the game on liking the Strokes... but I just love this. How did I not listen to them for so long?? I don't understand.

This video makes me want to come home and hang out with friends, but I think that is the point.

I can't stop listening to this song. My hope is to make a video of all of my Parisian adventures and put it to this song. We will see.

THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME!

All I could think about was this song from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I pictured Quasimodo with his gargoyle pals just hanging out in the bell tower.



I had heard that the Notre Dame is depressing on the inside, but I would have to disagree. It is absolutely breathtaking... just kind of dark. They had these angel choirs sounding through the whole Cathedral and it really just blew my mind. So neat!

Parisian Shenanigans.

So, I have been in Paris for 2 weeks on Sunday, which means only 5 weeks left to hit the biggy's. Also, that means that I will be finishing with class in 5 weeks which seems ridiculous because it just started and I am already stressed that I have 2 tests and a 10-page paper to create within that time. Eek!

I have decided to post a couple pictures showing the main "sight-seeing" places I have been to since in France.

This is a view from the top of the Lafayette Galleries, which is basically a giant Macy's. Apparently it's a big deal, but I thought it was lame, but this view was nice!

I went to Versailles last Friday with some of my gal pals from the FIAP. It was really beautiful but my feet hurt terribly when the day was done. Next time, I will bring more comfortable shoes and I will rent a bike to ride through the gardens. I will also arrive earlier, FOR SURE.

I went to the Louvre! It was really busy, but really nice. I bought a pass that will let me go whenever I want without waiting in line for the next year. I want to go at night because I think it would be very pleasant. I still have a lot to see too!

Annnnnd last but not least, I went to the Eiffel Tower yesterday! It was a beautiful day, but it got a little cloudy and cold by the time I got to the top.

Yay Paris. I think I am going to Notre Dame tomorrow and I have a whole list of things still to do. I am going to Giverny on Monday with some classmates, so that should be NIFTY.

PEACE.

If you ever find yourself taking the Métro in Paris (and I am sure it is the same with many major subway/train stations) and you see a puddle on the ground, don't assume it is water and safe to walk through. No, I do not have any experience, but judging by the smell of the Métro stations... it's probably not water.

France Schmance. I would rather have a real friend to hang out with.

I saw a man get onto the Métro today that had an accordion. He played for nearly my entire trip to the Lafayette Galleries (which is basically a giant Macy's... not my thing). It was delightful!

I got on the Métro today to head to my first day of class. After a few stops, some man got into the entrance right next to me and started speaking something really loudly in French. I wondered what kinds of things he could be saying, because there was no possible way for me to know as I have studied zero French.

I thought about the situation if it would have been in America. Sometimes people speak loudly/shout in public about religion and proclaim their beliefs-- some good, and some hurtful. I wondered if perhaps that was what was happening, though I assumed not. I knew he wasn't talking to one particular person although he started out saying "something something Madame," when he came onto the subway. I thought about how I have heard that guy rapping in the Ped Mall in Iowa City to himself, but it didn't seem like this guy was rapping.

I concluded that he must have been reciting poetry that he had memorized or was making up on the spot. Perhaps this is because everything in French sounds like poetry.

Whatever the situation was, it as kind of awkward and everyone generally ignored the gentleman, which is kind of sad.