the sterotypical thing to order

If you ever find yourself in France, be sure to order the escargot. Only the best of the best chefs in the US know how to properly clean and prepare these tiny little things. if they're not cleaned correctly, they can feel gritty when you bite into the them. If it weren't for the garlicky green sauce flooded into the shells, the snails would probably taste like... fill in the blank.

paris: a week in review

I guess I’m sort of failing right now at keeping up with this blog. It is Sunday, the last day in the city of love and I still haven’t posted about the last four days, so apologies in advance – this is going to be a lengthy post. Before I condense the past couple of days, I must say that I absolutely loved Paris. It is a city unlike any other in the whole entire world. The fashion, PDA, metro passes, genius works of art, massive and elaborately ornate buildings will never tire me, but I am ready to move on with my life and experience something new. I adored the city, but the suspense and anticipation of what is to come is becoming a little out of control. Not to mention more affordable prices and less congestion. Seriously though, the price of un Coca Light is completely outrageous. Sometimes as much as €4 (almost $6) for a small glass bottle. Good thing I don’t drink soda. By the end of our Paris adventure my roommate Megan was sick of paying more for a Coke than French fries.

It’s so strange how fast the days go by here. The sun stays up longer, yet it seems that there was never enough hours in the day to do everything I wanted to do. On paper it appears that our group didn’t do THAT much, but in reality the amount of things we saw are uncountable. Through this short time in Paris, I’ve learned how to be content with not trying to see every single painting, or read every description and just be. Since we were never in the same place for more than 2 hours (besides Versailles), I discovered how to merely soak in the culture and surroundings – people watch, eavesdrop, ect. It’s definitely a lot less tiring than trudging out of breath through the various sights. I now know this from experience. It’s not the best feeling to be semi-out of breath from running around and then to try and interpret or read something. I definitely don’t recommend it.

On Wednesday we didn’t have to meet in the lobby until 3pm and so that was the day we (Megan, Lauren, Kim and I) decided to go shopping at Châtalet. We found this really cute store called Promod, and of course we made our way to H&M and Zara. I did go a little crazy, but who wouldn’t in the fashion capital of the world? I seriously found a thousand things I was obsessed with at H&M, but of course I had to weed out and pick my favorites. I got a really cute gray tulip skirt – it will be perfect for when I have a real job.


(Not all my clothes mom, most of them are Megan's new finds)

After that we found a really inexpensive café on one of the side streets where I had a delicious croque monsieur (grilled cheese and ham with more cheese melted on the top) and a small green salad. Once again I navigated us back to le Quartier Latin by the metro. I’ll have to post a map of the metro soon – it is so overwhelming with all the lines, directions, lines and lines. We met up with everyone else and made our way to le Louvre, one of the largest museums in the world. With over 35,000 works and artifacts it would probably take eight years to see and read everything. The cool thing about le Musée du Louvre is that it actually used to be a palace, so it is absolutely enormous. We had another tour guide (who also only spoke French to us – Dr. Picone isists that this is imperative). The museum was especially crowed this day, so we had to wait forever for our tour guide to come pick us up in the group waiting room. The tour guides name was Catherine and she was a tiny woman with croppy gray hair. The tour we went on was mainly just the highlights – La Jaconnde (Mona Lisa) and the Vénus de Milo and some other important pieces. I wasn’t upset that we were only going to be able to spend more than an hour and a half in the museum because no matter how many hours I had to give, it would never be enough.





Since there wasn’t any time to spare, we weren’t able to go back to the hotel to change into nicer clothes for l’Opéra. I was luckily wearing a dress, but I happened to be wearing these little gray tennis shoes also… so I felt completely underdressed. But it’s okay - life is too short to be too concerned with outfits.



I’ve always loved operas so I was really exicted to see Les Cotes d’Hofftman by Jaques Offenbach. It was about this poet named Hoffman and his three loves – a lifesize doll, an ill singer and finally a very posh singer. I had never been to a live opera so I didn’t exactly know what to expect. The ‘lyrics’ to the opera appear on a skinny rectangular screen above the stage. Without that I would have probably been clueless to what was going on. The opera was hilarious, depressing and entertaining. There were times throughout the performance when I was reminded of my lack of fluency when I found myself not laughing with the rest of the spectateurs… I definitely didn’t get all of the jokes. A little awkward.

JE SUIS TRÈS DÉSOLÉ!

AGAIN, I am so sorry. I am so far behind on posting. It's because my converter doesn't work in this ancient hotel and we get back so late that all I want to do is crash into my tiny bed, which I might add that I'm sharing with Megan. Good thing we're sisters, sorority sisters that is. Our hotel room is literally in the attic. The only place you can stand is around the bed, virtually no standing room, AT ALL. We had to rearrange and get rid of some furniture just so we could line our suitcases around the room. The hotel staff thinks that they compensate for the lack of space with a small flat screen television mounted on the wall. Last time I checked, it didn't work. I promise I'm not complaining, merely describing.





This short time in Paris has been amazing. I have been here since Saturday and I feel like I have been all over the entire city already. We still have until Saturday night! Yesterday, we walked to la Tour Eiffel. Since were weren't able to make reservations for our group over the phone, we had to actually go there, reserve our tickets and then wait. We got there at about 9:45 and our time wasn't until 2pm. So Dr. Picone (director, who lived in Paris for 9 years and studied at Sorbonne - very prestigious college in the heart of the Quartier Latin ) decided to take us to the Musée de L'Armée. This museum is actually a hotel for injured ex-soliders in the early 1700 (1706 was when the building was completed). Louis XIV decided it was necessary to build a place to house and care for the veterans of his war. Not only was this place a hotel, but it was also a church. The entrance to the museum is called Eglise de Dome. This is where the remains of Napoleon I is buried. His remains were brought here after Louis-Phillippe (in 1840) ordered that they be moved from the Island of Saint Helena to Paris. It is said that his body rests between five suggestive coffins.










After we walked around for a while and took pictures, we ate at this "cafeteria" that was next to the museum. The Parisian's version of a cafeteria is way different than Americans. I had a great salami and cheese sandwich (on a very large baguette). Très formidable.

We soon made our way back to la Tour Eiffel and got in line for the elevators. There was no way I was walking up after marching all over Paris. The entire area surrounding, as well as on top, was completely packed. Monday was a holiday for the French (Pentecost), so it seemed as though the entire population was crammed onto the jewel of Paris. It took about 30 minutes to make it to the top because of all the congestion. Once we got to the top, I took a lot of pictures, and the views were incredible. I have been to the top a few times, but I certainly did not remember it like that. Although we were only 324 meters up in the air, I felt like I was almost among angels, or whatever else is supposedly up there. Totally surreal. Not to mention, I got to witness a proposal! The couple was from Eastern Europe somewhere. The boyfriend handed his camera to someone to take a quick picture of he and his fiance-to-be. Seconds after the picture was taken he turned and got down on one knee. She looked absoutely shocked, but also completely in love and happy. It was so romantic, but I honestly don't think I would want a bunch of college American students staring at me if I was her - actually, I probably wouldn't even notice the gawking if it was me.






After the Eiffel Tower we took le metro back to le Quatier Latin and ate at a small Italian restaurant. Yeahhh, I know I wanted to eat at a French restaurant, but I didn't want to be 'that one girl'.




This morning (Tuesday) we had to be downstairs at 9:15. After meeting up with the group in the lobby, we made our way (by way of le metro) to Musée d'Orsay. THIS MUSEUM WAS MAGNIFIQUE. I had never been there before so I was especially excited to see what was in store. Lots of Manet, Monet, Dègas and Renoir paintings live in the old train station of a museum. Paintings aside, the building itself is crazy. Made out of metal and plaster, the entire structure is breathtaking. We had a hilarious tour guide (only spoke in French) take us around the different periods of the impressionist movement.

After posing in front of a very large elephant statue outside the museum, we headed to le Jardin des Tuileries, where we stopped at a small café. I had salade nicoise and Perrier - so French, I know. I keep meaning to take pictures of everything I eat, but I'm usually starving, so I dig in IMMEDIATELY.

Refueled and recharged, we made our way to Montmartres. It is on the home to the most amazing church in all of Paris, Le Sacre Coeur. It is located on top of a very steep hill and at the entrance of the church the entire landscape of buildings can be seen. Despite the holy site, the area itself is very sketchy. It is really discouraged for tourists to be there late at night. It is now considered to be the "ghetto" of Paris, mostly because of the red light district, and a large numbe rof immigrants and peddlers that inhabit this region.


The church itself is absolutely astounding. The entire time I was in Sacre Coeur, I could not stop humming the church hymn.."Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, I can feel... daaa da da daaaa". With all of the candles, solemn faces and praying hands, I was positive that He was there with me.

We sat in front of the Church for a while and watched some people break dance and some others throw around some frisbees and large sticks with fire coming out of either side for sympathy euro cents. Then, since we could see a storm coming and people were hungry, we took the metro back to Les Champs Elysées. This is where the shoppers and nonshoppers (aka. the boys and girls) split. One group went back to the hotel, and the rest of us went for some retail therapy. After, a long day of walking, just what we wanted.. MORE WALKING. I guess at the moment of decisions, our feet stopped screaming. It wasn't long until our poor feet began to cry again. A few stores later, we decided to make our way back to our hotel and grab something to eat. Well, easier said than done. We had to navigate our way through the metro system, wait no scratch that, I had to navigate us. Why was I the chosen one? NO IDEA, but it was definitely scary. This was not a time for my directional handicap syndrome to kick in. Luckily after studying the metro map I somehow managed to get us back to the metro stop closest to our hotel. I must say I was very impressed with myself.


Tomorrow (Wednesday) we are free to do what we please until 3pm. We have to meet in the lobby to then make our way to le Louvre for another guided tour. After than we are going to the Opéra!!!! So excited about that. Megan and I are going back to Champs L'Esyées, La Durée (adorable macaroon shop) and hopefully find Topshop and H&M. That's all for now. BON SOIR from the city of love, lights and metro stops.

PS I PROMISE MORE PICTURES COMING SOOOON. It takes so long for them to post.

xxo Gigi

London town!

SORRY this post is so overdue. I've been in London since Thursday morning. The flight wasn't bad at all. Got to watch Young Victoria (SO GOOD, highly recommend if you're into Royal history). On Thursday my mom and I just walked around all day until about 3pm. We settled into a cozy tea parlor and enjoyed a cup and biscuits before we refreshed for Les Miserables. The play was absolutely fabulous. The next day we took a cab to the Victoria and Albert Museum. AMAZING art, artifacts, tapestries and fashion. After that we walked around and found lots of cute stores aka. H&M and Zara. One thing I've noticed is that Europeans (especially the French) wear what they want to wear. No one cares if their scarf goes with their top, or if their blue hose compliment their purple dress. Honestly, the free, and flowy style of the people here is contagious. I've found myself dreaming up outfits that would be deemed outrageous in the states, but here perfectly normal. I need to start living my life more carefree, unmatched and encumbered by the restraints of the American's definition of style. Style is what looks good, and in the world of Parisians everything looks good.

My Life

Giant.

Aujourd'hui est le jour!!

Today is the day! I seriously can not believe it. I am finally all packed and ready to venture into the great unknown. In all honesty, I am a little anxious, but definitely excited. The flight to London is 9.5 hrs. It's not that bad.. I mean do I drive from Alabama to Texas in one day. Tomorrow morning we will arrive in London, probably grab a cup of tea and journey out onto Piccadilly Circus (famous junction on the western part of the city). I promise to have something more engaging to read once I get there, as well as pictures not from Google.

Volcano Effifhuekjdf845ksgwttjjjewru

First of all, welcome to my very first blog. I hope this attempt at blogging doesn't become redundant or weird. If for some reason it does, please feel free to let me know. My mom and I are scheduled to leave tomorrow night for London. The airport we are flying into (Heathrow) was actually shut down yesterday because of the ash cloud circling aimlessly over northern Europe. How inconvenient. Hopefully, the ash cloud will temporarily disperse for tomorrows departure. Oh, and if you're wondering, I still haven't packed. At all.

(The cloud is the tan mass that looks like the top of a wolf.)