YOU SPEAK ENGLISH!?

I can't even lie, I'm the worst blogger ever. I keep forgetting about writing! I know I'll be upset with myself when I can't remember what happened. Haha! Anyway! This post is all about the beautiful city of Pariii (emphasis on the 'eee') I think the city actually stole my heart. I don't remember liking it so much, but I got the chills the minute I was out of the metro (breally not until I saw montmartre and the sacre-coeur, i was in love! AH! OH and my favorite part- the fact that there was an saxophone player on the metro. Only in Paris.

So it all started when I was stir crazy and needed to get out, and saturday (the 30th) I told Ryan i was coming and booked a hostel and bus. After the lack of sleep from herengracht halloween party, which was just a crazy fun night and I have to say I definitely had the best costume, I got up super early to leave. Ryan and his friend met me at the metro, and Steven and I got dinner together and enjoyed the nightlife-I love all the outdoor cafes! Even though it's cold (Not as bad as VT though... no snow or ice yet!) they have the heat lamps so its tolerable. Monday I went up Monmartre (so many steps. better than any stairmaster, no wonder the french are in shape! in addition to all that wine) and the Sacre-Couer. the view is amazing. (this comment annoys me, the pictures are such a better story!) I met up with Ryan and we went to the Luxembourg park, and got crepes (of course) for lunch. I saw the fountain de saint michel. So beautiful. We went to Notre Dame, it was better than before! And i still couldn't find the spot you're supposed to step on to ensure you come back. Silly. We also saw a street improv funny show. French humor is great.

On Tuesday Peter and I met up for delicious flakey croissants and bread and cappuccinos. Might want to add my french hasn't been the worse. The language is so beautiful, I love hearing everyone talk. Anyway, we REALLY wanted to go to the Louvre but as my luck would have it, it was evidently closed on Tuesday. surprising. So we ended up at the Musee d'Orsay. Which was amazing. I loved all the post-impressionist stuff, Renoir and van Gogh and Degas. Wonderful.

We got more crepes (which, as I'll explain later, these french crepes don't even begin to compete with the ones at the galway shop street saturday market ha!) Ryan and I met up again and strolled, went to the outside of the Louvre, and walked down Champ-d'Elysees. Which I can imagine in the winter with the snow is just a beautiful walk. Saw the Arc de Triomph, and we had to go underneath it, via a tunnel under the 5 lanes of traffic. terrifying drivers. That night I we went to the Tour d'Eiffel. But I didn't go up, it was a bit foggy. but it was still utterly amazing, all lit up and sparkling! Ahh so romantic of a place. I can't get over how great of a city it is. Before returning to my hostel I went back up Monmatre to see the city all lit up. It was gorgeous! I had to leave early on monday morning, little did I know I was in for a 10 hour bus ride back to good ol' Leiden-ville. But only for approximately 48 hours. :)

Overall, I love paris. I'm sad it was such a short visit but I can't wait to return!