Jardin du Luxembourg and some metro tests

I started out this morning by practicing several metro routes from Ecole Miltarie (the stop nearest my place) to the closest RER-B train connection. I am taking the RER-B train on my way out (just like I did on my way in) – but unfortunately, the RER-C that connects really close to where I’m staying (and made the incoming trip relatively painless) isn’t running during this time of the year, so I have to go through several metro transfers on a round about way (with luggage, up and down stairs) to get to the train transfer. I have to check out of the foyer in the morning on Monday (a week from today!!), and they need to inspect my room, like they do at an apartment when you're turning in your keys, to make sure it is clean, and nothing is damaged, etc. The earliest time I can check out is 8:30am, and I'm not sure how long it will take (I guess it will depend on how thorough their checking is). I will need to hurry to make it to the airport on time – so, long story short, I was practicing to see which route was the quickest, with the fewest transfers/stairs, etc. I found that the shortest route (and with the least stairs) still took about 40 minutes (and this was without bags) until I got to the RER-B transfer, and then I'd ride the train to the airport - possibly about 40 minutes to an hour at the longest.

[new note: as I was getting ready to post this, I read an e-mail from Dad and he suggests taking "the Yellow Van" instead - maybe this will save me! I'm going to look into it. Here's some more info, if you're interested: Yellow Van , Dad sent me the link - I still need to check it out]

After my little tests I walked around right bank and the Rue de Rivoli some, and then I got back on the metro and went over to the left bank to:

The Luxembourg Gardens!

I took a nice walk today through the Luxembourg Gardens. I have been waiting to visit this area since I came, but I’ve wanted the weather to be just right – and today it was. The weather was phenomenal! The Luxembourg Gardens looked too beautiful to be real. It was so gorgeous. I walked around, hung out by the pond where the kids pushed their little sailboats with sticks – this was a serious game to them. I enjoyed watching them eye their own boat and run around the pond darting in between people who (like me) were sitting on the edge of the water. I walked around some more and tried to see all of the different areas and activities (I’ve read a couple of books lately that reference this area quite a bit, so it was neat to actually be here – plus, looking at Dad’s photos from his trip made me want to visit too). I ended up buying an ice cream cone (la glace) because I have a little sore throat and they looked really good, and then I sat down on the edge of a bocce game (hey Tim!! For those of you who don’t know – our friends in Eugene play bocce too – but not with these silver balls – ours are colored). It was great fun. (another note - I had dinner with my friend from the foyer: Melanie, from Nancy, France and we talked about bocce and she told me that it is called something different in French (but I didn't write it down because we were eating, and I didn't have anything to write on)- and the little ball you aim at is called something that translates to "little piggy" - cool huh). The game I watched had a woman player, which seemed to be a rare occurrence (and she was good – see picture) – this was serious concentration. I watched about three rounds, ate my pistachio ice cream and then moved along. I could see myself visiting the Luxembourg Gardens as often as possible if I were a resident of Paris – what a perfect place to hang out and soak in the beautiful surroundings, outdoors and nice people - and perfect for kids too.

After the gardens I strolled around the Sorbonne, and then back through some other areas of the Latin Quarter (I do love that area).

Now I’m back at the foyer, getting ready for my last week of work at the library – I can’t believe there is only one week left.

love,
Melissa

p.s. before I go - I felt badly after reading my last post when I referred to the palm trees on the Paris Plage as fake - I'm actually not certain they are (I didn't look too closely) - and after seeing a variety of real palm trees in the Luxembourg Gardens (see the pictures I posted), I realized I was speaking too hastily. - so sorry about that.

Tour de France

I woke up this morning feeling less sinus pressure and a strong need to get outside from what seemed like an eternity resting in my room.

I met Claudia (my Austrian friend) downstairs and we decided to have breakfast together, as a sort of picnic, to make up for my having to cancel our picnic plans Friday night (she and I were going to have a picnic on the Isle de la Cite in celebration of our friendship – she’s leaving back to Austria on Tuesday). We met up on my floor (she’s a floor above) in my communal kitchen area. I made coffee, cut up delicious honey dew melon, she brought some nectarines, I made some oatmeal with honey and we sat and ate and talked for close to two hours! It was nice.

After breakfast we changed and took the metro to Les Halles and walked around for a while (most shops were closed). Claudia bought some gifts and we took some pictures. We walked down by the Seine, on the right bank, and went along the Paris Plage, where they make a sort of beach scene down by the river, equipped with climbing walls, ropes courses, sand, volley ball, beach lounge chairs and even fake palm trees. I found it pretty funny. It was kind of cold, and there were people out there in their bathing suits, even. [note: I would probably feel differently about the Paris Plage experience if the weather were nice, and I have a cold - so my mood is a little bit tweaked, so keep that in mind here] It was just a strange sort of scene for me - but I don't think my opinion was shared, most people thought it was great (Claudia included). I guess I feel like, when you've got Paris, there's no need to dress it up and make it into something that it isn't - a beach (but I'm also speaking from the perspective of an outsider - maybe someone who lives in Paris enjoys something different once in a while).

Then, we made our way towards the Jardin des Tuileries, near the Louvre and towards the rue de Rivoli to get a good spot for watching the Tour de France race. We got there at about 3:15 pm, and waited and waited and people watched, and laughed and took pictures. Claudia wanted to get us both these huge hands we kept seeing people wave around in excitement. So I held our spot on a high ledge (a good spot) and she went searching. A few minutes later I saw her walking towards me with a huge grin on her face because she had found two hands (these are those large foam things, you see people with at football games, etc) discarded on the ground a ways away and rescued them for us. We joked that we were giving them a second life – another chance to be waved triumphantly in the air – so wave we did! We had fun (Claudia snapped the photo of me with my hand – she was very proud of our large hands and wanted to commemorate their existence). Finally, the cars and motorcycles that tour ahead of the bikes began coming up through the tunnel at about 5:15 or so (we were on the other side of a tunnel – it was a great spot). We stood up on our ledge and cheered (with our hands) and took pictures. The energy of the crowd was awesome and the bikes were so cool! This sounds silly and obvious to say, but they were SO FAST! It was a great experience. We watched them at that spot as they went by three times and then we decided to walk to the Place de la Concorde –were there was another huge crowd and a view of an enormous monitor displaying the race. It was a cool spot because we could see down the avenue des Champs Elysees and the screen, and we also saw the bikes curve around us during each loop. We stood there until the end (I think the bikes went by us about 5 times, but I’m not certain). The end was pretty dramatic. All around us people were so into it! We fed off of the energy and cheered and Claudia talked to some people in German, and we tried to listen to the French announcer, and we loved the diverse crowd around us, many of whom were displaying their country’s flag by either waving it or draping it around their shoulders. It was fun. We left that spot at around 6pm and walked back to the foyer – we didn’t want to try to get to the metro because we heard that some of the stops were closed down, and we figured it would be quicker for us to quickly walk back. It sprinkled throughout the day and it was chilly – but I’m glad I got out. What a fun experience!!

My cold is still bugging me - but I trudged along and pretended I was fine - Claudia made sure I was warm (she loaned me her scarf) and I drank orange juice and water. I'm sure I'll feel even better tomorrow - and when do you get the chance to see the Tour de France in Paris??!

with love,
Melissa

Sinus pain

Unfortunately I have a painful sinus issue. It started out the night of the walk (the last post). I returned to my room and my throat felt scratchy and my head was cloudy, I was sneezing, etc. I thought that I had just been exposed to a lot of wind/dust/dirt because it was pretty windy and I stood a lot on several bridges gazing into the breeze. At work (Friday) I spent my day sneezing, wheezing and trying to stop my nose from running. The sinus pressure was building by the end of my shift, and once I returned to the foyer I just felt like crawling into bed and going to sleep (which sucks because I had found a couple of bars listed who were featuring some music that I wanted to check out). I took a brief nap, had some dinner and then I ended up just reading and I fell asleep at about midnight. I couldn’t sleep well and at one point I woke up and felt like a huge truck had rolled onto my head, with all of its weight and then pulled up the emergency brake (sinuses screaming and throbbing). So, at least I won’t have to worry about blowing my nose, the pressure is taking care of that possibility. I hate this. There should be a law of nature against getting sick while visiting such an awesome place. Hopefully it will pass soon. I’m just giving you a fair warning that I’ll be laying low for at least this first part of my weekend (the weather is grey, to match my head cold feelings). I’m off to work now – wish me luck.

All my best,
Melissa

p.s. I posted a tart picture, for good measure.

Evening walk and Blondie bra display

I went on a little walk this evening after dinner. Here are some pictures that I took as I strolled. It was a windy night, but beautiful.

Paris is gearing up for mass crowds when the Tour de France bike race ends here this Sunday. Notice the picture with the barricades by the line of trees. I'll try to experience the end of the race (if I can get close enough to witness it - I imagine it'll be really crowded).

There are many bra/pantie shops (I can’t think of a more appropriate term right now, I guess I’m tired) nearby. It seems that people in Paris really like fancy bras and panties (not to say that they don’t other places as well – but I’ve never seen so many shops that highlight just that product, in such a high concentration, and high style). I’ve seen many window displays, but this one (the picture you see with the Blondie albums) caught my eye – it’s just around the corner of the foyer (and no one was around when I snapped the photo). I thought some of you might get a kick out of seeing that.

All is well here.

Love,
M.