A couple of days ago I checked my mailbox and noticed an official memo from the foyer offices stating (this is after I translated) that I will be able to have my room inspected on Saturday instead of Monday, even though I wont be leaving until Monday morning (it read much more beautifully that that – but you get the point), I was very happy and thankful to the secretary. It turns out that one of the women who works at the foyer as the person in charge of activities, who has been gone on “holiday” almost the entire time I’ve been here (I met her the first week I arrived) – she’s returned just this Friday and she usually works the weekends – so they arranged for her to inspect my room.
The time on the memo for the inspection was 16h (4pm). I woke up and started cleaning and finished pretty quickly (like at noon – with a relaxing breakfast before hand) – the room wasn’t very messy, but I had to deep clean because I didn’t want to fail the inspection (I didn’t know how closely they inspect). Since I finished so early and the sun was shining outside (and it was hot and stuffy in my room (and had wet floors with a cleaning product smell) I wanted to get out of the foyer as soon as I could to enjoy the day, and I didn’t really want to worry about making it back by 4pm if I didn’t have to. So, I went down to the woman’s office (Myriam) and she was on the phone – but I politely asked her if it would be ok if we moved the inspection up to as soon as she had the chance – and she was fine with that – but I waited outside of her office for 40min. while she talked on the phone, laughing with (what seemed to me to be a casual, non-work related chat with a friend). I was getting tired and antsy (but because I was asking for a favor, I didn't want to be pushy or rude) – I was thinking we misunderstood each other – so a walked by the doorway a few more times, and she’d say, “Oui, un momento” – and continue with the conversation – finally, she hung up and I was a little annoyed but very happy to get this done with (and thankful to her for moving the appointment up for me). She came up, was buisness-like, but nice, she inspected – wrote things on papers, stamped them – told me to return the keys to the security guards Monday morning, a few more logistics details – and it was done!! YAY!
I left the foyer with a kick in my step – purchased a sandwich at a little deli place I love on Rue Cler near the foyer – and took the metro to the Luxemburg Gardens where I was, once again, in awe of the scenery. The sun was blazing! I sat in the sun near the pond on one of the neat green chairs and ate my sandwich. I could feel myself getting a lot of sun and I kept thinking – it’s OK – I’ll move into the shade once I finish my sandwich – and I really was not in the direct sun for longer than 30 minutes. But I am so sunburned!! I should have known better, I know – I’ve had this skin all of my life and have seen burns a lot – but I kept thinking – it’s only for a few minutes while I eat my sandwich.
After I finished the sandwich I moved to a shady spot, with a nice chair and read a book – I was there for about four hours!! Finally I walked around the park and then I decided to forgo the metro (I’m being conservative with my last remaining tickets) and I walked back to the foyer, winding through streets and window watching. I used some of my meal tickets for dinner at a Brasserie (where I really noticed my burn). This is the intense-type of sunburn that gives you goosebumps and the goosebumps hurt – you know that kind?? It makes you feel kind of woozy??
I left the foyer with a kick in my step – purchased a sandwich at a little deli place I love on Rue Cler near the foyer – and took the metro to the Luxemburg Gardens where I was, once again, in awe of the scenery. The sun was blazing! I sat in the sun near the pond on one of the neat green chairs and ate my sandwich. I could feel myself getting a lot of sun and I kept thinking – it’s OK – I’ll move into the shade once I finish my sandwich – and I really was not in the direct sun for longer than 30 minutes. But I am so sunburned!! I should have known better, I know – I’ve had this skin all of my life and have seen burns a lot – but I kept thinking – it’s only for a few minutes while I eat my sandwich.
After I finished the sandwich I moved to a shady spot, with a nice chair and read a book – I was there for about four hours!! Finally I walked around the park and then I decided to forgo the metro (I’m being conservative with my last remaining tickets) and I walked back to the foyer, winding through streets and window watching. I used some of my meal tickets for dinner at a Brasserie (where I really noticed my burn). This is the intense-type of sunburn that gives you goosebumps and the goosebumps hurt – you know that kind?? It makes you feel kind of woozy??
I walked back to the foyer – stripped down and took a really cold shower, which felt good until I dried off and then it stung! I gazed in amazement in the mirror. I lay down for a bit thinking – its ok – it’ll die down – the throbbing will go away. And then I started fantasizing about putting aloe vera lotion on…(and I kept having thoughts of my mom, remembering how she used to put a large white tee-shirt over cool layers of aloe vera when I was young and had a bad burn). I got up and quickly dressed and went to the nearest pharmacy. These are tiny little places (they are all over in Paris) with a big green plus sign out front – like the Red Cross sign, but green. Many of you told me about these before I left (Dad, Diane, Jim, Edie, Marilyn - thanks!)– and what you said was right – I was only inside for a few minutes (it was kind of late and not crowded at all) and the pharmacist (I’m assuming) spotted me looking at a few of the shelves which displayed lotions, etc. And he came right up to me and let out an audible wince when he saw the state of my bright red skin. He pointed to it and I nodded. I asked if he spoke English and he said a little –and I said I’d love to have something to make this feel better. And before I could get any more words out of my mouth he began to sort of examine me – almost like your doctor would do in the privacy of your exam room – he lifted my skirt a little to see where the burn stopped (and maybe to see the normal whiteness of my skin in contrast to the red) then he even pulled the front of my shirt down (which kind of shocked me – but he exuded the air of a doctor so much – and he was looking with such a worry – that I let him continue, trusting his expertise) and he kept saying “Oh – why did you do this??” and I told him I was only in the sun for about 30 min. and he couldn’t believe me – he said, “Non, four hours!” and I said “No really, just 30 min.” (He was such a nice man – very concerned about my skin!) – And he swiftly walked behind the counter and said – “Biafine.” and handed me a white box with BIAFINE written starkly. He proceeded to wrap it up in a bag and I asked him how much it cost – and he said 7 euros. I thought – gosh Melissa!! Why did you do this?? I paid – he gave me instructions in the most serious way on drinking a lot of water, applying it regularly, cold showers – etc. And “stay out of the sun!” So I humbly thanked him and walked back to the foyer and applied Biafine. It was instant relief! I would have paid five times the amount for the way it made me feel. I read the medical information inside the box and it is cream made in France, to be used on first and second degree burns. What a relief. I’m so happy I went to the pharmacy.
Overall – even with the sunburn, it was a nice day. I’m glad I got to spend more time at the Luxemburg Gardens before I go.
Overall – even with the sunburn, it was a nice day. I’m glad I got to spend more time at the Luxemburg Gardens before I go.
Only one more full day left in Paris (tomorrow) and then I'm off on my (something like 24 hours total) travel home (Monday)! I can’t believe it’s almost over!!
Love,
Melissa
Love,
Melissa
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