Cooincidences

6/12
- hop off plane, hop on hour long shuttle bus to Paris where we then maneuver the huge and confusing metro to cergy, and finally we walk 10 mins to our hotel!
- meg and Arielle and Megan are there waiting for us in our AMAZING apartment!!! It's even better than last time and the complete opposite of any other place we've stayed at during this backpacking excursion. Thank you Leclerqs!!
- it was hard to stop our mouths from moving because everything was so exciting but eventually the other 3 went into the city at night while our exhausted selves decided to rest.
- at one point we walked into the mall area (never knew that existed) and after an hour of getting lost and not knowing the language we eventually found the huuuuge grocery store.
- we cooked uncooked pizza, amazing tabouli, and Finally had a salad
- without needing any coercion whatsoever, we melted into our satiny silky douvet

6/13
- Starting our weekly tradition, we slept in a bit, always waking up by 10am to receive the wonderful and free yummy French breakfast.
- After breakfast, we said goodbye to Arielle and Megan (other meaghans future housemates) and then pretty much spent the rest of the afternoon lounging in luxury (ie taking a bath and laying on the bed) and slowly, slowly getting ready.
- we eventually walked over to the mall area of our town (a 35 min train out of Paris btw) and helped meg buy some more warm clothes (as well as some desserts-- eclairs this time)
- we were kicked out of the mall at 8pm and then cooked ourselves a yummy dinner in this fully equipped modern kitchen of ours!

6/14
- today we learned the hard way that there's really never enough time/ things always take longer than you think they will, in terms of traveling at least.
- we woke up later than planned, bought ourselves a handy 4 day unlimited metro card and were off to the Eiffel tower finally!
- we waited in a wrong line at first, then got into the right one (which required climbing to the 2nd floor), rushed up, snapped away, rode a scary elevator and voila! We were at the top! What an amazing view awaited us below. Michelle got over her sweaty palms as Katie took in the view and marveled at how big this city was!
- unfortunately, but not so unfortunately, we had to rush down the tower, hop on the ever confusing metro (Paris' metro is the worst, in my opinion) to meet my friend from Florence, Scott!
- Scott studied in Paris last fall semester and now is back for a couple months to take an acting course and has a fabulous apartment studio thing in the city
- Scott proceeded to tour us around the city, first stopping at the notre dame then to his favorite crepe place then we hiked up to parthenon in the Latin quarter (such a cool area) then to the Luxembourg gardens (soooo pretty with the flowers now in bloom and the temperature above 30, unlike when Michelle visited in the snow last time), and finally up to scotts place (meg and Katie hopped in the tiniest 2 person elevator).
- Scott had the most fabulous dinner waiting for us (well he cooked as we talked) and had even made a special musical playlist for the occasion. We ooed and awed over his French flat, his baguette and tomato sauce/cheese appetizer, his lit candles, the place settings and especially over the amazing pasta and avocado salad AND of course the creme brûlée with strawberries for dessert!
- we chatted away for hours (wine was also involved) and eventually returned to our hotel at 2am!

6/15
- after eating our normal and huge, unlimited breakfast and packing up our usual lunch (from the bfast selection of baguettes, meats and cheeses) we headed into the city to meet up with Katie's friend Megan from high school!
- Katie LOVES coincidences and after realizing Megan would be in Paris only a few days before (on fb she saw that Megan arrived the same day as us! Such a shock and Katie could not wait to see her) she went crazy.
- we went inside the notre dame with Megan and her brother David and enjoyed the stained glass (katies favorite) windows as the sheer beauty of this massive cathedral.
- the 5 of us then metroed to the arc de triumphe, walked along the champs élysées, picked up a box (a way too small box says meg) of the best macaroons in the world from Laduree, sat in a cafe for an hour (Katie and shell got 6 euro orange juice, not worth it), marveled at the touilleries and the views surrounding these gardens, and finally made it to the Louvre by 6pm for free student admission.
- we were now a party of 6 because Scott met up with us but within minutes we were 8 because Sam and Anjali surprised us in line!!
- meg and shell had just found out a few days before that Sam would be there as well but were not expecting to see her just then! What a wonderful surprise! We could not believe the size of our group and all the connections within, and the fact that we were all in PARIS! Coincidences galore!
- we all spent about 2 hours in the louvre (amid catch up conversations and excitement) and saw the Mona Lisa (Katie says its too small), the Venus de milo, the Egyptian exhibit (Katie loved it) and beelined out of the huge glass pyramid (blanking on its name)
- Megan and her brother left us to Skype with their parents and Scott then led us all (in the rain) to his favorite restaurant in the Latin quarter. We passed over the adorable love lock bridge over the seine and finally arrived at the cutest little French restaurant with the nicest owner.
- dinner conversation flowed as we enjoyed our delicious French onion soups, avocado salads, chicken, streak, lamb, and apple tarts.
- we all bid goodnight and parted our ways within the metro as we shot off to different sections of the city.

6/16
- we allowed ourselves a couple extra hours of sleep this morning. We had been EXHAUSTED every day and it felt as if we could never catch up!
- after bfast we watched some desperate housewives in french (way more entertaining than youd think) and didn't get out of the hotel until around 3pm
- we headed to the montemarte area of france (Michelles personal favorite area) and first stopped at the moulin rouge and the ate the BEST quiche and chocolate chip cookies (says meg), then meandered up to the sacre cor basilica while passing past really cool stores.
-if you've seen the movie "Amelie", this is the area it was filmed in. If you haven't, go see it now.
- we made the trek up one of the only hilly areas of Paris. The buildings and the shops and the people are all eccentric here, the artists quarter I believe it is, and it's so great to see such creativeness!
- we were met with the most amazing view of Paris from above as we sat on the steps below the church and listened to a live performer singing away.
- after walking through the church and taking tons of pictures we rolled down the hill on a cool funicular (scene of last trip to Paris' close call gypsy for shell) and searched for hours, literally, for a good place to eat.
- eventually and partially out of desperation, we settled for a random crepe restaurant in an alley way. It had charm, but that's about it.
- at one point on the metro, as we pushed the doors open as they tried to seal us off, we greatly embarrassed ourselves as the metro lurched forward and we were all thrown forward as well.
- to end the night we got a quick glimpse of the lit up Eiffel tower during a metro change as meg rushed to use the bathroom in McDonald's. Magical!

6/17
- getting out of the hotel 2 hours later than originally hoped, we went on another 2 hour metro excursion that eventually led us to the Palace of Versailles!
- the gold gates welcomed us in (along with the throngs of people) and we waited in line after line for a good hour or so. It would all be worth it! (25 euro later)
- Short on time, we first jetted through the palace (leaving behind new friend mikaela who Katie had met in line) and rushed to the hall of mirrors with audio guide in hand. What an incredible "hallway". To think that people used to actually live here! It's insane.
- in less time than originally thought, we were out of the palace and into the famous gardens which we had heard most about!
- breathtaking. Gargantuous. Green. Regal. Magical. Enchanting. Royal.
- Upon walking out to the gardens, we were pleased to see that the fountains were all dancing away along to the classical music playing throughout the gardens.
- we took our time just taking in all of the incredible scenery meeting us in every direction. We honestly felt like we were in a movie, not real life.
- feeling a bit short on time, we made a beeline through the mazes of gardens and ponds and flowers (making a pit stop for ice cream of course) until we finally reached Marie Antoinette's estate, also known as the petit trianon. Katie was most excited for this part and as we walked through another set of golden gates (slightly smaller than the first) we entered the "small" estate. The words small and estate don't really go together. Anyways, each room was adorably decorated with many floral patterns and brighter colors. You could really see Marie antoinettes personality coming out here and it was a much more personal experience, which we definitely preferred.
- After walking through the few rooms, we headed into her gardens! These were much smaller but were packed with loads of charm. Michelle's favorite was the "temple of love" which was reached by crossing adorable foot bridges over streams and through flowers packed with wonderful smells.
- the 3 of us found a nice spot on Marie's grass (I could picture her here so well) and lazily napped/ gazed out at the temple on one side and the estate on the other. What a perfect way to relax!
- we leisurely bid farewell to Maries place and made our way towards the main attractions. The buildings were now all closing but the gardens were available for at least another hour.
- the remaining time was spent watching people row boats in the huge pond, being grossed out by the massive fish in the pond, and slowly making our way back to the palace and then out the gates.
- We caught a quick train to the Eiffel tower to look for some food and got the added bonus of seeing the tower right as the sun was setting, perfectly and naturally lit. The Eurocup has been following us everywhere this trip and a huge screen was set up right in front, with crowds of people cheering on France. Not many people get to watch a soccer game with the Eiffel tower as their background.
- we spent the next 2.5 hours in search of a place to eat. Another thing that has plagued us this summer. Always in search of an authentic, non touristy, cheap place to eat. It's not as easy as you think!
- after walking up and down hills, happening upon the arc de triumph, and being advised from a Scottish person on a different area to eat, we hopped on a metro and landed in the gay area of town. Things were poppin, as it was now almost 11pm!
- we found a cute little restaurant where we chatted with the enthusiastic owner who translated the menu for us and we leisurely tried new French food and met some English speaking friends who gave us their leftovers.
- tight on time, we got off at a random metro stop to catch another view of the Eiffel tower at night and grabbed a mcflurry from McDonald's to top the night off.
- Sidenote about McDonald's: they vary country to country. For example, you find macaroons and special French fries in France, wine and croissants and pistachio mcflurrys in Italy, sausages in Germany, special Hungarian foods in budapest, pinxos in spain, the list goes on and on (can you tell we often make use of their free wifi?).

6/18
- our last day in Paris, sadly.
- meg decides shed like more time to get ready so Katie and I go into the city a little before her and have a cute picnic in front of the Eiffel tower, with cheesy posey jumping pictures included.
- we then metro to the Latin quarter again, walk around, stumble upon an AMAZING and local-filled crepe place (nutella and banana again), and rush to the tulleries to meet meg.
- we had to wait an hour (meg decided to get her eyebrows done before meeting us......) but before long we were sitting inside the famous "Angelina's" for some hot chocolate! Meg and I had both been recommended this place and even though it was a bit too rich for me, it was a cool and fancy tea partyish experience (the price almost had me using the remaining chocolate as a face mask or something).
- my god we ate a lot today. Our next stop was dinner back in the Latin quarter! Sharing some wine and the meal of the day (3 courses of deliciousness) we happily ended our last evening in Paris chatting away at a street cafe.