Paris, Day 1 (part Deux)

And now (that I have full access to Sam's powerbook,) a full description of Les Adventures avec Rose et Sam

I left Boston Monday night on a 6pm flight from BOS-->MAD then MAD-->CDG. The flight to Madrid was just too early to lend itself to sleeping, and my layover in Madrid was delayed from 2 hrs to 4. So I didnt really get to sleep until 11AM madrid time (5am boston time,) accruing about a hour and a half of total sleep for me that 'night'

Madrid Observation #1:
I know WAY more spanish than french. I was listening to a 'learn french' mp3 but hearing people speak spanish all around me, and got QUITE confused.

Madrid Observation #2:
Spanish (and later, I learned, French) teen girls really really love those tourisy "I [heart] NY" shirts. And ankle boots.

Upon arrival in Paris, I went to the train area to catch the rail into the city. after about 15 seconds of struggling with the ticket machine, two german business men approached me and offered to me their daily pass for the metro. Thank you, Germany, for saving me 8.20 Euros!

I took the train to the Jardin de Luxembourg station, where there were a LOT of very loud kids. As I discovered at street level, they were all there to join a protest. I have no f*ing clue what they were protesting, but it was fun to watch.

The street with my hotel was QUITE charming, just outside the Jardin. The room was tiny at best, but that's what I get for 55 euros/night. The best part was the chain-flush toilet, though now I know that is not so uncommon.

By that time it was 3:30 pm and I hadnt eaten since 7. But the jet lag and excitement was my upper, and I decided to walk around the area. I walked for more than an hour and a half and saw only 1 starbucks, and had dinner at a crepe card (un crepe avec fromage et jambon, sil vous plait)

I kept walking, thinking I knew were I was, but then all of the sudden saw the Eiffel tower not too far away. Like woah. Nothing like the best-known symbol of a whole country to tell me that I was going exactly the opposite way I thought.

I made my way back and wandered into the Jardin de Luxembourg to sit and relax. Quite a cute park, though there was little by way of grass.
There were, however, tons of cute chairs all around the fountain in the center. I sat back, took out my iPod, and turned on some MC Solaar (french R&B) and dozed off for a few minutes. I also people-watched... do you see the couple making out in the corner of this last picture? Oh, Paris, how cute you are!

I was in bed by 6pm and fell asleep to the sound of a french child playing with his mom in a courtyard. Of course, jet lag is evil and I woke up at 3am. At least it let me mentally prepare for Sam's arrival this morning :)