Paris day 2

Woke up this morning and was getting ready in the common room when I got to talking with the one girl staying here. Her name is Cara, she's 23 and from Australia. We decided to go out and see some sights together today. 

Left the flat and got on the metro heading towards the Louvre Musesum. Got there and just surrounding the Louvre was absolutely beautiful! When we went to get in line the estimated waiting time was 2 hours and it was so hot out we decided to leave and come back earlier the next day. 

We stopped for lunch at a French restaurant and we got frog legs and Escargot (snails). I only did this because I'm in France and part of the travel experience is the food! So you gotta try it! At least once. The frog legs weren't bad, just a very plain taste. However the snails were very good! They came with a bread too that you dip in the snail bowl that they are all cooked in, very very delicious!

We went to the Musee D Orsay, didn't go in however because it was a little expensive and I only am interested in going in the Louvre musesum.  

Walked along lots of Paris streets heading towards the Notre Dame Cathedral. The streets of Paris are so beautiful! Wow! Much nicer than the stories I had heard of Paris. Being dirty and gross. For sure not the case, at least not what I have seen so far! Saw the "locks of love" along the bridges! It's where people either bring or buy locks, then write something on the lock, lock it on the fence to the bridge, and then throw the lock into the canal. 

Notre Dame was very cool, I enjoyed the building itself the most. Went inside and to me it was beautiful but I have seen countless cathedrals on my travels so far, so it wasn't anything I haven't seem before. But the building itself was great! 

Later that night we went to Moulin Rouge, walked around that area for awhile and then headed back to the flat. There was another room I didn't know people stayed in so I actually have 5 roommates not 3, and tonight we all sat up bullshitting for 3 hours! Very first time I have actually sat and talked with people from all different countries and actually enjoyed the conversation and the atmosphere I was in! Cara from Australia, Chong from South Korea, funniest person I have ever met I think. Witt from Chicago and Natasha from Singapore. 

The Louvre Musesum (Most famous musesum in Paris) 

French restauatnt where we had lunch 

Escargot, (Snails) and frog legs 

The snail from inside the shell 

Locks of love along the bridge 

Notre Dame Cathedral 

Inside the cathedral 

Metro station in Paris 

Paris day 1

This morning I got up early, I was already packed and ready to go. I left for the airport 2 and a half hours before my flight, it's only a 20 minute walk to the bus station and then a 30 minute ride to the airport. And I was the 2nd last person on the plane! I literally got on and I wasn't even in my seat and they closed the doors to the plane! Security was an absolute nightmare, I think half of Europe was going through security the same time as me. 

Anywho boarded the plane and an hour and a Half later I'm in Paris! I'm staying in someone's flat for the 5 days that I'm in Paris. I found it through the website AirB&B. Much cheaper than the hostels in Paris, and very central. I made contact with the flat owner beforehand obvisouly to get the directions. 

Thanks goodness I lived in London and had to take the tube for 6 weeks because if I had shown up here with no idea how the underground system worked I would be screwed! 

No one speaks English, even though it's a French speaking country I was still told many people do speak English. Like 80% of the city, however I have yet to find someone that speaks English. Except for the guy that owns the flat I'm staying in, and even his English is not very good. 

He's a very nice guy the flat owner, he supplies fruit, tea, coffee, and biscuits for his guests. There are me and 2 other guests, the 3 person bunk bed like I had thought it was going to be but I'm on the bottom so yay! 

Another thank god is that the flat I'm staying in is literally 10 steps away from the underground system (metro) as they call it. So it doesn't scare me as much to go out at night because what would scare me would be walking back to the flat in the dark, but because it's right beside the metro it's not a big deal. 

I arrived at the flat after 5:30, only took me an hour to get from the airport to the flat so I'm quite proud of myself because I was ALONE, and no one could give me directions in English! Met the flat owner, and the 2 other guests. I left to get supper and decide what my plans for the evening would be. 

Also forgot to mention that today is my 20th birthday! So being that it was my birthday and I knew I wanted to see the Eiffel Tower during the day and at night, and that it was getting late what perfect way to spend my birthday but to take a trip trough the city to see the Eiffel Tower! 

WOW! The very first time I saw the Eiffel Tower it literally made me gasp. IT IS MASSIVE! And so beyond beautiful! I got to see it right before sunset, and at dark when they light it up, unbelievable experience and to have it on my birthday was even that more special! 

I'm going to go back so I can see it during the daytime, and to go up and see from the top of course! Planning to do that on day 3 most likely. 

After walking around the Eiffel Tower for a few hours I realized it was about 11 and that I didn't know what time the Metro closes and so I zipped back to catch the 3 connecting trains that I needed to get back to the flat.