An American in Paris...

<---------What you're looking at here on the left is the picture I took of my pedometer when I arrived back at the apartment today at 6:00pm. It reads: 17,986 steps = 7.09 miles... That's what I walked today. Good lord do my feet feel it... but WOW, what a great day it was!!!! I don't even know where to begin because I did so much today that I wouldn't want to include all the details here in fear that I'd bore any reader to death. The thing is that this blog is more really for me than for the readers (sorry readers). I used to journal on all of my trips, and I've found that with access to a computer, I can include photos, and type with much more ease than I write with. So, if these entries are too long, feel free to skip around (which I'm sure most do anyway).

So my day began quite leisurely, waking up on my own without the aid of an alarm clock. I managed to get myself out by 10am (hey, I'm on vacation you know...) and went straight to the Cafe Bastille, right around the corner. They have a Petite Dejeuner for only 6 and a half euros (croissant, orange juice, cafe creme). There were some Canadians sitting next to me. We exchanged a few words but no real conversation. I spoke to my waitress in French, but later heard her speaking very good English to the Canadians. I'm sure she was wincing through my French and laughing to herself in the kitchen. I left and bought some Metro tickets (10 tickets are called a Carat). I read some maps and then boarded my first Paris metro on the way to... La Tour Eiffel!!! I had to transfer to a 2nd train and oh boy was that one hilarious! There were some musicians on board playing music for change, and their song choices were amusing: Oh When the Saints Go Marching In, Hello Dolly, and Tequila. Oh right, and then there was Hava Nagila. It was hard not to smile, so I gave them a Euro for their effort. When I finally arrived at the Eiffel Tower Metro station, I practically ran out of the station to get my first glimpse of the tower. Here is one of my first pics, but most of them are vertical and for some reason blogger doesn't allow you to rotate them. So I had to post this one, which isn't great... but you get them point, since most everyone knows what the Eiffel Tower looks like. I have to admit though, I had a hard time keeping my eyes dry today and there was this strange lump in my throat as I walked around the whole plaza of the Eiffel Tower today. Not that it's such a great monument or anything, but rather a symbol of a dream realized... my finally coming to Paris. Everything I went through today to get my ass up on that tower, was worth it, because of what it represents. It was fureeeeezzzzing under the tower, and I had to wait in line for more than an hour, and while I tried to talk myself out of the long wait, something in me forced me to brave the wind and chilly temps. to get to the top (which by the way was closed... I could only get to the 2nd level today). All in all, it was amazing and I am certainly glad that I did it... the view up there was gorgeous and the sun kind of came and went throughout the few hours I was there. When I felt that I had sufficiently experienced the Eiffel Tower, it was time to go. But with no plans or ideas I consulted a map to see what was nearby.

After a lengthy walk along the Seine river (how wonderful is that???), I ended up going to the Musee d'Orsay, the home of Impressionist painting. I used my museum pass (which I am convinced was a total waste of money for me....like I am going to see 45 Euro worth of museums... do I even know me?) On the advice of one of my guide books, I ate a quick lunch in one of the museum restaurants. I had a yummy salad, another cafe creme, and some delicious french bread. After all, by that time I had already walked 3 miles, so the bread was okay. I made my way to the rooms of the Impressionists, and was BLOWN away with what I saw there. Holy cow, talk about a collection? This was the real deal...Monet, Lautrec, Renoir, Gaugin, Van Gogh... I can't believe I was actually seeing all the real paintings that I've had prints of, or seen in art books, or on umbrellas and mouse pads, everywhere... It was amazing... like seeing long lost friends that you know so well but had never met before. I joined a few tour groups to listen about the paintings, but if you know me, you know I have the attention span of a gnat, so on I went. When I was fully tapped out of attention, I wandered through some of the halls on the bottom floor, took a few rests on the sidelines, bought a book in the bookstore and then got on my way. I left around 3:30 and started out walking again.

My map showed me that the Louvre was right across the river along with Tuilliere Gardens, so I headed in that directions. However, once I got to the Louvre, saw the gardens, saw the glass pyramid, and saw the HOARDS of people there... I kept walking. My lack of attention, achy knees (I forgot to mention that I opted to take the stairs down the Eiffel Tower in lieu of waiting in line for the elevator? Smart, eh?), and starting-to-get-sore feet weren't making the Louvre possible today. Perhaps another day... or perhaps not. I have a feeling the "outside" of the Louvre is going to be the extent that I visit it. I hear the Mona Lisa is underwhelming, and the Venus de Milo... well, I'll live.

I then searched for awhile for the Metro, found it, made it back to La Bastille, and then went off on a little shopping walk, that turned into a full blown episode of getting lost in Paris (while amazingly still close to home). I don't know how I did it but I managed to lose my way and ended up walking in circles for an hour or so, finally asking someone for directions (in French) and made my way back to the street my apartment was on. At that point I thought I deserved a reward for getting myself out of that mess, so I went to the crepes cart in the Bastille and ordered up a yummy fresh made crepe with "fromage" (cheese). I saved it till I got back to the apartment around the corner, and that was at 6pm. The crepe was delightful but at this point it has to be dinner since I am too tired and sore to go out again. I think I've had enough of the streets for one day so I am in for the night. I just finished watching one of the dvd's that I brought with me, Mame (thanks Amanda and Michael). It's the only one that was apparently in PAL format and could be watched on the dvd player. But, alas I have realized that I have a dvd player on my laptop, so I'll probably put in another one later on.

I originally had planned on making a reservation for dinner in a restaurant that David took me to on the first day, but I am just too bushed to go out. My dinner tonight consisted of 3 Advil and a glass of water. I'll have a larger breakfast tomorrow morning (I can just feel the pounds melting off of me right now...). Today was great! I did manage to ask one person to take a picture of me and even spoke to a few English speakers in the museum, but still not really connecting with others. I felt better today about eating alone and decided that it was good to be alone so that I don't have to consult anyone about what to do for the day or have anyone nagging me to get up so we can get moving in the morning. I'm a slow riser... get off my back.

Tomorrow? Not sure yet. I have some ideas, but will wait and decide in the morning. I'll let you all know what I end up doing. Thanks for all your emails and comments on the blog. Your support means a lot, and makes it easier to be on my own here.
Bon soir! A' demain!