Paris Greetings

Bonjour and hello from Paris! I made it!!!!! I'm typing from the couch in my charming (and freezing) apartment in the Bastille district of Paris. My journey here was basically uneventful, thankfully. All of my flights were on time and I arrived here in France around 8am this morning. I had some trouble navigating the Charles de Gaulles airport and luckily was able to get my train ticket for the RER train. I was supposed to phone David, the gentleman assigned to getting me into the apartment here, but there was an unintelligible message on the French cell phone my dad gave me, when I used it, and without understanding french, I had no idea what was happening. So I had to buy a phone card and attempt to call him that way... but when I did, I only got his voice mail. I did find the train and got on, and took it to the Gare du Nord station, and then picked up a taxi to the apartment. He was waiting for me here and after we dropped off my things up here in the apartment, we went out for a coffee (cafe creme, I am learning to call it now). David took me through a charming neighborhood (frankly, what neighborhood here isn't charming?), and our first stop was a Pastisserie (sp?) for a blue cheese and walnut tart, which was heated up and we took to go, to the hole in the wall cafe David took me to. He said that cafe was about as real French as we could get (no tourists there till I arrived).
We spent another hour or so walking around, at a racer's pace, while David pointed out some of the many sights and restaurants of the Bastille neighborhood. The apartment I am staying in is on a lively street, just off the Bastille, surrounded by cafes, stores and newstands. Around noonish, he had to be going since he was leaving town later in the day for a week in Manchester, where he is from. He was SO helpful and accommodating, it's a shame he'll be out of town while I'm here, since I would appreciate a tour guide now and then (not to mention a translator). He's British, and has been living in Paris for 17 years, and loves it more and more each day. His French was helpful when we stopped in a few stores, including the cell phone store to add some credit to the one my dad gave me. I don't know how I would have navigated that situation without his help.

After a warm and terribly needed shower, I finally got up and out on my own. The weather here isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It seems to be in the high 40's or low 50's, and is comfortable with my coat and scarf (tied the way the French do, but of course...). With a narrow sense of direction, I set out in the direction I thought the Seine would be and quickly found I was doing alright. I walked for about 3 hours all around the Left Bank, through the Il St. Louis, and I'l de la Cite, including adorable tiny streets, The Latin Quarter and St. Germaine St. I also found my way over to my first major monument in Paris, Notre Dame. Sadly, it was mobbed with tourists and so after I followed a mob into the chapel, I opted not to wait in line for the tour. Even with the Museum Pass I bought at the train station I would have to wait in line for the tour, so I was too eager to see more of the area, so I just moved on. All in all I walked about 4.8 miles today (I brought my pedometer). When I successfully found my way back to the Bastille, I arrived just in time for a HUGE protest taking place (the Bastille was being stormed again...) by students. I don't know what they were protesting because I couldn't read any of their signs (but I took pictures of them so I can translate them online later). It was a peaceful protest, that had something to do with education, and the police just stood around and watched most of the time... even though there were hundreds of people chanting and marching. I was starving again by this point and finally decided to sit in a cafe on my own. I found the menus to be overwhelming since I can't read anything on them. I opted for pizza (a thin crust with 3 kinds of cheese), and another cafe creme ( still didn't know how to order water yet). Around 5pm I decided to come back up to the apartment since my feet were hurting and my body was exhausted from the lack of sleep I had the night before. I really tried to stay awake so that I wouldn't get all messed up tonight, but couldn't and slept on the couch for about 2 hours. I feel better now, but doubt I'll be going out for dinner tonight since I'm still stuffed from the pizza. I think I'm in for the night. Or perhaps a quick run for some water and a crepe later on... ???
Walking around today was amazing, and my first impressions of Paris definitely are bringing my dreams into a reality. It's a charming and beautiful as I imagined it would be. I just really hope to be able to meet some people, somehow while I'm here. I don't know how I will like being on my own each day... I felt slightly lonely walking all those hours today on my own. It would be nice to have someone to share my thoughts with. That will be my goal tomorrow...
Sorry this went on for so long... don't worry, all my posts won't be this detailed (or will they?). Keep in touch...
Holly