My first day alone in Paris has been.... interesting. It already feels like it has been an entire day and yet I haven't even seen anything. My day began at 7:30 when I got up to wish the rest of my family farewell. Two days was certainly not a long enough visit with them. After going back to sleep I got up for real at 9:30, well-rested a hotel room to myself, sun streaming in through the balcony, which I stepped out onto to see the eiffel tour, standing gloriously in the sunshine. I had a relaxing hour getting ready and then it was off to find my hostel. Unfortunately, I was stopped by the metro police who asked to see my ticket, which I couldn't find, so I figured I would just give him one of my unused passes but apparently that doesn't fly because it turns out "this isn't stamped. now you have a problem" and made me hand over 25 euros on the spot. I was incredibly upset about this and had to fight back tears as I carried on my way. This isn't usually something I would get so upset about but I am stressed and broke so 25 euro was a lot for an unfair reason. Luckily, at the next station the information attendant, a charming redhead, renewed my opinion of parisians by being incredibly nice and pointing me in the direction of my hostel, which I found quickly. I put my bag in the luggage room, which was literally like a cave in the basement, stone walls and dampness and all. Not knowing what to do with myself but knowing I needed a snack, I hopped on the metro to the eiffel tour where I had a baguette on a bench while reading my travel book and making notes of things I'd like to see. The sun was out and there were tons of people jogging about the park, casual. I snapped a few pictures and just people watched for awhile, being asked a number of times to take photographs of couples, Paris really is a romantic city. Speaking of romance, multiple men selling eiffel key chains, "5 for a euro!" stopped by my bench to first, ask me if i wanted useless trinkets but mostly to say things like "you are.. eh.. how you say.. er.. very sexy, we get cafe?" (I hope you read that in a really foreign accent) Unable to sort my thoughts or come up with a concrete plan I decided to just head to the nearest metro. (I really need Aunt Terry for this whole planning thing). I got lost.. ish, but I don't mind as I just took more pictures and came upon a church with some really pretty mosaic decorations. Eventually I found the metro which I took to the Opera, My plan was to pop into Galleries Lafayette, a fiant fancy superstore. There are allegedly great views and I heard, a covergirl exhibit. But it turned out to be Sunday, meaning nearly all shops are closed. Lame. Back on the metro. (As I wrote this) Now I am sitting in a tiny place called Terres de Cafe, drinking a dopio machiatto, relaxing. Best coffee I have had in two months. My next stop is hopefully the museum of modern art. I think I have to pay for this one, but I love modern art so it will be worth it. I think if I travel alone again I would want a more set in stone plan for what I am going to do, or at least look up and map out my destinations ahead of time. I miss the handiness of my iphone.
The day began with breakfast at the hotel and then on to an open air market. Markets are absolutely one of my favorite things in the world. I haggled three lovely scarves for 2 euro. They are adorable and perfect souvenirs! We wandered around and then went to this really cool wine bar where you can get fresh oysters, just carted in from the coast. We ordered some raw oysters, and ate them at this giant barrel turned table, with wine poured from one of the many barrels lining the walls. A couple glasses of wine at 11 am is the best way to start the day, I must say. The parisians must agree with me becuase the place was full. We then walked through the market some more, vendors calling out prices and elderly ladies with their little carts full of vegetables. We then headed to a slightly less picturesque area of Paris, a strip of discount stores with people on the streets selling knock off designer goods, "hey.. wanna buy.. a watch?" Then back to Montmarte where we parted ways from the adults for the afternoon. Alek and Amanda and I took a walking tour of the area around the Opera, with a cute parisian tour guide named Agustoff. He had a charming accent and lots of fun information about the area. I got to hear the story of the origin of the Bloody Mary, the bar is called Harry's and it was frequented by Ernest Hemingway, quite the partier. His wife, Mary was not a fan of his drunken shenanigans and so he begged the bartender to make him a drink which his wife would not be able to smell on his breath. Vodka+Tomato+Tabasco, one sip and Hemingway said "Bloody Mary will never be at me again!" Saw what used to be the embassy of TEXAS, for about a year, and plenty of statues dedicated to Napoleon. After the tour and exploring a bit more, we met back up for dinner and went to this tiny hipster crepe place, delicious but not quite filling so we ventured to this other place that was just hoppin' we drank some wine and waited outside for awhile before deciding we were more tired than we were hungry and went back to the hotel to enjoy the absolutely marvelous and mouthwatering macaroons that Terry made at her french cooking class earlier in the day. I am now determined to become a macaroon baking expert. Fin.
The day is off to a somewhat shaky beginning, but only in the "first world problems" sense. As in, I have no right tot complain but I am writing this at 5:30 am so I am going to anyways. I spent most of yesterday preparing. I had some papers to finsih and classes to attend, but other than thtat, i just planned my outfits. I discarded them and then I planned new outfits, looked up places to visit and wrote down addresses and useful phrases in my journal. Naptime from 9-midnight and then got up to get ready for my flight. Had to leave to catch the shuttle outside UCD at 3:30am and as I was walking alone in the dark, I see this girl BOOK IT past me, full speed ahead. I am a little weary about this, is someone chasing her? Should I be running? I forge ahead and spot a cab, doors ajar, cabbie outside, jaw open, "that girl didn't pay me!" he says indignantly. I commiserate with him for a minute and then I am on my way, so back to my complaints, my parents bought me this super awesome carry-on size travel suitcase. But Ryanair is super picky and likes to make up for their cheap flight prices by charging you any fees possible, and they made me check it. 40 euro! lame to the extreme. Oh well, I arrive in Paris, follow the heard of people to the metro and make my way towards where I hope I will find Alek and Amanda waiting for me at the hotel. I had no map and got rather lost on the way there, I asked a few people who didn't know what I was talking about and then some guy with an iPhone (bless you, Steve Jobs) who looked up the address for me and then decided he needed to walk me the four blocks to the hotel. Nice I suppose, but he kept asking me if I had "a friend boy" and "we get cafe? baby?" Frazzled, I tumbled into the hotel and luckily I see Alek waiting for me in the lobby, sweet relief! It was absolutely glorious to see a familiar face, the first in months. We collected Amanda and headed for le tour eiffel. After being bombarded on all sides by people trying to sell us eiffel tower key chains and robotic puppies and gypsies (er, not sell us gypsies, the gypsies also did the bombarding) 
After the tower we walked around the park and to a brasserie where I had a baguette with tuna, egg, and tomato. mmm simple and delicious. Back to the metro and we headed to Montmarte. In front of Sacre Cours we were literally surrounded by five guys with embroidery string coming at us "just a minute, let me see your hand! I am not a bad man" Creepy. I guess what happens is if you give them your hand they make a bracelet on it really quickly before you can get away and then you are forced to give them money. Alek saved us by looking frantically at his watch, were late! were late! for a very important date1 We weren't of course, but we got out of their faster than the white rabbit. Walked along the streets of Montmarte, stopping to take many pictures of graffiti when we came upon a square with four old men playing lively music from the 20's onward. I think we watched them for at least half an hour, my favorites were a lively rendition of Putting On The Ritz, and a ton of adorable and well dressed french children dancing to What A Wonderful World. I absolutely adore buskers, they make cities so much more personal and magical. I may be forgetting something in the meantime, but I know after this we eventually meet up with Aunt Terry and Uncle Dan at the hotel for a snack of stinky cheese, wine and baguettes. Next we took a number of metros, walked past the giant graveyard where Jim Morrison is buried and found a resturaunt. It was a quiet looking place with a sweet spiral staircase in the corner. They have the daily menu on a chalkboard which our waiter came and just sat at our table,
Which I found to be quite comical for some reason. Anyways, I had duck for the first time which was outstanding, and a bite or two of Uncle Dan's KANGAROO. The place quickly filled up and when we left the streets were positively bustling with activity as we walked back to the hotel around midnight. Ah, Paris...
