Being a Busy Bee

Today was another really busy day! We constantly go go go and it's pretty tiring, even though I'm enjoying seeing the city. We woke up early today and met at 9:30. In the morning we got to explore the 11th arrondissement, which is the neighborhood in which I live. It was great to learn more about the history of the 11th, since all I'd really known up until now was where to find some stores (there's a Gap!) and the best crepes around! Gilbert told us that the 11th is the most densely populated urban area in all of Europe! Wow! It's very industrial compared to the other arrondissements, both now and in the past. We walked a lot and saw the major roads. But the smaller passages between the main avenues and boulevards are just as nice, and are not to be missed. I will try to explore my home turf a little more.

We lunched in a cute park and had greek (turkish?) kebobs....MMMM! I shared with Michelle since it was too big. I had chicken and veggies with that yummy white yogurt sauce. And french fries! I was really craving fries, and I had a lot with lunch. It was nice to eat something different than a sandwich, or what you would find at a typical French cafe. I want to also try Moroccan food, and some other different types. I know I'm still going to want the occasional hamburger and pizza :)

We had a guided walking tour of the 18th, which is in the northern part of Paris. We were all the way on the outskirts, so that at one point we wandered a little out of Paris into a city named Saint Ouen. Our guide explained how this area is more run down and not as luxurious as the parts of Paris that we're used to. It still had a very homey, lived-in feel to it. The people were so friendly too! A group of older men were playing a ball game like bacci ball and invited us to join them! Kat and Max went, and fared pretty well. Apparently the sport is pretty serious here. I liked the tour but it was almost 3 hours long and everyone was sooo tired. After lunch, all we want to do is take a nap. We were on our feet nonstop for about 7 hours, and that takes a lot out of you. As soon as it was over, Em and I came back to the foyer and did laundry for the first time here (it was great except the "drier" didn't REALLY dry our clothes all that much) and went for our run. We ran at night, around the outside of the Luxembourg Garden since it was already closed. I prefer running at 10 at night now because the air is cool and fresh and there are fewer people around.

Let me tell you, as nice and clean as the metro here is, it scares me a lot. It feels like we're on a Disneyworld ride, like ET. Or a video game. It goes really fast and there are a lot of turns, jolts, and sounds, and I see my life flash before my eves every time I'm on it. But it's necessary to get around soo...

That's all for tonight. Bonne nuit!