Favorite Spot in Paris: Found

(This is really August 24^th)

Today Emily and I ran in Le Jardin des Tuileries. We took the metro (for the first time!) there and back. It took a little getting used to, and we took the wrong direction the first time, but it really is pretty simple. And it’s a lot cleaner and nicer than most subways I’ve seen in the U.S. The garden was absolutely breathtaking, and right now It’s my favorite place in the city. Pictures don’t do it justice. The run was a little easier today, so I really hope it keeps getting better. We strolled the streets and bought sandwiches for lunch before heading back to the foyer by metro. I’d heard that it rains a lot in Paris, and today was our first dose. It was more like on-and –off thunderstorms with some pretty spectacular, electric purple lightning.

We met up with Michelle in the afternoon and took a walk to La Cimitiere Pere Lachaise. It’s a really famous cemetery in Paris, and huge! Jim Morrison is buried there. We didn’t see his grave, but we saw that of Eugene Delacroix and Oscar Wilde. Oscar Wilde’s was covered with lipstick-stained kiss imprints and people had written on it. I kind of think it was a little tacky and wished that the grave had been left alone. I want to go back and see Chopin and even Edith Piaf. It’s not haunting and creepy like a cemetery might be, but really beautiful and magnificent. It’s really close to the foyer, which is convenient. We bought some more things and got caught in a bad downpour on the walk back. We had a little picnic in Emily’s room with baguettes, salami, cucumbers, and an unidentified cheese spread with herbs and garlic. It was delicious! The stereotype of French people walking around with baguettes under their arms is absolutely true. At any time of day, you will pass someone on the street with a huge loaf of bread.

Emily and I FINALLY have internet in the foyer! It took a long time to finally talk to the right people to get the passwords and login, but now we can use free wireless in the foyer’s common room. Getting access in my own room is another story. I don’t have the energy to explain it all, but it’s expensive and right now, it doesn’t work. Hopefully I can get it up and running soon. We haven’t had cell phones either, but I really am ok with that. It’s been nice to not have to worry about phones, and it allows us to be a little more removed and to take full advantage of our surroundings. Even though I slept really well last night, I’m exhausted and will probably go to bed soon. A demain!