Paris 09/24-09/27

Thursday

We woke up bright and early at 5:30 in the morning to catch our 6:30 bus to Zaragoza. We walked through the streets of the small town, Jaca, because there was nobody out that early in the morning. We got to the bus station early and we were worried it wasn't actually going to show up. The station itself didn't open until 8am, but all was good. I've learned that in Spain the buses show up 5 minutes before departure time and one only has those 5 minutes to get on the bus. Most of us slept, Dara conversed, and asked about half a dozen different people which stop we needed to get off at.

Once at the bus station we took two cabs to the airport, and we were early for the airport! The gates didn't open for an hour, so we ate breakfast in the cafeteria, made sure our luggage could be shoved into those containers and that the weren't overweight. Everything was good.

Zaragoza is a super small airport so we got to walk onto the plane. I was super, super excited. We walked out of the doors and over the tarmac and right up onto the steps. Videos and photos being taken the entire time, of course. The plane took us to an airport outside of Paris (becuase Ryanair sucks like that) so we had to buy a bus ticket to get into Paris.

We arrived at the bus stop in Paris and debated over taking a taxi, walking, or taking the metro to the hostel. We figured the metro made more sense, and off we went. I was the navigator, put in charge of the metro and city map at all times on this trip--it was very exciting. We threw our stuff down and took off for Montmarte and Sacre-Coeur. While the girls walked through the basilica, I "attended" mass. We showed up as the priest was setting the alter for communion so I stayed and compared American, Spanish, and French masses. The French was much slower and easier to understand than when I attend mass at the Valencian Cathedral. We got dinner afterwards and decided against going to the Eiffel Tower because it started to rain, instead we headed back to the hostel to get much needed sleep.

Friday

We took the metro to Versailles and spent the majority of the day there. We walked through Versailles and then we went back to Marie Antoinette's private apartments. I had never been there before, so it was nice to have something different to do. Also, I got hot chocolate from the Angelina's they have there (where Kathy and I got our melted pudding chocolate) and I let the girls try some. That day it was decided we had to get to Angelina's before we left. After Versailles we took the metro, after an hour long wait, back into Paris. There was a train stuck on the tracks so ours could not move, it was super packed, but we made it. The plan had been to get to Notre Dame before it closed at 6. That plan was thrown out the window when the metro didn't leave until well after 4:30. Instead we went to the Louvre (the outside only) to take pictures and watch the sunset. On the way we stopped at the Lock Bridge, in which we placed our own "BFFs" lock and the keys went into the river.

After the Louvre we went to dinner and watched to Eiffel Tower light up. Jacquiline and Brittany had to use the bathroom so I took them to the public toilet. Of course there was a line...we waited 45 minutes and they ended up going in together because the process of opening the door, shutting the door, doing your thing, walking out, shutting the door, the restroom washing itself down, then letting the next person go after about 5 minutes took waaaaaaaaaaaay too long. The next stop was for crepes and because the bathroom line took so long, we got to watch the Eiffel Tower light up twice.

Saturday

Jacqueline and I were up until after 2 in the morning planning our last day so we could get everything in that we needed/wanted. The first stop was the Eiffel Tower in daylight so photos could be taken. Then, as we headed towards the Arc de Triumph we took a detour through the fresh market that lined the pathway. Dara and I split a muffin, Lia had just eaten a sandwich and Brittany and Jacqueline got bread and brie to try. Madison, Sabrina, and I did that our first time in France...it was disgusting, I was not making that poor decision twice. Once at the Arc, Dara went to the top and I basically took a nap while the others explored. After that I lead everyone towards Notre Dame and I FINALLY got to go inside. We didn't go up to the top, but maybe I'll save that for next time.

The Shakespeare and Company bookstore is right across the street from Notre Dame, so we stopped in there for Jacqueline. I ended up buying a poetry book, that was far too expensive, but I got the stamp and a book mark so it was worth it. Then onto an overly priced candy store before taking the metro to Angelina's. We made it by 7:30 and they closed at 8 so the plan to eat dinner there was put to an end, but they got their hot chocolate and Brittany got her macaroons, so it was alright. We walked around where Angelina's was to find dinner and we ended up going to this amazing place. I got wine and steak and it was one of the best dinners I've ever had in France. The conversations were great, the atmosphere was perfect and our last dinner in Paris was a success.

Before heading back to the hostel Dara wanted to check out The Moulin Rouge. So we did. That part of town at night is very...eccentric. We were all very loud and excited and we fit right in. We stopped for dessert, chocolate fondue, at a place along the strip and sat and chatted quite a while. We made it back to hostel a little before 1 am.

Sunday

Dara, Brittany, Jacqueline and myself all decided to walk to a bakery for breakfast this morning. Not that the free hostel breakfast wasn't fantastic, but...it wasn't. We all got two things because none of us could decide and it was amazing. I was ecstatic that I could understand what the people were asking/telling me. I miss that so much now that I'm back in Spain...

Anyways, we went back to the hostel to eat and back up and off we went to the airport. We took the metro to a bus that took us to the airport and because of me, no one got off at the wrong airport terminal. We got separated at the airport because some had to print off tickets, the others just had to check-in and I just had to pee. However, we all made it through security and to the gate before boarding. Once back we were back in Valencia we took another metro to a stop near us, but we walked to Tako Away for food, first. That might become a travel ritual with us. The first stop after returning to Valencia, bags and all, is Tako Away. It's like a Chipotle and Taco Bell mixed. It takes cheques. After that everyone was in for the night and we were all super excited for our own beds.