Erin McElvaney

Photo Gallery for Day 4 - Paris and Train to Nice

Videos:
   1. Fountains outside of Centre Pompidou
   2. Live music outside at Jardin de Luxembourg
   3. Panoramic of the Arc de Triomphe

     Today, we woke up @ 8:30 am. Best night's sleep yet! We were in a triple this night w/ a Japanese girl who didn't speak any English. She went to bed very early. No fun : /. However we had a nice view in the morning!

     We packed, had breakfast, and as Elana had left early already, Gen, Nate and I headed out to the Arc de Triomphe. We saw it up close and I tried to get a handle on what it was--Napoleon had it built to celebrate his taking over France/Paris. Since then, it's also become a memorial to all unknown soldiers of all French-Involved wars. We saw the 'Tomb of the unknown soldier' which is the memorial right under it.

     Then we walked a little down the Champs-Elysees towards la Obelisque which looks like the Washington Monument and is at 'la Place de la Concorde' which is where they used to do public executions: beheading Marie Antoinette, for example. We stopped for 'pain au chocolat' which was delicious. 2 chocolate bars wrapped in a croissant!

     Then we walked and browsed a bit, before getting a metro to Centre Pompidou. There, Nate & I toured the exhibits of Jean Miro, and the gallery generale while Gen wandered the streets of les Marais. The modern art was cool--the building was built 'inside out' and there were neat fountains outside it.

     Then we met up and walked and shopped. Gen haggled at 2 stores to get a good price on some souvenirs. Good job! :)

     We stopped for lunch @ a cafe. I had a crazy good 'salade.' Salades aren't like our salads. They encompass diff things. This one was 'salade' (lettuce), French ham, some kind of cheese, awesome dressing, tomatoes, walnuts, and 4 pieces of toast w/ goat cheese. Good! I decided goat cheese is too strong for me.

     After lunch (11є), we walked and browsed and wandered slowly towards les jardin Luxembourg to see if there was another jazz concert. We stopped @ Notre Dame, because Gen said there's a circle, 'point zero' or something, on the ground in front of the cathedrale, from which they measure the city. If you step on it, it's said that one day you will return. Gen stood on it back in high school. We found it, stood on it, and took pictures to 'seal the deal.'

It's sad to be leaving Paris :(.

     Then we made it to the gardens. They had like a full band and opera singer today! We sat in the grass till we got yelled at (no one allowed don grass in Paris in general--only for decoration). Then we sat and watched and listened a bit more, took one more walk around the fountain, and metro'ed back to the hostel.

     Gen left :( and we grabbed some super oily pizza down the street--starting to get sick of cheese! And bread! We packed up and got to the train station where I had another pain au chocolat :). Our train came and we boarded w/o problem.

     But! Apparently there was a mistake. Nate, me and one other guy were double booked in our beds w/ a swimming and diving team of kids. After about an hr, the 'Controlleur' moved us to diff rooms. We were having a good time w/ rummy but we were interrupted. Our new room was already asleep, packed, we had ground beds and it stunk ew! I hate B.O. :(. So Nate & I dropped our stuff off and found the car w/ a place to put bikes.

     I'm sitting in the (empty) bike area right now. Kinda sucks, sitting on the floor and all but oh well. Not fun on this train like Gen said she had fun:(. It's an adventure, though. We arrive in Nice at 8:15 am tomorrow. Good night, I suppose!

**The French just don't smile much at strangers. Makes me awkward @ eye contact and in public situations sometimes**