What Does a Girl Do for Her Last Two Days in Paris?

Now...the expression, "Time Flies When You're Having Fun" could not have been any truer to reality!! I can't believe how fast this semester has flown. It's so crazy that tomorrow I leave to go back to West Some Monks.*

So...here's the top 12 list of the last things I've done here in Paris before leaving her...(with #1 being the very very last thing I did)

12.) Went to dinner at La Coupole. Enjoyed a very traditional French dinner...I ate escargot and a pig's calf! (Calf, as in the back part of his leg). Oh my! We had a nice demi-bouteille of Saint Nicolas Red Wine from the Loire Valley...and finished the meal with Baha-Rhum (a really good cake). Our meal was going to be about 50 euros a person...but the waitor really liked me and Erin and gave us a discount!!! What?! A discount in a fancy Parisian restaurant?! That never happens!! So...we each paid 35 euros! Pretty sweet.

11.) Went ice skating on the Eiffel Tower for 3 euros. Francesco and I ventured up there and put on our skates and somehow managed to skate around! Francesco only fell 3 times...I think it was 3 times. : ) But, regardless, the view was incredible!

10.) Helped Francesco shop for Christmas presents at Galleries Lafayette (picture below is of the ceiling!) and Printemps.

9.) Went to my African dance class. One last time with the crazy French dancin African style!

8.) Went to the Louvre. Oh how I love this museum. I strolled through Napoleon's apartments and saw some of my favorite paintings.

7.) Walked around Paris. I ended up having a funny conversation with this old lady by the Glaciere-Normand bus stop. It was so sweet. She kept telling me how "jolie" my accent was! Haha! I think her accent is jolie (pretty)! I then traversed all over my favorite rues, avenues, and boulevards in Paris. I cried a little bit when crossing the Seine for the last time.

6.) Lunch with Fernanda, Valentino, and Pajaro. Fernanda made fish and mashed potatoes. Haha. It was so nice. We had some red wine and Dulce du Leche Glace. Yummm....my favorite Uraguayan dessert!

5.) Packed up my stuff at the Canzanis...yep...reality. I definitely have more things to pack than I brought with me. Including lots of Christmas presents!

4.) Saw one of the best operas ever! L'Amour des Trois Oranges (The Love of Three Oranges). It was incredible. Whimsical, colorful, funny, clever, surprising! Everything that I love! The plot was so great and I just laughed and smiled the entire time. And, the singing...wow... the singing was absolutely unbelievable.

3.) Rode around Paris with Pajaro on his Vespa scooter!!! Ahhh! It was awesome! I was either smiling or grimacing with fear! : ) Man, when we got to the Bastille round-about I was really scared! We weaved in and out of all the cars. It was crazy!

2.) Went out with some friends to a Hookah (ChiCha) bar and smoked a nice orange chicah. It was really sad to say goodbye to all of them. There are definitely some people I met here who I will never forget.

1.) Played soccer with Valentino and his friends on Rue Pascal! Haha! After the taxi dropped me off, I saw them out playing and thought I would join them for a while! Now, this is at 3:00am, mind you! I will say that is actually a really nice, unexpected, last memory of Paris.

Paris. I'm going to miss you.

*"Des Moines" literally translated in French means "some monks"

Last Trip...

Erin and I went off for our last mini-trip around Europe the other day. We ventured out for about 3 days to Belgium and Holland...by, train, of course! We just adore the train. That is one thing I am going to really miss...

Antwerp, Belgium

Anyways...We first spent some lovely time in Antwerp, Belgium. What a formidable city! We saw Rubenshuis and some of Ruben's artwork, and we went to an awesome Diamond Museum. Wow...I had no idea how great diamonds were!

But, the most interesting part of our vacances in Antwerp...was the housing situation.

EIKS!!

So...I booked a hostel online for us and printed out directions and everything. Well...sketchness began. I never got a confirmation email...and when I called them there was definitely no answer. Oh well...I thought naively...
So...Erin and I decided we would just go to the hostel when we got to Antwerp and check in...no big deal...WRONG!!!
Well...we found the hostel...but it is no longer in business!! It was a total broken down, abandoned building.

Bummer...

So...here we are in Belgium, at night, with no place to sleep!!! So...we went back to the train station and decided to search for a hotel around there. Well...the cheapest hotel we found was about 40 euros per person. Ahhh! I do not have these funds!!! And...the hotel, in Belgium, in Europe, in the cold weather...was called...Hotel Florida....Haha. Well...that's kinda funny.

So...Erin and I stayed in a hotel in Antwerp, Belgium.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam was a gorgeous city. We took the train from Antwerp to Amsterdam and spent a few days there. The city is basically just a city full of canals! I had no idea. When people talk about Amsterdam, all they talk about is smoking weed and the Red Light District! I was so pleasantly surprised at how much I loved the city!

We went to the Van Gogh Museum, which is the largest collection of his works in the world with over 200 paintings! I loved this museum so much. I just find myself lost in Vincent's paintings! I feel like how he paints is how my mind functions. But, the museum was even more than Van Gogh Masterpieces! There were tons of paintings by some of Van Gogh's friends, artists Van Gogh admired, and artists of his time: Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet, Picasso, Gauguin, Seurat and many more! What a brilliant company to be in the prescence of!

Then, we went to the Rijks Museum and saw Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Frans Hals, Vermeer, and lots of other great Dutch artists.

And, we finally saw Anne Frank's house where Anne and 7 other Jews hid for 2 years during Nazi occupation of Holland. It was incredible to think of all of the fear that was felt in that house.

All in all, I would say our last trip was a definite success! We had such a jolly time and enjoyed some lovely cities!

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.

I can't even begin to express how much I love Jesus Christ. He has done so many things for me and I am just in awe with His Beauty every day.

I see God in everything here in Paris.

God is in the Streets.
Sometimes when I'm on the street walking I just think...how many people around me have something hard going on in their lives...how many people are starving for the undying peace that God gives? Sometimes when I'm walking, I just pick one person and pray for them. I pray that they will somehow see God. However they see Him...I just pray that they find God's grace in their day.

God is in the Gardens.
The gardens in Paris are such serene havens. With all of the chaos and traffic of the city...you can always find peace in a garden. The Paris gardens are unlike any gardens I've seen in Europe. They are so calming and warm. Luxembourg Gardens (my second home) are always just a little bit warmer than the busy street. On a cool fall day, you can find some warmth and comfort in the wonderful gardens.

God is in the Churches.
When I first saw the incredible churches of Saint-Eustache, Saint Chapell, Notre Dame or La Madeleine...I quickly judge and think of all the money that was put into that building and how that money could have gone to so many other places.
Francesco took me to mass at Notre Dame on Sunday night...it was so beautiful...I think this trip has definitely given me a new respect for the Catholics.

Worship.
Isn't worship just our humanly expression of our love for God? We worship by singing to Him, we worship by dancing for Him, we worship by conversing with others...and we can worship by building Him the most awesome constructions humans can dream up. These churches were built for God. The churches were built to praise His name. After I realized this...I quickly came to understand how much of the Lord is built into Paris.

God is in McDonalds.
Now, this may sound silly...but, it's true! MacDo has free wireless...so I often traverser over there to use the internet. Well...if you're at the Micky-D's by Gobelins in Paris around midnight...you will here worship music! Yep! That's right! Hard core Stacy Orico, Jars of Clay, Micheal W. Smith, Jeremy Camp worship music! It's such a treat to here it! Even at McDonalds, ther are Christians trying to get The Word out!

God is in the Post Office on Rue Corvisart.
So, you know when you're just having a rough time and one kind person makes all the difference. Well...today at the post office right by my house, a very kind women patiently helped me for about 45 minutes send out to packages to the US. She was so kind and spoke French to me the entire time! (Which I appreciate soooo much!) At the end of our long episode of mess-up after mess-up...she said to me "Attendez un moment." (Wait a minute) She then came back to me and gave me a cute little candle and red candle holder! Now, I did not see that one coming! God, you sure know how to make someone smile!!! Thanks!

God is in the Metro.
I always find kindness on the Metro...if there's a lady with a stroller or a large suitcase coming down the stairs...there's always a friendly hand helping her. Just the other day, on the very crowded lunch traffic Line 6...there was a man in one of the prime seats...Now, when I say "prime seats" I really mean "the prime seats on the Metro." These are the best seats in the train that people usually fight for! Well...there was a lady with two small children and a huge backpack. He quickly called her over and gave her his chair. Then the lady across from him got up so she could have more room to sit. They both gave the lady a kind smile and stood amoung the crazy crowd. Now, that is giving yourself for someone else! I know that God was watching over that lady and her family that day.

The more I think about it, the more I realize how incredibly lucky I am to be a Christian. Life just sets upon a new spin when you see it through the eyes of Jesus. God protects me, loves me, blesses me, and challenges me. I just think about even the basic example of my family. My mom and dad are some of the most incredible people I have ever met in my life. And, they're only the way they are because they are Christians. My parents give me so many things...which I know is just another way of God to show me He loves me.

Wow...Life is So Beautiful.

Wieners & Praguecians!

Last weekend from Friday to Tuesday, my dear friends, Francesco DiGiuseppe and Ashley Adishian, and I went to Vienna, Austria and Prague, Czech Republic. I adore Francesco and Ashley so much...we all understand each other's sense of humor and I just think the world of both of them.

Franceso has the most accepting heart...he is so open and kind to everyone! He has the best laugh and is always so quick to make someone else feel good about themselves. Francesco always talk so highly of others and can just make you feel so jolly!

Ashley is maybe one of the most giving people I have ever met. She always offers her things to others...I am so humbled and embarassed by her giving heart that seems to always be helping me! And, boy can that girl dance! Ashley and I both share a love for dance! And, sorry Francesco, for boring you with our dance talk!

Anyways...Vienna and Prague!

Vienna

VIciously gorgeous church! Saint Peter's in Vienna was probably my second favorite church in the world! (After Saint Peter's in Rome). The church was a pretty small, domed church, but it was so amazing. The paintings and the detailed work was just to die for. The dome was so incredible...the colors and mood were all golds, whites, and peaches...pretty much the same feeling of the city of Vienna! (Picture of a typical building in Vienna at top.) The city was soooo beautiful...the buildings were just such pure colors! Everything felt like it was a song! The buildings appeared to be singing a lovely classical melody...

ENjoying Christmas in Vienna! We all tried traditional Austrian treats: sweet, salty, and things to drink! It was so lovely enjoying Christmas time! I am just such a fan of the whole Christmas atmosphere! It just brings such warmth to everyone!

NAt as nice hostel...eiks... So, we stayed in probably the sketchiest hostel in Europe for one night in Vienna! It was terrible! First off...the hostel was actually the back storage room of a bar! We slept in one big room in the very back of a smokey, dirty bar...and the one lady who worked there was 1/2 Korean and 1/2 Russian...no joke! I asked her! She was way shady!! She wore a bustier with her chest hanging out!! Eiks! And, we slept on beds with yucky fake silk sheets...Oh my goodness...it was definitely an experience! Luckily, we were only staying there one night!!

Prague

PRetty beautiful buldings, churches, bridges, and castles! The entire city of Prague was like a fairy tale! It was just so old world feeling...and we all really enjoyed it! I was so impressed with the details on all of the buildings! I kinda felt like I was in Russia for a while!!

AGreeably the best walking tour we've every been on! Franceso, Ashley, and I took the best walking tour ever! It was a Ghost Tour and was late at night!! Well, our tour guide spoke very poor English and said "ja" a lot...in a kind of scary, pirate voice! Haha! She used all "v's" for "w's" which definitely added to the scariness!!! The tour even had people jumping out and scaring us!!! It was soo awesome!!! We were definitely incredibly scared!

UE (Union European...French for the European Union) Czech Republic is not fully a part of the EU yet...so this means two very important practical things for us tourists: 1.) I get a stamp in my passport!!! Yeah!!! 2.) They don't use the euro...they use the krown for a curreny and the US dollar can buy 25 krowns!!! Yeah!! Finally, I feel like the dollar is worth something! I bought lots of lovely presents and enjoyed some nice meals here in Prague! And...our hostel was something like 10 euros a night...which was lovely!



Vienna calls themselves Wien...which makes someone from Wien a Wiener! Haha! And, Prague was very confusing to figure out what to call them...so I say that they are Praguecians! Haha!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas ...dwiddley-dwee!

Christmas in Paris!

What a wonderful time of year to be in this city!! It seems that everywhere I look there is just another Christmas surprise waiting for me!

They say that a picture is worth 1,000 words...so I'll spare you my babble and let you enjoy these glimpses into Paris at Christmas time!

(Above: Haussman Boulevard and Printemps...a very posh department store.)

(Above: Rue de Rivoli and the Hotel de Ville at night.
Below: Rue de Rivoli during the day.)

(Below: Chocolaterie and Patisserie by La Madeleine decorated for Christmas shopping!)

(Below: Candles lit for the Mother Mary at Notre Dame)

Merry Christmas!
Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Traversing the Catacombes of Paris!

So, today Mouhammed* and I went to the Catacombes of Paris! Eiks! It was incredible!!

About 100 years ago there was a terrible disease sweeping Paris cemetaries...so the president moved all of the bones out of the cemetaries and into the Catacombes...which are pretty much under about half the city!

Well..for a student discount of 2.50 euros...you can explore the labyrinth of the Catacombes!

They were huge!!!! Tunnels and rows and more tunnels and more rows of bones!!! It was so weird!

And, surprisingly, it was really clean!

Well...I just wanted to give a quick update before I leave in about 20 minutes for Vienna and Prague!!

Gros Bisous!

*Mouhammed is this funny guy from my International Economics class that I've kinda sorta been seeing here in Paris this semester! : )

Metro Mayhem!

So, I love the Metro in Paris sooo much! I take it all the time and there have just been so many hilariously awkward things that have gone down in the Metro!

Well...a monthly Metro pass is 51.50 euros...which is about $70! Ouch! You can use the pas (called a Carte Navigo) on the buses, RERs, and the Metro...well...I decided the month of December I was not going to purchase a new Carte Navigo. I would just buy single tickets as needed! (One ticket is 1.40 euros)

Well...I have found myself illegally on the Metro and the buses a few too many times these past 7 days of December! Whoopsie Daisies! All you do is just say to the person in front of you (entering through the Metro pass thingies) "Est-ce que je peux passer avec vous?" Which is...Can I pass with you??? And, the person says yes and you just pass together! It's kinda nice!

Or...you just pass with your friend! (See picture below of me and my sweet Italian friend, Francesco...this is on Metro line 5 after I passed with him!)

Well...this is all fine and dandy...unless you get caught by the SNCF*! Eiks! And, that's a hefty fine on the spot of 70 euros...which is about $85! So...as of right now...I've decided that I need to stop sneaking on the Metro and just pay the 1.40 euros. : ) Ok fine...maybe I'll stop tomorrow...

But...I do love the Metro...There are just so many funny times on it!

There's one station: Montparnasse-Bienvenue...where there is this crazy fast walking path thingie (I really don't know what you call them). They're in airports and stuff where you just stand instead of walking and you go fast...

Well...at Montparnasse, there's a really really fast walkway thing! (You really don't go that fast...the SNCF just hypes it up as a really fast, awesome thing!) There are these crazy roller things that "get your speed up" and "slow you down" at the beginning and ending of the ramp. And, they're crazy! I (as well as other French folk) fall all the time on it! It's soooo crazy! You have to stand really still and the little metal things kinda roll your feet around. It's soooo weird! (See the picture above of me! I'm on the rolly-thinger)

There seem to always be people on the Metro who "entertain" those on the same car...in attempts to make some extra moolah. Well...I've decided that I think I should do something to make a little cash on the Metro. I was thinking Christmas Caroling...hmmm...I don't really know though. Let me know if you have any ideas!

The funniest people seem to find themselves on the Paris Metro. It's such a sweet melange of folk!

Fun Highlights Lately:

1.) "Do you speak English?" ridiculous advertisement! They're advertising this Wall Street School to learn good English! Haha! It's just so funny and stupid! But...supposedly it's 97% guaranteed! Haha!

2.) This guy the other night was talking to me about his high-top shoes. Haha. It was such a weird conversation!

3.) These two guys were laughing at me and my friend because we were just being stupid...I was like "Oh well...we'll never see them again!" And then...we were on the same car on the same Metro later on in the evening! Haha! What are the odds?!

4.) I felt this guy petting my hair...I was like "what the heck is going on..." It was really unnecessary. And, pretty hilarious! When I turned around to see if there really was some guy petting my hair, he asked me for my phone number...I definitely exited the Metro as soon as possible!


*Basically the Metro Police. And they were really ugly forest green uniforms! Eiks!

Practically Picasso

The first Sunday of each month ALL museums in Paris are free! So... me, being extremely low on funds right now, decided today was the day to see all of the museums left on my "list" of things yet to see in Paris!

I was going to see:
1.) Picasso Museum
2.) Carnavelet Museum
3.) Invalides
4.) Grand Palais
5.) Museum of Orsay

I had my day all planned out! I was going to leave around 9:00 this morning and jut all around the city to see all of these wonderful museums for free!!

Well...life happened... Yesterday, was my 4 hour final written exam for my French class at the Sorbonne...and after the test me and a bunch of friends went out dancing...and, well...I didn't get home until 6:45 this morning! Oops! So...that kinda messed up my plans!

Well...I woke up around 1:00!! Ahh! And, I decided to pick 2 museums to dedicate my afternoon to! So...Musee Picasso and the Musee Carnavelet made the cut!

Well...It was a great choice!

The Picasso Museum was incredible! I had no idea all of the different styles of Picasso! The museum showed a very diverse, versatile artist...and I thoroughly enjoyed viewing all of the beautiful pieces of art!

It was so great, because the museum would show a sketch by Picasso (like the one above of "Fernande's head"... and then they would have the final cubist (often) painting in the same room. It was so amazing to see the progression of Picasso's ideas!

So many times I just see the final painting and forget all of the hours and days and often years that went into planning that one painting. Picasso sketched and thought about each painting before he even began!

But, the best part of the sketches was all of the smudges and erase marks. Picasso was making mistakes and fixing them! He created something, saw a flaw, erased it, and created something new.

What a sweet life lesson! If only we could just look at ourselves through "third spectactor glasses" and see our flaws, erase them, and create something new! Haha! If only it were that easy!

I found myself enjoying his sketches, like the one above, better than the actual paintings!

I just love the behind the scenes stuff and seeing the actual person behind the paintings!

Picasso was such a beautiful man and his paintings and ideas are just so incredible.

Oh yeah...the Musee Carnavelet was pretty awesome too! (It's a museum of the history of Paris!) Actually, the Musee Carnavlet is my favorite museum in Paris, so far!