France: Part 1 of 3

Hello, all! I just returned from a long weekend in France. The weekend was filled with lots of sightseeing and crossing items off my bucketlist. Because I took so many pictures and there are so many stories to tell, I have decided to break up my Paris adventures day by day to save you from one obnoxious post.

Day 1: We arrived in Paris very early in the morning (I had to leave my apartment in Budapest at 3:45 am; that was cute). It took us a while to find our hostel which was located in Aubervillers, just outside of France. Not going to lie, the location was a bit sketchy but the hostel was clean and cheap, and we did not have any problems. From there we went to explore the city, and saw the Eiffel tower for the first time. It was more beautiful that pictures can portray. After walking around for a bit we headed back toward the hostel to get ready for....wait for it....BEYONCE AND JAY Z. Yes, everyone. I was fortunate enough not only to go to Paris but also see Beyonce and Jay Z. I would post the videos from the concert, but they are mainly of me screaming and are quite embarrassing. I even got to go with an old friend from high school who is studying in Paris (it was so good to catch up with you, Madeline!).

Day 2: The next day was a busy one, in which we took in a tour at Notre Dame. The tour was free (score!) and we were able to find out some cool facts about it and Paris in general. We spent the better part of the day taking in Notre Dame. After that we got some dinner, and yes French cuisine is delicious. And no, I did not try escargot. After that we ventured to the Eiffel tower at nighttime and watched the light show. The whole day was surreal and I couldn't believe I had finally made it to Paris.

A statue of Charlemagne (yes, Gorman. I still remember writing an essay on him Freshman year at Bapst).

I lit a candle in your memory, Don Winslow. I'm not going to lie, I was a little emotional lighting the candle in your honor but I could not think of a more beautiful place for a symbol of your legacy to reside. Miss you and love you forever.

Fun fact: This is the Department of Justice, the building where Marie Antoinette spent the final 9 months of her life before being executed.

Fun fact 2: These two people portrayed on door knobs in a building near Notre Dame were lovers. When Notre Dame was first constructed, women were not allowed to study theology (or much of anything). This young girl's uncle, who was a bishop, recognized how smart she was and secretly hired a monk to teach her. Well of course, the young girl and the monk fell in love and the girl became pregnant. When the uncle found out, he had the girl sent away and the monk castrated (ouch). The child was eventually raised by his father within the church. The two lovers continued to write love letters for some time but ultimately never got together. Happy little story, isn't it?

And finally, the most delicious dessert I've ever had: creme brûlée!

Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 of Paris!