Paris

Everything you've heard about Paris is true....from the beautiful streets to the art and even to the constant smell of pee in some places.  This is such a great city!  I would move here in a heartbeat if it were possible!

Two days ago I landed at Orly and then took a shuttle train, a commuter train, and finally a subway to my hostel, the St. Christopher's Inn.  Unlike the other places I've stayed in that are hostels in reclaimed spaces, this place was built to be a hostel, so it's got lots of nice conveniences.  Sliding curtains on the beds, private reading lights and outlets, lots of showers, etc.  All in all, a pretty good place for the price.  So I dropped my stuff off, got some Lebanese food, and called it an early night.

Yesterday I was up early and ready to beging fitting as much culture and adventure into four days as possible.   However, first things first.  I had to see the Eiffel Tower.  I hopped on the subway, and when I later climbed up out of the station, there it was!  Massive lines were already queuing up, even so early in the morning, so I just looked at it and took picture of it, and then walked along the Seine to my next destination.  I'd been saving all of my museum-going for this city, and my first stop was the Musee de l'Orsay.  No line!  What a lovely building it's in.  Very old on the outside, with lots of modern design on the inside.  The Orsay has lots of paintings and sculptures that go into the 19th century.  After a few hours there,  headed out and promptly found a "take away" counter at a restaurant where I could get a crepe to eat and walk with.  

The museum had taken less time than I expected, so I hopped on the metro again and went to the neighborhood of Montmartre.  This is where the movie "Amelie" was filmed.  It is such a cute neighborhood.  It's where I'd want to live.  Lots of cute cafes and boutiques and such a fun atmosphere.  I found the giant lawn and hill front he movie where she slips the album into his satchel while he watches from way up high. Its actually part of a church and people tend to just hang out there sunbathing or whatever,  it also has spectacular views of all of Paris.  

After that, I headed back to the hostel to rest a bit before the ballet.  Months ago I had bought a ticket online to see "La Fille Mar Gardée" at the Opera National de Paris and in the Palais Garnier.  This ballet is considered to be the most important French ballet created, and in fact was first performed EVER at the very same place I was about to see.  The venue, the Palais Garnier, was just gorgeous.   Construction on it was started in the 1860s, and it's the setting of "Phantom of the Opera".  I'd booked the cheapest cheap seats that I could, and expected to be way up high in the nosebleed section. Imagine my surprise when I showed my ticket to the usher and she walked me over to a box, which she unlocked and then showed me into. Unless you've purchased an orchestra level seat, you get a box seat!  My box was on the third level and had a sofa, mirror, and coat rack in the entry way, and then six individual chairs up by the railing.  I had a nice seat, and the ballet was just gorgeous.  If you are ever in Paris, and even if you don't like the ballet!, go and see it.  The whole experience was such a memorable one, and it's definitely my favorite thing that I've done so far.  

This morning, I woke up early and headed out for the Louvre.  Another trip on the metro during rush hour. Again, no real queue to speak of, so I was in and out of there in about four hours.  Again a really gorgeous HUGE museum.  Afterwards I headed back to Montmartre to a restaurant I'd heard about called Les Pâtés Vivantes and this place served.........Chinese food!   They're well known for 1) being amazing, 2) making their own hand pulled noodles, and 3) being a good deal.  The food was great and then I went across the street to a creperie and had a sweet crepe and an espresso for dessert.  I'm back at. The hostel now to rest for a bit because I'm doing a nighttime bike ride this evening.

the Mona Lisa and her many, many fans

Before I came to Paris I'd been warned about how expensive it is.  IT IS expensive, but it's also possible to be really cheap here!  Really good fancy cheese can cost as little €1 at the market, so a lot of my meals so far have been bread, cheese, and fruit.  Not a bad way to survive.