After virtually 26 hours of flying (I left California at 8 AM on Sunday and arrived in France at 10 AM on Monday) I arrived safely in Paris, France. I successfully navigated the Paris metro on my own and found the apartment my friends and I are renting. After waiting a few hours for everyone to arrive, we finally headed out to begin exploring.
Paris is called the City of Light. And it completely deserves that name. EVERYTHING is lit up at night and sparkles every 15 minutes. Which, came first--the name or the neon--I don't know. But it makes for an excellent introduction to Paris.
After walking around a bit, we first found ourselves at the Louvre. Being far past closing, all we wanted to see was the big Pyramid. And let me tell you, it's not exactly that impressive, because it's just that: a big glass pyramid. Honestly, I was more impressed by the huge palace that was turned into one of the world's greatest art collections. It's a beautiful building right on the Seine. But we're planning on seeing Versailles tomorrow and I'm sure that the palais Louvre will pale in comparison.
Across the plaza from the big glass pyramid and past the sculpture garden, is a big arch monument through which you can see a big Ferris Wheel lit up in bright white lights.
After hanging around in the sculpture garden and gazing at the Eiffel Tower far off in the distance, we headed back along the river Seine. We finally made our way onto the small island in the middle of the river, the oldest part of Paris to gaze upon Notre Dame. Let me tell you, that is one creepy church. Besides the whole hunchback-in-the-bell-tower thing, the Gothic architecture of the place is pretty creepy. The gargoyles, dead guys, and tormented souls covering the outside of the towering structure don't really help either.
The cheery Christmas tree out front did help though!
Bienvenue en France!
