Weekend Trips to Paris

It's kind of crazy that I can decide I want to go to Paris then just hop on a bus. That's exactly what happened though. Our first trip outside of Belgium was a huge success. "Our" includes Hannah, John, Nathan, and I.

We took a four hour bus ride and appeared in Paris. I have been learning about Paris, about French culture, about France for years. I have watched the movies and seen the pictures. The Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, Sacre Couer. Well, it's all real.

When we arrived in Paris, it was around 11:00 pm, so we were all a little tired. Some people stood up to get off the bus when all of a sudden they turned back around and sat down. Then, some terrifying police with large guns and a huge dog got on the bus. Nothing like a 'welcome to Paris.' It was a drug dog, and what do ya know, he found some drugs. Not mine. Drug Bust in Paris.

After we were so warmly welcomed to Paris, we quickly realized Paris is nothing like Brussels. It is alive and everything is open well past midnight. People are strolling, doing their thing at every hour.

The next day we did the 'touristy' things. We went to the Notre Dame, where we not only climbed 422 stairs to the top, but we also ate some nutella crepes. The crepes were delicious, and the views from the top of the Notre Dame were incredible. The gargoyles were looking especially excellent that day as well.

We went to the Sacre Couer and the Eiffel Tower. We went to the Lock Bridge and l'Arch de Triumph. It was just really really great. We took rides on the metro and only ended up on the wrong one once, which we were quickly told was just a non-functioning metro. We saw some performers on the metro-they were so incredibly bizarre. I didn't know where to look because there was no way I was paying them to rip off their velcro pants and climb around on the poles and dance with their bus tickets. The only problem was that I could not contain my laughter.

The next day we went to Versailles and saw the beautiful gardens and the palace. The sun was shining, and the grass was so luscious and green that we had to lay down and relax for a long time.

We needed to lay down for a picnic under the Eiffel Tower for 4 incredibly beautiful hours that night as well. There may have been baguettes and cheese and swing dancing involved as well.

We finished our trip with the Louvre and D'Orsay-both of which were incredible. Then we hopped back on our bus and arrived back to the sleeping town of Brussels where people only come in for the work week.

-Au Revoir-

Also, have no fear, there are pictures to come. I just don't believe my Parliamentary Colleagues would want me downloading pictures of Paris on their computers.