An American in Pau: An American in Paris (Days One and Two)

My train to Paris arrived on time! I had a little bit of trouble because there was no room for my luggage in the main storage area, but I soon learned that there is another one close to the back of the train. I was getting worried because I was blocking the aisle trying to find it, but it worked out eventually. Once I arrived I had a little trouble finding the place where the taxis were. A woman must have seen me searching because she asked me what I was looking for and pointed me in the right direction. From there on it was easy. My hotel was actually a Best Western which I found funny. It was called Nouvel Oréleans and everything there was tiny. It had a small elevator and a tiny spiral staircase which was quite difficult to navigate with luggage, but I did it. The hotel room had two twin beds pushed up next to each other in the center of the room and a little bared perch where I could stand and look out on the street.

My roommate came soon after I did. Her name is Amelia and she is from New Hampshire. Soon enough we were meeting our group of about thirty other students who were on the Paris tour. There is a large amount of diversity in our group, so it was very interesting. We walked around the Latin Quarters of Paris and then we visited the Gardens of Luxembourg. Inside the gardens there is the original model of the Statue of Liberty. Overall the gardens had lots of flower and statues (As one might expect).

When we were walking we saw La Sorbonne which is one of the oldest universities in France.

Then we walked on the boulevard Saint Michael and saw the famous fountain.

After that we were free for the night so six of us decided to walk around Paris for a while. I saw my first view of Notre Dame! It is so impressive because there is just so much detail, you can't capture it on camera and it's hard to take in even in person.

There is a tradition on the bridge that crosses the Seine by Notre Dame. You bring a lock and write your initials and those of the one you love. Then you lock it to the bridge and throw away the key into the river. That way it can never be undone.

In the Latin Quarters there was live music being played and we walked around listening as the sun went down.

We ate at a little outdoor café and I had some quiche and french frees. When you are in big groups in France, they always put it on one bill, so it was a little difficult getting everyone the right change and such, but it was very nice. The Seine was also beautiful all lit up at night!

After wandering for a little while we ended up close to Eiffel tower so we decided to go see it at night. It was all illuminated and every hour it would have a sparkling light show!!! I always felt that the Eiffel tower was overrated and cliché. Now after seeing it I think that there is just something about it that amazes everyone. It is truly beautiful and unique. There were however many many illegal vendors below that are very persistent trying to sell statues and keychains of the Eiffel tower. It was fine at first, but they were all over Paris and it got very annoying. I took way too many pictures of the Eiffel tower in both the day and the night. I’m pretty sure all of them have been done before! haha

So that concluded my first day in Paris. It was beautiful already!!!

We started out day two by going to visit Ste Chapelle which is a beautiful chapel that has two levels. The first floor is for regular citizens and was beautifully painted with pretty arches.

The second floor was for royalty and it was truly breathtaking. It is surrounded by stained glass windows on all sides. These windows depict the stories of the bible. Unfortunately the front glass was being cleaned, but all the others were still stunning. It is by far my most favorite church I have ever seen.

Next stop was Notre Dame again, only this time I was able to go inside! It was a lot darker than I had thought it would be. There was a big loop that went all the way behind the alter with lots of little nooks with different statues and prayer candles.

Right outside Notre Dame is what is called point zero which is the spot at which every place in Paris is measured from since the church is really like the town center.

Another interesting thing is that during the revolution they cut off the heads of some of the statues of the kings on the outside of the church thinking that they were french royalty, when in reality they were kings of Judah. The heads were found buried years later after they had already made replicas. Also there are statues of saints on both sides of the doors to the church, but there is one less on one of the sides than the other in an effort to make the statement that nothing is perfect but God.

Next to Notre Dame are some Roman ruins of old crypts. It was interesting because all of the Roman ruins I have seen so far have been big and grand, but these are just small little graves so it was a little bit of a change. I thought it almost looked like the ruins of a city for little people- not burial grounds.

Next stop was Pont Neuf which means new bridge, but in reality it is the oldest bridge in Paris. It was one of the first stone bridges and also the first bridge to be built without houses on it.

After we grabbed some sandwiches and Orangina (My favorite, it's carbonated orange juice) we went to the concierge or prison where most of the French royalty (Including Marie Antoinette) were kept during the revolution while they awaited this beheading. There were bars on all the windows, the conditions were not horrible at first, but they deteriorated with time.

Let me out!!

The rooms of Marie Antoinette

We toured the Opera Garnier which was the opera house that inspired Phantom of the Opera. The chandelier fell onto the audience and that was when the rumors began. The inside of the actual theater was all covered in red and not nearly as extravagant as the entry way and the intermission room and balcony. It was over the top, but absolutely unbelievable and stunning.

The chandelier that inspired it all

The intermission room!

Next we went to the Place Vendôme which is a big statue of Napoleon dressed as Caesar. It is made out of all the melted cannon balls from his victory.

Depictions of his battles

This is also the place where the first Chanel store is located along with her apartments where she would make her designs. It also has the hotel where Princess Diana spent her last night. Next stop was to the famous Arc de Triomphe. We climbed many spiral stairs to reach the top and catch the view. Below it is the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.