Jan 23, 2010

This has been posted on my facebook, but not everyone has been able to read it. So, I'm posting it here.

This is my second full day in Paris. So far, I've done nothing. A plumber is supposed to come today, and, like in Canada, they don't give an exact time, so we have to sit here and wait for him. So, I'm taking this time to tell about my time here so far.

We got here on the 21. We were picked up by our landlady. Mme. Fremont, who is very nice. She showed us the apartment and we took turns opening the door. I dragged my 2 46 pound bags up 122 stairs. The elevator is getting fixed, so we had to carry them. We will be much more fit when we come home I think. Mme. Fremont told us a lot of things I can no longer remember because I was too tired. But, if I can stand on my tippy toes on our balcony I can see the tip of the Eiffel Tower. We unpacked a little and then slept for about 4.5 hours. Then we went for a little walk and saw our street. We found a franprix which is a grocery store. We bought something quick to eat and enough for breakfast the next day. Then we went to bed at about 10.

Yesterday we met the rest of the Redeemer students and we all went out for lunch at a place called Flunch. I feel we might be eating there often. Sarah and I are lucky because we were able to walk there. We had to cross a bridge and underneath it there was a very cool cemetery! We then went to set up our cell phones. So I now have my very own cell phone or "portable." I got a new SIM card for it and I bought some time for it as well. I also bought a plan de Paris. A little book with a map of each arrondissement as well as the RER, metro and bus. It will come in handy I am sure! After the cell phones we took the metro for the very first time! It was a little intimidating- there are so many people. We went to the Arc de Triomphe. A better view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower (we were told) We went for a walk along Champs d'Elysees. Dr. Rusthoven showed us a music store - I feel like a lot of money will be spent there! We walked all along the street...we walked a lot! We stopped to eat and we all had sandwiches. Jeremy was able to walk home from there. Sarah. Hannah, Dr. Rusthoven and I all went to take the metro together. On our way though, we stopped and saw the pyramids outside le Louvre...very cool at night. We then separated ways with Hannah who was going in the opposite direction than us. We were able to go with Dr. Rusthoven the whole way home, her hotel is close to our apartment. But, figuring out the subway system will come.

So far, today has been a lazy day. The plumber has just arrived. Sarah and I want to go to Carrefour and grocery shopping and to introduce ourselves to the people who own the boulongerie close to where we live.

A Bientot!