Ooo la la

Oo-la-la! The French actually say this a lot. But according to Eva, it’s more like an “oops!” or “uh-oh!” than an expression of amazement. Looks like I’ve been using it wrong my entire trip, since I’ve been saying oo-la-la to everything.

Went solo again on the Paris subway. The train cars are so old that they have no AC, so that the only wind comes from the open windows. The doors are half automatic; to open, you have to pull this handle or push a button. Yet there’s a familiarity in this subway, that reminds me of those in Boston or Shanghai so that I can’t help but feel right at home.

I bought a red beret for 8 euros, only to find one for 4 later. Lesson learned: do not buy from shops right in view of major tourist point! Once out of sight of major tourist attraction, things are much cheaper.

First destination, Notre Dame:

(I’m getting reaaally good at rolling those French r’s. Notrrreh Dam. Merrrci.)

 

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Paris at Night

NUTELLA.

It’s amazing how many things can happen in such a few hours. Elise and Eva took me on a Parisian night adventure. And I have to say…why is Paris so pretty? And so exciting?

The line 6 subway travels aboveground, crossing the river towards the Eiffel Tower. An accordion player snuck on board a few stops behind us, playing what in my mind was perfect Parisian music.

Dinner was ham and cheese crepe. Dessert was nutella and dark chocolate crepe. I learned how to pronounce crepe with their funny little r sounds in French.

 

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Thoughts on Growing Up

Today was my last day with this Chinese tour group my dad found for me. We have traveled through five countries, ordered from menus in three languages, and walked through way too many cities under limited times. Right now I’m back in Paris, catching up on all the emails waiting for me.

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Tourgroup Days 01 – France, Switzerland

The first day of the trip was spent driving through France to get to our hotel in Switerzland. The day was mostly gray and dreary and rainy, but luckily (unluckily?) we spent most of the day on the bus, sheltered from the weather.

I honestly can't tell you what I was taking a picture of here. Scenery? Highway? Ugly gray sky?

Tour group pro tip #1: Do not sit on the driver’s side of the bus. See the result of my folly. Half my picture is just ROAD!

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PARLAY VOO BAGUETTE BONJOUR

Airport

Day 0:

While boarding a flight to Dublin on AerLingus, I finally felt the trip had started when the flight attendant spoke to me with her thick Irish accent. For some reason, this made me more excited about the trip than I had cared before.

On the plane, I sat next to a guy from Germany who came to the U.S. to paint murals with spraypaint in random cities with this random LA artist. We talked a bunch comparing European and American friendliness to strangers. He warned me of those “proud French people” and how they’ll make me talk in French, even if I don’t know it.

Everything in Ireland was tinted green. The land was green. The sky looked green. Even the transparent plastic cups used by AerLingus was tinted green.

Day 1:

PARIS AIRPORT WAS INSANE. IT WAS LIKE A AMUSEMENT PARK MOUSE CAGE.

THIS IS AN AIRPORT.

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