Kelli Finn has just left to go home, though she won't see home for another 15 hours. She has an all-star lineup of 3 layovers in two countries before she gets to see the summer-browned hills of California. We are all wishing her luck and very deep sleep.
I will try to be a bit more detailed in this post and, you know, like actually talk about what we did over the past two weeks. Also, pictures.
Starting the trip in Paris was both the cheapest and worst idea ever. It's a HUGE city, and we found that nearly everything we wanted to do was either an hour walk, or a 5-transfer journey on the Metro. Seriously. Our hostel was close to nothing. But who can complain about being in Paris?? Despite it's frequent stench of urine, Paris does live up to the hype of beauty that it boasts. Walking down the Seine is enough to make someone feel like a wanderlust Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I also find the people quite charming. Despite their less-than-positive stereotype in the states, I've now been to France three times, and have always encountered pleasant and friendly French people. When you think about it, every country has some unfriendly people. As an example of this, I'll now launch into my first tangent story:
On the plane, about to take-off for Paris, Kelli and I noticed an interaction with an American woman and the French flight-attendant. All "flight-attendant" lines should be read with a kindly-toned French accent. All "American" lines should be read as if the woman was the loudest star on Jersey Shore.
Flight Attendant: Excuse me ma'am, if you could please turn your iPad off for take-off and landing.
American: What? For the whole flight?
Flight attendant: No, just for take-off and landing.
American: What?? Well, in AMERICA, we don't have to do that anymore.*
*Are you kidding me lady? Yes we do...
The American then proceeded to indeed never turn her iPad off, and was on Facebook through the entire takeoff until she lost service. I watched as the flight-attendant's hope in humanity died a little bit.
Back to Paris:
Whilst in the City of Love, we saw all of the things. The Eiffel Tower beckoned us to climb its 700 steps, the Louvre offered us breathtaking views of its facilities. The Palace of Versailles was enough to make anyone want to behead its King and Queen if you weren't invited there to tea, and the Sacre Couer stood majestically overlooking the city. On these three days, with everything Paris has to show, we found that our feet would likely fall off if we didn't leave soon.
So we took the train to London. Yes! The train goes under the water! (Because yes, the UK is an island!) It was just a bag of fun and then some. In London we caught up with one of "my girls" from camp years ago and enjoyed some delicious fish and chips at a local place called Masters Super Fish. Over the next few days we saw, and were awed by: the London Eye (in the morning AND at night), Buckingham Palace, an awesome tour of Tower Bridge, the Pride Parade through Picadilly Square, more fish and chips, and an overall great impression of how well organized and tourist-friendly the city was.
Our favorite part was (not) how there were train tracks directly outside our window that ran every 40 seconds from 5am to 2am.
 |
| Amy was with us for the Paris portion! |
 |
| Loved this view just as much the second time |
 |
| Loves and locks and bridges |
 |
| Not even half of the Louvre. Talk about Napoleon complex. (Ha. This is where he lived... get it..) |
 |
| London Eye take two for the day! |
 |
| Last time I was in London I didn't even see Tower Bridge. I vowed to return and see it WITH someone rather than alone. Only took two years :) |
 |
| Harrod's will make anyone a gluten glutton. |
Next up: Overnight busses and amazing accents. But after 7 hours in the airport, it's my turn to board! I'm comin' for you, Deutschland.
No comments:
Post a Comment