Wi wi Paris!

 A friend of mine from Chicago (whom conviently did his undergrad in French) came to visit me for the week of Thanksgiving and we decided to head to Paris for a couple of days - three nights to be exact.  This was to be my first time in Paris, and hopefully not last.

The Eurostar train couldn't have been easier.  Just over a two hour train ride from London, with a good part of it pitch black since you are passing through a tube in the English channel.  We started the trip out right with a small bottle of champaign while we read our Paris guide books.

Upon arrival we took the Metro to our hotel, dropped off the goods, and got to walking - which we essentially did for about 12 hours a day, every day we were there.  So much to see!

We stayed in the Le Marais district, on the east end just north of the river, so we started off the trip walking down the river to see the Notre Dame.  There are two large islands in the middle of the Seine river (which runs right through the middle of the city) and the Notre Dame is on one of them.  There are a series of bridges that cross the river, connecting the North and South sides of town, making it very picturesque.  Some really cute little shops on these islands.  I was trying to visualize it in the Spring, and it must be spectacular.

We stopped to get a little lunch (French Onion soup that was divine!) and then on to see the Louvre, take a ferris wheel ride over Champs Elysees and then a decent walk on over to see the Eiffel Tower.  We did not actually go in the Louvre, as it was getting late and that is a huge commitment.  Something saved for next time.

To say the Eiffel Tower is breathtaking is an understatement - no exaggeration.  When we came upon it I gasped at its sheer size.  I am not entirely comfortable with heights, but faced with the Eiffel Tower for your first time you have no choice but to go up.  So, you take a small elevator up a leg to the second platform.  When the door opened I couldn't believe it -  it was completely open to the outside.  I guess I was expecting it to be closed in with plexi-glass like the Sears Tower or something, and the height of it made my stomach drop out.

Whoa.  I had my back stuck to the wall as Josh pranced around taking photos - I was trying to figure out how to tell him I was too scared to move, let alone go up any higher.  And, this is not like just a little higher.  The top feels like it is at least twice as high as this platform, towering above you the size of a matchbook.  Still, I mustered the courage to get in this very small glass elevator that shot up the middle to the top.  Unforgettable moment.  Being so far up in the sky with very little holding you in is a phenomenon my body is not used to feeling.  Of course, Josh wanted a champaign at the top to celebrate, especially since they came in glowing neon glasses - this was his first time at the top as well.  I'm lucky I didn't pass out.  End day 1.

We started the next day with pastries and coffee and then off to Montmartre, a very cute artist district where famous artists like Dali, Picasso, Van Gough, and Monet lived and worked.  It is on top a hill, marking the highest point of Paris and has several steep, winding streets that yield some impressive views of the city.  It was a particularly sunny day, so pictures of the Sacre Coeur church at the summit and lounging on the square watching all the artists were sublime.

From there we made our way back to the center of town to see the Musee d'Orangerie.  This is where Monet's Water Lily painting reside, and they were impressive.  And from there on to some major shopping districts.  The lights were in full swing for the holidays, and Paris knows how to do a department store!  The windows were great, but my favorite had knitted sweaters for a group of dogs.  Dinner, wine, and end day 2.

On Thursday, Thanksgiving, we started off by passing through Jardin des Plantes and heading to a more ethnic part of town, Rue Mouffetard, which is a street market full of interesting food and a nearby shop with Moroccan goods.  There is a strong Northern African influence in Paris, and later that evening (after a visit to the top of the Pampidou Centre for another beautiful view of the city and calls back home to the family) we found ourselves in an amazing Moroccan restaurant for cous cous and tagine.  The atmosphere and food were both serene (not quite the missed Thanksgiving feast, but a nice runner up).  End day 3.

Finally, before we headed off to the train the next morning, we had discovered a biannual flea market in the neighborhood we were staying in that topped off the entire trip perfectly.  A couple of hot coffees, one last sweet from the street, and back on the metro to hit the train station.  Awesome!