Today was one of the most tiring fun days I have ever had. It might be because I had two hours of sleep, or that I have no appetite and haven’t eaten, but towards the end, I actually had to think about putting one foot in front of the other to keep moving. It’s been said that it is impossible to see Paris in one day, but I think we got pretty close.

But first, Adam made it! He rode a sleeper train from Spain to Paris, and took the stop right where the Lyle’s apartment is at in St. Paul. At first the metro system was really confusing but not I think it is the easiest way to get around. I feel so proud of myself when I know when transfer stations and all that jazz are located and which metros go where!

So we said our goodbyes and goodlucks to the Lyles, grabbed a baguette and hit the cobblestone streets. First on the list: Notre Dame. As I was walking around, a youth choir started singing in the middle of the chapel, and the hymns echoed across the walls, it was so beautiful. The stained glass was so detailed and colorful, I wish my pictures could really capture their intricate designs. Walking around there were candles burning and I kept picturing a priest walking around with the incense burning, just like on the movie “hunchback of notre dame.”



Off to the arc de Triomphe! In the center of a HUGE roundabout, this structure stood representing the tomb of the unknown soldier, like that of the tomb in Washington DC. I read about all the different events that had happened there, including the WW1 march, French winning the world cup and other celebrations. We decided to pay a ticket to take the elevator to the top, to save our legs for the Eiffel Tower. Turns out there isn’t an elevator…I don’t even know where we got the idea that there was…so we took the millions (aka 282) of itty bitty stairs to the very top. I the view wasbreathtaking!



On the way to the Tower I ate the best pizza ive ever had. Mmmmmm

It’s crazy to now say that I have been to the top of the Eiffle Tower, every last stair. (1650 steps..no i didnt count but looked it up) And by the top I mean the highest you can go by taking stairs. Slowly but surely we made it, the whole experience was kind of surreal. I have seen that icon in so many movies and heard about it so many times, it was hard to believe I was really there.

You would think this would be a full days agenda, but you are very wrong.

Next, Statue of Liberty! The twin sister! It was in a really random part of town and we got lost a couple times. It was overlooking a quaint little channel and wasn’t as big as I thought it would be. On the way to the metro, we got lost again for another half hour and by this point it was getting late, I was starving and my legs were numb. Oh and my shoulders were bruised from my backpack. Bruised!





So we finally get to a metro in a hidden little area and make several exchanges but finally make it to the sacred heart church, or the basilique de Sacre Coeur. My French is actually coming along quite nicely even after two days! Just kidding, I can’t say much and to guess I just tweak Spanish a little bit. Its pretty funny.

Wow so this is a pretty long post! I will wrap it up since I am pretty much falling asleep after every sentence. Oh but one last thing, we made it to the hostel and it is super ghetto. But awesome! The receptionist, Karim, is the coolest guy every and the rooms are tiny but after today, it will probably be the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in ☺


PS. I think we walked over 4 miles around the city and close to 2500 stairs counting train stations. I treated myself to some delicious chocolate gelatos to make up for my hard work!!