Paris!

 

Hi everybody!  This update took a little longer than I expected, I've been really busy this week trying to get things done before Spencer comes to visit on Saturday.  Also, I officially have one month left until I leave Scotland.  It's crazy how quickly the time has gone by, and scary to think of how many things I want and need to do before I go home.  I'm in the process of making a Glasgow bucket list to make sure I do everything I want to before the holiday.  On top of that I have to study for finals and write two papers so wish me luck!  Anyway, enough talk of exams and leaving Glasgow this post is supposed to be about Paris! The photo above was my first view of Eiffel Tower.  It is so much bigger and more gorgeous than I thought it would be.  No one ever fully described how big it is. 

The trip to Paris went really smoothly.  We all met up outside of our dorms to take cabs to the train station and then grabbed a train to Prestwick Airport.  From Prestwick we flew Ryanair to Beauvais Airport about an hour and a half outside of the city.  It was a trek to get to and from the airports, but it was a lot cheaper than flying directly from Glasgow to Charles De Gaulle.  Plus, there was a huge group of us traveling together so it was impossible to be bored.  Once we got into the city we hoped on the metro and headed off to our hostel. 

Me standing outside of the hostel on our last day in Paris. 

We were a little put off at first by its name, Oops!, but the hostel turned out to be a great find. The rooms were really clean and had private bathrooms.  Also, we got really lucky because the ten of us were able to split up into two rooms, one with four people and one with six.  It was nice not to have to share with anyone we didn't know.  After settling into the rooms, we ate a quick dinner and then headed out on the metro to go see the Eiffel Tower.  It was a little disappointing at first because the weather was so foggy, but as we got closer it was easier to see.  We found a little park with a great view and took pictures there. 

 So pretty. 

Me in front of the tower. 

It lights up!

 I love it.

It was so much fun just hanging out on the gardens in front of the tower and taking photos together.  We also spotted a carousel nearby with a crepe stand next to it.  It was the perfect first desert in Paris!   After the crepes, we walked around for a little while and then went back to the hostel for a somewhat early night.  On Friday we got up and were out of the hostel by 8:30.  The first stop was the Louvre!  It was great to explore such a famous museum, but it was even more meaningful for me because I'm studying Art History while in Glasgow. Mat, Rich, Bridgid and I all got to show off our knowledge of Renaissance Art and finally see some of the works we studied in class. 

 Me in front of the Winged Victory. 

 

 With the Mona Lisa. 

Our next stops were the Pantheon and then Notre Dame.  Thankfully, my friend Carlos is great at navigating and got us all around the city with no problem!  We finished the afternoon with a walk down the Champs-Élysées and a photo break in front of the Arc de Triomphe. 

The Pantheon.

 Me, Alina, Michelle, and Bridgid, we really loved Paris. 

 Notre Dame

 Rich, me, Bridgid, and Mat in front of Notre Dame.

 Inside, so incredible. 

Me in front of the Arc. 

Friday wasn't just our only full day in Paris but it was Alina's 21st birthday and 11/11/11.  We met up and went for a big group dinner at an Italian restaurant near our hostel.  It was a great family owned place that was perfect for a birthday celebration.  After that we went back towards the Eiffel Tower and then got more drinks and deserts at a little cafe.  It was the perfect way to end our day.

On Sunday, we slept in a little bit and then broke into smaller groups to do our thing in the morning.  Michelle, Alina, Bridgid , and I went on a shopping trip to the Lafayette Galleries.  The Galleries were so beautiful.  There was a huge Christmas tree in the center atrium and you could see all of the floors of the store form the middle.  It wasn't set up like the typical mall in the U.S. but more like a department store with dozens of little boutiques and departments.  I picked out a Longchamp bag, it turns out they're actually cheaper in Paris than in the U.S., plus it will always be a reminder of my trip!  The rest of the day was spent strolling around and having a lunch outside by the Eiffel Tower.  It was our first really nice day, we finally got to take pictures with blue skies. 

I was in heaven.

If only I could afford anything in here.

 Me and Bridgid in front of the Tower on a gorgeous day in Paris. 

Perfection.  

Group shot in front of the Tower.

Overall, the trip was an amazing experience.  I'm so glad I got to see Paris and it was nice to get out of Scotland for a few days.  I feel like it definitely cleared my head and will make the next few weeks easier to manage.  I'll write again soon, probably to update you all on Spencer's visit next week!  Thanks for reading. 

- Sarah