Easter weekend in Paris

You know how they say you learn something new every day? Well, I think in these past few days, Karina and I have learned enough new things to last us at least a month. It's kind of been the theme of our Paris adventure. Not intentionally, that's just how it all worked out.

We arrived in Paris on Saturday morning. Upon arriving, we proceeded to try to decide if we should take a taxi to the place we're staying at or if we should try to figure out the metro system with our luggage in tow (even though it's only carry-on). Before I proceed, I think I will explain how we got to be staying where we are (please don't freak out, Mother). I was told about this website that one of the volunteer staff at Capernwray has used before that hooks us travelers with people who offer up their homes. So basically, people will rent out their rooms and allow people to use their facilities while they are staying there. We were a tidbit skeptical of the whole idea, but the girl who told me about it had already used it a couple times and she told me about all of the ways that it is legit. So we checked it out. The first place we requested fell through so the day we got to Dublin we applied for a second one. That one was accepted immediately and we went with it. The people seemed really nice and accommodating and we were relieved that we wouldn't be homeless in Paris.

Anyway, back to the story of when we got here. At the airport we decided to take the metro since it was significantly cheaper. The hostess at our apartment gave us an idea of what metro to take, so we figured we could do it. We did. But stepping out of a metro station is always an interesting feeling because you never really know what kind of neighborhood you're stepping into. We got off at the right stop and found the right street, but little did we know that the apartment building was a ten minute walk away. So, attracting attention to ourselves in a sketchy neighborhood on the outskirts of Paris, we periodically stopped to ask directions from people who didn't speak English. So finally, running on very little sleep and a lot of frustration, we found it! But when we found the building, we had to figure out how to get inside, what floor they were on, etc. It was nice to finally arrive and see that our hosts were actually the people they said they were on the website. They have been very kind and accommodating over the past few days and it has worked out well (and only for $20 a night!). Every time we walked to and from the building since then, we are not carrying luggage and we know where we're going...and we walk fast.

That day we were too exhausted to find our way back into Paris, so we settled into our room and went for a stroll to find a local creperie. We found one and walked past it without even trying the door because it looked empty and closed. But on our way back, we decided to try and and voila! It was open. So we enjoyed some real French crepes. When we got back to the apartment, we made tentative plans for the next couple days and went to bed early.

On Sunday, we got up to go find Hillsong-Paris to go to church for Easter. While we were searching for the building, we met a guy on the street who was also looking for it. It just so happens that he lives in Puyallup and works for YWAM! It was so cool to meet him and chat with him for a bit. After church we met his whole team who was on outreach and had just arrived the day before as well. When we went into church, it only lasted for half an hour and we were so confused about what kind of service it was and why it was so short. It wasn't until we were standing in line for the Eiffel tour a couple hours later that we realised that we missed Daylight savings and we had been an hour late to church! But we didn't mind too much because honestly I think it was cooler to make a connection with that guy than to walk in and out of church without speaking to anyone. After church, we went to the Eiffel Tower where we stood in the wrong line for 45 minutes and then stood in the right one for about an hour and a half. But it was all well worth it to go up the Eiffel Tower and see the city from there. It was a little bit unreal...and AWESOME.

The view of the Seine river from the Eiffel Tower

From there we went to the Champs-Elysees and walked down it to the Arc d'Triomphe. When we left there, we got on the metro and got off a Palais Royal and the Louvre. We walked past the Louvre to the river en route to Notre Dame. We walked over the Lover's Bridge on the Seine river, which is the one that couples put a lock on the bridge with their names on it and throw the keys in the river. We finally found Notre Dame just in time for evening mass. It was so incredibly crowded in there that we really couldn't see much of anything, but it was cool to listen to and we got to look around after the service was over. It was incredible. We stuck around until dark while Karina waited to use this weird self-cleaning street side bathroom. Anyway, after that, we headed back to the apartment as quick as we could.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

The Louvre

Today we started our day early at the Louvre. We got there when it opened so the lines were not bad at all. It was so cool. That museum is so incredibly huge. We were in there for three hours and I feel like there's so much we didn't see! We did get to see the Mona Lisa, which was crazy in and of itself. What a crowd! We saw so many things, but we really enjoyed the French sculptures and the Italian paintings. The building itself was absolutely breathtaking. We sat down to eat lunch and recover our strength, after which we discovered an entire underground shopping mall inside the museum. We were stunned.

Me and the Mona Lisa!

The crowd in front of the Mona Lisa

Karina and I and the beautiful ceiling

We finally emerged into the bright sunlight and made our way to the metro. We rode to a place that our hosts told us about where there was a flea market. I was sorely disappointed upon arriving. I thought it would be cool vintage Parisian things, but it was just like fair merchandise. Oh well. From there we rode to Belleville road to look for a park from which you can see the skyline of Paris, but we were so tired of walking and we didn't know exactly where it was, so gave up and had mozzarella and tomatoes with wine and bread in a little roadside cafe. After that, we bought a baguette and fruit for breakfast tomorrow and headed home for the evening. We retired rather early, but I have to leave at 4:30 to go to the airport tomorrow morning, and I have had one solid night of sleep since leaving the castle. I fly home (Capernwray) tomorrow for a few days to be on volunteer staff before I continue my travels. I am really looking forward to going back and recouping a bit, reuniting with some friends and get a taste of what it's like to work at Capernwray during their holidays.