Day 108: Pau-Paris, France

As I write this, remembering what I did this morning seems like ancient history.   It really is a total blur.  I woke up this morning at around 8:30 and took at bus, at a little after 9:00, with Erin, Laura, and Jenny.  We met Becca at the train station, and we took a TGV to Paris.  Because we all booked our tickets at different times, none of our seats were together.  (TGV is the only company with reserved seating.)  This was fine with me.  I slept for the first two hours, and the rest of my ride was really relaxing.  The TGVs are really, really nice trains.  Very smooth, quiet, and fast.  Not quite sure how France functioned before they existed. 

Terrible photo, I know, but, my very last sight of Pau as the train sped away.

Once we got to Paris, we met up in Montparnasse station.  First, Becca had to leave, which is really sad.  She went to Ireland for her vacation.  This left Erin, Laura, Jenny, and me, to make our way through the Paris metro, at rush hour, with all of our possessions to hour hotel/hostel.  I will say that the Paris Metro has so far proven to be the most efficient and easy to navigate public transit system I have ever used.  Anyway, it was quite an adventure.

Erin and Jenny are clearly very concerned by the ticket purchasing process.

The subway turnstiles are simply not designed for luggage.  It took a well orchestrated bit of heroics to get Erin, and her bag through this one. 

Cool designs on the subway wall

We all needed to take the RER, which is like a cross-town train, towards Charles de Gaulle Aeroport, so it worked out.  I had to go past my stop, and then take the RER back to mine.  The walk to my hostel was maybe the worst thing I have ever done.  A few points here:

• You don't really appreciate the value of a well fitted backpack until you don't have one.
• If you get a present from me, you owe me, because that shit is heavy.
• If you don't, I probably got one for you, and then threw it away, because I got tired of dragging it around Europe.
• There was a point, where I was really hopping I would get mugged, so I wouldn't have to carry my stuff around any more.

I finally made it to the hostel, and it is really nice.  It is in the basement of this family's house.  They are really sweet and nice.  It has outside access, and several bedrooms, a beautiful kitchen, garden access, and a bathroom and laundry room. 

Here is our bedroom.  Tonight it is just me, Duke, and Rehana.

Once we were settled, I headed back into Paris, and met up with Laura, Jenny, and Erin.  Erin is leaving in the morning, and wanted to see the Eiffel Tower again, so we went there.  When we got off the metro, there was a take away food counter, and we were hungry, so we got crepes.  There were absolutely fantastic!

Laura anxiously awaiting her crepe. 

After we all had our food, we walked to the Eiffel Tower, which was close.  It was lit up, and looked really, really cool.  It is way bigger in person.  It was pretty cool to actually see it. 

My first view of the Tower!

Here's me with Jenny and Erin.

Me. And the Eiffel Tower.

There are strobe lights all over the tower, and for 10 minutes an hour, they start going off, and the whole tower kinda seems to sparkle.  It is pretty cool.

Me and Laura in front of sparkle tower.

Across the green from the tower, there was some sort of event/concert, so we went to check it out.  There was a huge party for the first night of Hanukkah.  There was a huge crowd there, and there was a klesmer/rock hybrid band performing, and there was a giant menorah set up.  It was pretty cool.

Here is the giant menorah and the eiffel tower giant menorah and the eiffel tower.

Unfortunately,  because of the train schedule we couldn't stay out any later, so we headed home.  It was a really fun evening, and I had a great time seeing the Eiffel Tower.  When we go to my station, I had to say goodbye to Erin, and it made me really sad.  I'm really glad we all got to hang out one more time.