Paris? Oui Oui!

One of the few benefits of war and colonization is that I have family in France, which means that I'll always have a place to stay if I visit. In 2005 I went to Paris for the first time and stayed for several days as part of a month-long backpacking trip through some European countries. Since then I've thought about coming back but for a longer period of time. So here I am in Paris! For the next month, I plan on stuffing myself with pastries, growing out my armpit hair and learning some French phrases. I'll try to update my blog frequently, although I may not write much because the letters and symbols on the keyboard here are not in the same places as the keyboards in the US (for example, the 'q' is where the 'a' is supposed to be).


The Notre Dame. I looked for Quasimodo but didn't find him.








This is the new confession booth. I guess its better for people who are claustrophobic?


The old confession booth on display.












I stopped in the Musee Carnavalet to use the bathroom but saw some interesting art on France's history. Le Chat Noir.




"I'm so hot. Let's let our boobs hang out to cool down."


Hung out at Place de Vosges in Marais. The birds in the park are more ferocious than NY birds. They dive for bread crumbs.


I felt like I was in the movie Amelie with the accordion music playing in the background. My cousin plays the accordion so I tried to play some notes but it's really hard moving the fan part in and out while pushing down the keys with different fingers. It's like trying to pat your head and rub your belly at the same time--almost impossible!


The Jardin des Plantes at the Museum of Natural History has some pretty flowers.


These looked like giant dandelions. I tried blowing on them but the leaves didn't fly into the air.


Right next to the garden is the Menagerie aka zoo. A wallaby, which is a really cute giant rat.


The Pantheon, created to honor the saint of Paris, Genevieve.


The Jardin du Luxembourg, the second largest park in Paris. Many of the parks have spacious, well-manicured gardens where people come to eat, relax and nap. I would have taken a nap if it weren't for the old man staring at me.






This woman reminded me of the pigeon man at Washington Square Park. They should start a club for people who let pigeons poop on their heads.


The Love Padlocks bridge by the Notre Dame holds locks that symbolize couple's everlasting love for one another (or someone's obsession for another).


The C train that I take home to the suburbs. It's a double decker train with close face-to-face seating. There are no ads on the walls so I end up making a lot of awkward eye contact with people.