Sunday, December 12, 2010

Paris

We went to Paris mid-exams, probably not the smartest idea.. but Chloe and I really wanted to see Paris at Christmastime and we were both hoping for snow. Le voyage en train était tellement beau... de la neige partout! It started snowing right away, and our train was a bit delayed. We couldn't have been more excited to walk out of the train station into blizzarding Paris. Chlo has never seen snow in a city setting before and was extremely excited. When I was planning to come to Montpellier and was thinking about what to pack everyone blew it off saying "it's the Mediterranean, it's hot there, pack light!". This led to me having extremely minimal clothing to get me through this freezing cold weather. We got cozy staying with staying with my friend Sam from home for the four days, who is studying at Sciences Po via UBC. He has a place in the Marais that was very central to everything. Thank god for having a guide to the maze of streets that is Paris; you're the best if you're reading this!

Chloe's friend Alysse was traveling Europe as well, and met us in Paris, so the four of us, two Canadians and two Aussies took on the city. We definitely saw lots of great things and most importantly, ate a lot of deliciously unhealthy, great food. Our only regrets were not making it to Saint-Chappelle, the outdoor skating rink outside of the city hall (not open until the 18th, to our great dismay), and the Yves St Laurent museum... oh well. It's just an excuse to have things for next time.
Arrivées à la Gare!
La Grande Mosquée de Paris
Pigeons get cold too
We went to the tea house at the Mosque. It was very open, also covered in beautiful mosaics, and had birds flying around all over the place. The servers put 20 glasses on a tray and pour it from a meter above, sloshing it everywhere. On days like this though, sticky, steaming hot, blissful tea is unbeatable. I loved it there. After, we went to their restaurant, where they offered either vegetarian or lamb couscous. It was excellent, and unfortunately it's the only "foodie" shot I took this trip (very unlike me). We had many many great meals in Paris, but didn't eat many vegetables... they don't seem to "do" vegetables.
Mulled wine... a specialty of the Christmas markets
The very best thing to grab on the go (although the French think that's weird)
Sacré coeur pendant la nuit
L'Arc de Triomphe
We all loved the enormous French flag, flapping under the arch of Triomphe:
patriotism is A.B.D. (a big deal) here
We got into the Arc for free, being the French residents that we now are! (Totally excellent, we got in free almost everywhere)
We got the 360 view of Paris at night, a sea of lights.
It sparkles on the hour!
Champs-Elisées
Giant Louis Vuitton suitcase display, what a dream
Marchées de Noel
Les catacombes:
We were having a really great time until the ceilings started to drip... (death?)
There are guards who check to see if you've stolen bones on the way out.
Note the skull and misc. bones on the side table re-confiscated.
Spotted Invader in yet another city!
Il s'est rendu pas mal partout
Seine: we walked around here and had fun being tourists

Noel à Notre Dame!
Marc by Marc store = primary desitnation
Berthillon: the best glace in Paris? ...We've had better.
But then again, we're pros.
Louvre
Louboutin store: home of the red soles
Galleries Lafayette decked to the nines
The lock bridge
They found their long lost favourite beers
Musée Pompidou
"Beware, rubbing is dangerous"
"Bateau Mouche in extreme weather"
Lots of photos from Chloe's camera as well as mine (as always :) )