PARIS

Finally made it to Paris and what I time! I went with Elina, Julie, and Rasha and we left last Friday. We caught the 4:57 train leaving Rouen and arrived in Paris around 6:00pm. We headed the the metro and we bought 10 passes for 12 euros which lasted us the whole weekend. We took the subway to the station closest to our hotel and set out to find it. We made one wrong turn and ended up lost for almost and hour. We were wandering the streets trying to find the Garden Hotel but it was not to be found! It was getting late and there weren't many people on the streets and it was raining and we were tired, so we finally found another hotel and asked them directions and then we found it! It ended up being a 5 minute walk from the station (oops). We checked in and we ended up being on the top floor. The elevator was teenie weenie (aka can only fit two people in it) so we decided to climb the spiral staircase up 7 flights of stairs (the French count the first floor as 0, and the second floor at 1, and so on and so on so technically we would have been on the 7th floor if I was back in Canada). We finally got to our room and Julie tried using he key and no luck. Then Rasha tried using the key and no luck. Then I tried using the key and no luck. Then Elina tried using the key and ..success! We got in and Voila! Two single beds. UH OHHHHH. So Elina and I went back down (we took the elevator this time and never took it again after). The guy at the front desk apologized for forgetting to mention to us that the other two beds were under the beds..what the? So back up the stairs we climbed and low and behold, there were beds beneath the beds that we had to pull out. Here is a picture of our luxurious room:

All in all, it wasn't a bad hostel for the price! Everyone was super friendly and the location was aight. After we settled in, we caught the metro to the Eiffel Tower. We got off and asked someone which direction it was in and they pointed so we started walking and OH, there it was out of no where. It was so magical!! I am in love. We took LOTS of pictures and just kept walking closer and closer until it start sparkling at 10pm (another magical moment!) Here's a picture:

We then realized we hadn't eaten since breakfast - and fun fact: there are NO places to eat near the Eiffel Tower except the restaurant at the top which is a little above our budget. So a nice couple told us to hop on a bus and take it to a certain stop where we would find cafes. So on we hopped and hopped off and Voila! The Louvre was sitting right in front of us. So beautiful again, we stopped, took photos, and by the time we were finished we found a little cafe where we stopped for supper at midnight. The waiter was hilarious, he would sing and dance while outside having a smoke (another fun fact: EVERYONE smokes here). As we left he told me he loved me..awwww :) Must have been love at first sight (well at least for him). We then caught a taxi back to the hostel.

The next day we got up super early (10am) and hit up a local cafe for brunch where I had a yummy omlette. We then caught the metro the the champs elysees which was heaven because France has their wicked sales for 5 freakin weeks! We walked to l'Arc de Triomphe and of course decided to climb it (but I remembered my camera grams and gramps so we only had to climb it once!) And oh boy it was quite the climb. This group of guys behind us I'm pretty sure lapped us. But we made it to the top and was it ever worth it! Here's a picture as proof!

We then climbed back down (a little easier) - Here's a picture:

And then hit up the shops for shopping. Julie et Rasha hit up Louis Vuitton and Elina and I hit up H&M a little more in my price range. Julie and Rasha met us back there and one thing I've learned about Julie is she LOVES shopping. She came back with a LV bag that could pay for one's all inclusive trip to Cuba...but it is gorgeous :)

We then went to this little creperie where we all had delicious crepes! We all had the chocolate one which was chocolate heaven with white chocolate ice cream on top...I've never tasted anything as yummy as this:

We then caught a metro to Montmarte (my favorite place!!). We got off the metro and noticed everyone was taking the elevator up so we decided to walk up the stairs (BAD decision). TWICE as many stairs as l'Arc de Triomphe. Jeeze Louise, what is it with Paris and stairs.  Out of breath, we then exited the metro station and went to find the Sacre Coeur. Headed in the wrong direction but of course. We then asked someone for directions and began to head in the right direction, and guess what? It was all uphill!!! We climb and we climbed and we climbed but it was SO pretty especially because it was night - cheese shops, macaroon shops, lights everywhere, cobblestone roads, artsy buildings, accordian playing, parks with benches, so cute! And we climbed and we climbed and we climbed, and there it was, the beautiful Sacre Coeur. Here are some pictures of our climb and the SC:

The steps that you see above were really cool. There was a guy playing guitar (U2, Train, etc) which was absolutely amazing while everyone was sitting on the steps drinking beer and wine - it was just a really chill atmosphere. We went into the Sacre Coeur and walked around - it was absolutely beautiful! We then walked all of the way back down the streets and met up with Ava and Roxy and we went and took pictures outside the Mouline Rouge:

We then didn't know what to do next and Ava and Roxy hadn't been to the Sacre Coeur yet so guess what? We CLIMBED back up the mountain (they should make climbing hills an olympic sport..I'd get gold for sure now). On the way we bought a bottle of wine and went back to the steps of the Sacre Coeur and had a glass of 4 euro wine while listening to the music (adults: you may ask if its is legal to drink on the streets? Technically no - BUT the police were there joining in on the fun..that's France for you). We sat there for an hour and just listened and people watched - a grand ol' time. We then started getting cold so we took the metro back to the champs elysees at 11:30pm and went shopping at sephora until 1am (I know! Stores are open so late..AMAZINGGGGG). We then cabbed back to the hostel for some much needed rest.

Up we got at 10am and grabbed some brunch. We then went back to see the Eiffel Tower with full intentions of climbing it but we had to check out of our hostel that morning and you're not allowed to bring big bags on the tower and we had all of our luggage with us so we weren't allowed to go up (we'll do that next time). We however took lots of pictures ! Here are some of my favorites:

We had then planned on going to see Notre Dame Cathedral but the metro stop was under construction and we were too tired to figure out the buses so we went and caught the 5:00 train back to Rouen. We have a list of things to do next time in Paris, and hopefully we won't be as distracted by the amazing shopping!! Taylor Swift and Katy Perry are also going to be there in March, so is Drake, and so is Disney on Ice (Woooo!!) so I plan to go see some of those shows hopefully! I'll hopefully fill you in on more of my life in Rouen tomorrow :)

Salut!