And the JOURNEY begins
Week one in Paris and where do I start!?!
At the airport where a customs agent stopped me on account of my fancy luggage (inquiriing whether I had $10,000 worth of merchandise to claim to the French Government)... sausage and french fries at the student hostel (where I slept on a cot in a room with two students)... the little old man who got his finger caught in the metro door... giving precise directions to a taxi driver... the scary ride up the one-person elevator to the maids chambers of what would have been my living quarters... the animated conversation with my sister-in-law, where I explained how I gave up my dream of becoming a ballerina when a friend said my butt was too big and my legs were too short and thick... my first trip to the grocery store (where I received dozens of dirty looks for entering through the exit)... my first French meal (steak frites- of course)... NAH- I will begin with a short story about how I stumbled on a street party and danced until my feet were raw.
So, after an exhausting week of orientation for class and a day of much needed R&R, I decided to head out for a stroll on Sunday afternoon. No map, no plan- just the desire to see all that I could see. There I was- taking in the sights, sounds and smells of this fantastic city and before I knew it I had walked through 5 arrondisements (Paris is small in the sense that you can virtually walk anywhere- if th weather is right and you are eqquiped with the right pair of shoes.) I explored this street and that one with a smile on my face and a pep in my step. I made my way down a street that had been cordoned off by police when I hit the jackpot.
A Brazilian parade with live music, floats, drummers, where everyone was dressed in white and having a good time!!! I semi-sambaed my way along the route snapping photos here and there and feeling pretty lucky. The parade led up to L'Eglise Madeline where a ceremony was held in honor of Saint Madeline. I hung out for a while not understanding one bit of what was said but not yet ready to go home.
After I had my fill I started heading back with the same silly grin and my head in the clouds. I peeked down each street I crossed hoping to come upon another little something. And there, down a narrow street called Rue Saint Denis something peaked my interest. So off I went, strutin my stuff and again feeling lucky. Then I began to notice the women around me. They were all dressed up- panty hose, heels and mini skirts, standing in groups of two or three at each store front. Now these women were not like the crack-head women from the HBO specials but I knew that something was amiss... turns out I was walking down hooker lane. I could not contain myself and I actually laughed out loud as I looked around. My initial reaction was to keep going however I was the only normal looking chic on the street and while I was out for an adventure this was a bit too much. Lola had her fill for the day so I high-tailed it out of there and didn't look back.
