Fashon Week in Paris-

Getting to Paris was half the fun today. I bought a first class ticket today (2nd was sold out) and arrived in style just before 5pm in Paris. After checking with several hotels that were full I discovered it is Fashion Week here in Paris, so it took some walking and help from a kind hotel receptionist to find me somewhere to stay that was safe, but didn't break the budget. Hotel De La Pointe Rivoli for 69 euro and five floors of stairs (88 stairs up and down each time to wear off my bread and desserts!) with no elevator is what I found, but is super cute and fully functional. (See Video) It was great to shed my bags and just head out with the camera to explore for a while. First stop was to a bakery "Miss Manon" where I decided to have some classic french yummies. Chocolate souffle, croissant and a fancy chocolate-banana dessert. YUM. I may never eat a croissant in the US again. I didn't really care for them much until today. Guess there's nothing like the real thing, huh? Wandered past flower shops, fruit stands, chocolate shops, amazing clothing boutiques, and beauty product stores. Exactly how I pictured Parisian streets to be. Walked across the Seine river and visited Notre-Dame and point zero where all of the distances in Paris are measured out from. Listening to conversations in German and French all day today reminds me of what an outsider I am and how much I wish the United States REQUIRED a second language in schools.

Lessons Learned Today:

1.Don't use your phone alarm clock set to East Coast Time if you are planning to wake up on time in Germany.

2.Don't book European train tickets last minute if possible. Or Hotels.

3.Saying "bless you" when someone sneezes (no matter what country you are in) can be an easy conversation starter.

4.Choosing not to learn another language is choosing to be secluded as a citizen of the world.

Two day plan:

Saturday-Visit Notre-Dame and do the 4 hour Rick Steves guided walk, See the Arc de Triomphe and walk the Champs-Elysees. Maybe Eiffel Tower?

Sunday- Free museums first Sunday of the Month? Louvre and the Rodin Museum. Eiffel Tower if didn't get to it Saturday.