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meet biscote!!! (pronounced bees-cut) aka, “bibi”.
she is a huge cuddler. never will miss out on a nap time with Gillian and I. and is obviously extremely photogenic. she loves to model, she’s just as chic as this fashion city demands.
after spending the better part of a week here in Paris, i feel much more comfortable as a dweller and not necessarily a visitor anymore. i really think that the metro lines and assorted maps were more of a foreign language to me than the actual French i’m having to adapt to. Its no longer as mentally exhausting as the first couple days as my brain gets more and more acclimated to this beautiful language.
however, as i may not be as mentally exhausted as this week comes to a close. i can’t think of a time where i have felt more physically exhausted. it may have to do with the fact that we have ran every day. or the fact that we walk everywhere we go. or the fact that we are normally late to everything, so we are practically running everywhere we go.
vans have been awesome though. great city shoes. better than my flats from Targé… and this is where these feet have gone….
la pantheon! this building was so amazing.
this building exudes power. its grandeur stands towering with the brilliant sun rays beaming behind it. this picture just doesn’t even do it justice….i think this next picture shows really just how tall it is.
the beautiful, ancient columns dominate the porch of the building and makes anyone, especially one who is 5’6, feel exceedingly insignificant…i was a little disappointed that i couldn’t just go inside and soak in all of its majesty but instead partake in a scavenger hunt for class- which was also enjoyable….except i swear they must be housing freezy-pops for the guards in that place it was so cold….or it could just be because a bunch of old guys like Voltaire, Dumas, and Rousseau are chillin down there (literally).
After la pantheon we found some lunch to take to Les Jardins du Luxembourg. which could be one of my favorite places on earth.
I sit on the ledge of a duck pond, and let the wonderful sun warm my skin. smells from a nearby patisserie float lazily with the breeze as the ducks float lazily on top of the glistening pool beside me. (ps. if i had to be a duck, this is where i would live)
The best part of being in Paris isn’t the touring, its just relaxing and being a local.
the other best part of Paris: the children.
there is something about children in general that i just adore. but something about children speaking French, it melts my heart.
giggling and playing with one another, they are so carefree and full of joy. in the sunshine they play, watching “les canards” qui disent “quan-quan”- ducks don’t say “quack” in France, its “quan”- who would have known animals have different languages?
they have little sail boats which they push with these long bamboo rods. they circle the pond, watching the effect the wind has on the sails with pure joy.
then we went to la LOUVRE! (failed attempt of an optical illusion)
another place to observe mind-blowing ancient important artifacts of grandeur.
which involved a 2 and a half hour tour…in which we were only presented to about 3 pieces- how does that work? i don’t know…but maybe i’ll return a la Louvre to get a better look.
and now this is what pushed me over the edge of “épuisé” (which means exhausted). my good friend Elizabeth who is here with our group asked me to run in les Jardins de Tuileries. hang in 2 famous gardens in one day? wouldn’t turn that down in a heart beat….except Elizabeth runs for UT track….
needless to say, i gladly took my first day off from running today and instead made sure to enjoy some very Parisian cuisine….. and then some not so Parisian cuisine….
“deviens champion sur le tour de france”- “become champion of the tour de france”
so thats where gilly and i are for now. just becoming champs. and we leave for NORMANDIE tomorrow morning!!!
A bientot.
ps. “gilly” is the word for tickle here….the kids have been taking COMPLETE advantage of her in that aspect.
