My brother visited Paris the weekend of November 5 to Monday, November 8th. He was able to stay with me at my host mother's apartment for the weekend, which was so wonderful. It would have been difficult to get in touch with him to meet up for the day had he stayed at a hotel or hostel. We spent Friday afternoon in Montmartre and had a great lunch then, then had a little walk through the Luxembourg Gardens before he had to turn in for a pre-dinner/going out nap. It was a lovely, warm fall day, and it was great catching up after so long. Saturday we met up with his friends from his semester in Munich to see a very strange modern art exhibit at the Palais de Tokyo. We then went out on Rue Mouffetard at a great pub called the Mayflower for Belgian beer (usually anywhere from 9% to 12% alcohol...good stuff!) We grabbed falafel sandwiches across the street then went to an apartment party with his Parisian friends for a bit. I got to practice my French a good amount, and it was the FIRST time I was at a Parisian's apartment of someone close to my age. We had been drinking since about 5 pm, so it was nice to turn in a bit earlier that night (1 am to be exact.) Sunday we walked to the Eiffel Tower after having lunch with Cathy and Courtney in the 7eme arrondissement, then we dined at home with Béatrix. She was taken aback by how much we look alike and how handsome he was. She couldn't stop commenting about his smile and how he looked like he had just flown in from Milan.
This past week my mom, dad, and sister Sarah were in Paris. We met up everyday after my classes, walked around and toured the city, then had dinner out on the town and drank quite a bit of white wine. It was so wonderful to be surrounded by people I feel totally comfortable with, showing them a place I have grown to be so fond of. They seemed to really like Paris, although I think the city living was really throwing them for a loop, as it did for me the first month or so that I was here. The first few days in such a busy city are truly exhausting, and being a tour guide also takes its toll on you, so by the end of the day, we were all beat and ready to turn in for a nice relaxing meal with a bottle of wine, great conversation, and delectable cuisine. My parents and sister, being the foodies that I can identify very much with, were astounded by the food here. It's an art form all its own, and being able to experience it was something I know they are very thankful for.
It was interesting to have them visit because I realized with them here just how comfortable I am in Paris. I know my way around, I speak the language, and I know how to get just about everywhere (after a quick consultation of metro map or city map, of course.) I realized that I could definitely see myself returning to Paris to work or study again.
I stayed with my parents and sister in the Latin Quarter about two minutes away from the St. Michel metro stop, at 37 Rue St. Andre des Arts. It was nice to get away for a while from my routine and to live in a different arrondissement of Paris. We got fresh croissants and coffee from a boulangerie down the street every morning for breakfast and there were tons of great restaurants literally right next door to the apartment. The location could not have been more perfect to give my family a taste of what Paris is all about.
They saw all the major attractions...Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Panthéon, the Marais, Invalides, the Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe...and a whole lot more. On Sunday I took my mom and my sister to the Marais to eat falafel and walk around. Monday we walked from St. Michel, through St. Germain des Prés, had a pitstop at LaDurée to sample Paris' finest patisseries, then continued to Invalides, then to the Eiffel Tower, then to the Champs Elysées! Phew! Quelle journée! We walked from about 1 pm until 8 pm, and I was BEAT! We grabbed falafel sandwiches and shwarma sandwiches right next door for dinner then turned in to watch Amélie and Billy Elliot back at the apartment. We had probably walked at least 4 miles that day, so we needed a nice relaxing evening.
I left the apartment around 10:30 Tuesday morning for class just as they were about to catch a taxi to the airport for their flight back home at 2 pm. It was sad having to part with them after having spent an amazing nine days with them in Paris. They got in safely last night and are now preparing for Thanksgiving dinner (tomorrow!)
I'm planning on getting up semi-early tomorrow morning to go grocery shopping and start preparing the cornbread for tomorrow night's Thanksgiving dinner chez Viviane (my language professor) in Montparnasse. I was falling asleep in Science Po today, so I think I need to call it an early night. Also went for a run for about an hour this morning to the Jardin du Luxembourg. It was so tranquil there early in the morning, usually its full of people but it was quiet and empty save for early-morning runners. Great way to start the day!
Definitely looking forward to the Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night with all the girls and my professors!
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