I've arrived in one piece to my hotel! Let's just say that planning a trip, looking at my destinations on Google Earth, and studying metro maps does not do any justice to the fact that coming to new place on your own is HARD. I didn't expect it to be so overwhelming, and it wasn't to begin with, but the minute we got off the plane at Charles de Gaulle anxiety hit me like a TGV bullet train.
I waited for my luggage (mes bagages) and for once didn't mind that it took a while as I tried to figure out what I was gonna do next with two suitcases and an overstuffed purse. What is nice though at Charles de Gaulle airport is that the luggage carts are free! I decided to take a taxi rather than figuring out the metro with the baggage in tow, and that is how I spoke my first conversation with a Frenchie. It was simple enough, but I realized my French is weak with trepidation and upon arriving at the hotel I cheated and spoke English with the guy at the front desk. My apologies to my high school French teacher- we were taught how to get ourselves around an airport and book into a hotel, etc.- but I skipped this chance to speak French in favor of having a chance to just collect myself and put my bags down in a safe room in a nice area. And that brings me here to this blog!
Now that I'm in my room, had a chance to breathe and let loved ones know that I've arrived safe, things are a little better. It's only 12:30pm here and 3:30am in Cali so while I wait for the Phamily to wake up so we can Skype, I'm gonna go down and take in Montparnasse! (Montparnasse is on the West Side "Rive Gauche" southeast of the Tour Eiffel where WWI / WWII era literary greats and famed artists hung out in the early 20th century- Emile Zola, Manet, Edgar Degas etc.) I'm hoping tomorrow will bring exciting adventures- one more day on my own before starting the semester and embarking on endless museum trips and day trips to monuments that I've only ever read about.
This is the view from the plane as we were getting altitude above SD's grey skies :)
LOVE 210<3