Metros, Mausoleum, and Markets... Oh MY

Today's Itinerary:
  - Saturday Market
  - Cemetery with a new friend
  - Dinner and stuff

Today was full of so much learning... and walking (30,000 steps baby!). It started with our venture to the weekend market. The Marche de Enfants Rouges is supposedly one of the oldest markets in the area. Mom and I got "All the French Things", maybe better put "Toutes les Choses"! We started by buying some Macaroons, then cheese, then a knick-knack made of a book (for my mom the librarian), and wrapped up with some wine. Wine and a pre-lunch wine tasting :-D


After traveling home with our goods, I was getting ready to meet up with a new friend for the afternoon. Adriana was friends with a friend of mine, and she happened to be visiting France for the weekend also. Although, we did not know each other well, our common friend was certain we would get a long and encouraged us to hang out. I am glad we did, I had a good time on our adventures today. 

Considering that I don't know how to get too many places, we picked a meeting spot that I was certain I could walk to, The Tuileries Gardens again. My walk started cool and cloudy, so I thought the sweater and jacket I was holding might be necessary. The sun came out shortly into the walk, and I was quickly regretting all the clothes I had with me.

Along the way, I gave money to some red cross people. They came back and gave me a key chain. As the day went I flashed the key chain at numerous others asking for money. I felt like a vampire slayer keeping enemies away with a Holy Cross. Stay back! I already gave you money.

Adriana and I grabbed a quick bite to eat, then headed for the Metro. Mom and I have been timidly avoiding the rail system since we got here, so this was my first experience on the Paris Underground. We rode around without a hitch and got to the exit for the cemetery successfully. The most notable part of the ride was that the pop machines all hold their bottles funny, upside down. 

As we walked to the entrance of the Père Lachaise Cemetery, an antique market popped up along the side of the road. I almost purchased an old backgammon board, but didn't want to carry it around all day. I already was holding a coat and my camera, so I was out of hands.

Once in the cemetery, there were a few famous sites that we were going to try to find. This turned perilous when we didn't have a map and I kept slipping on the crumbling cobblestones. It was really worth it though, even though we wandered aimlessly, the multiple grave sites were solemn and impressive. I passed a few with blue doors, and imagery from Dr. Who popped into my head. What if all these tall rectangular boxes were really phone booths for communication back and forth between the families and loved ones?

I didn't write tha

After almost leaving the, we stumbled onto an office that supplied maps! (The men at the entrance said they did not offer such a tool...). Now we ventured back in to find the resting places of Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde. Morrison's grave was unassuming, and after reading on the internet the tale of his burial, it is a surprise he even has a grave. Oscar Wilde's, however, was stately and impressive. It had some long inscription and was surrounded by glass walls to keep people from touching the tomb. Apparently, people want to kiss Oscar Wilde's grave and leave lipstick marks? Unnecessary. The best part of visiting these famous areas was seeing the differences in the visitors. Leather jackets vs corduroy and suede elbow patches.

I'm not sure how far we walked, but at this point I was beyond thirsty. We stopped at a cafe to grab a beire and tap water. The first drink was so refreshing, I couldn't tell you the last time I had something so good. It reminded me of a story on the ACT's about a guy getting his tonsils out and drinking orange juice after. The first glass was refreshing and quenched his thirst, but since it also washed down the accumulated mucus, the next glass burned immensely. The first beer was perfect, but the second highlighted the flavors of the light beer that I don't particularly like and made the water taste funny even.

We ventured home on the Metro to drop off our cameras and my jacket at home. Outside our apartment, there is an art museum that has been tirelessly working on an exhibit or opening since we arrived in France. Today as we walked home to the apartment, a flock of people were outside drinking champagne and celebrating. Apparently, the gallery opened today, and they were finally celebrating. Once I got upstairs, Mom told us that she even went down to see what they had to display.


I picked up the apartment keys, so I could head back out into the night for a couple drinks with my new friend. We first heard some music and headed towards it. The source of the sound was the Limye Bayo, and the festival filled an entire square with a grand stage and multiple jumbo-trons displaying the artists while they played.

Although the concern seemed fun, it also looked like rain was coming. We decided to leave, and headed down the road looking for some shelter. The first bar we stopped at was funny. I watched a man order 2 drinks, take them outside, and walked to the restaurant across the street. Eventually we went looking for a bathroom, and discovered the restaurant across the street was the same establishment as the bar we were sitting in. Also, the bathrooms were in the bar across the street.

We moved on to a few other places, and wrapped up for the evening. When I got home I slept on the couch since I smelled like I had been surrounded by Parisians smoking all night (which I had been surrounded by), and I didn't want to bother mom with the smell of the bar next her all night.

The last thing I learned, was that you don't need the internet for google maps to work on your phone. Once the map is loaded, you can still see the streets and things for the area you've loaded. This is going to be a huge help getting around the city from here on out. Thanks to my new friend Adriana for teaching me!