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After a longer than usual train ride into Paris (the train was delayed due to construction on the track) I walked the six blocks or so to my hostel, et voilà. I thought I was in a dorm with 6 other people, but turns out I have a three bed ensuite which I share with two guys on their first trip after highschool. Ah well.
It was just after four when I got in, so I decided to go for a walk and find a grocery store for dinner. I knew we were close to the sacre coeur, but had no idea it was just up the block. Wandering up the side streets led me through some beautiful narrow areas with lovely little shops and steep sets of stairs. After one of these staircases I popped out into an incredibly busy square full of tourist restaurants and shops. It was such a change from the moment before that it took me a while to realize where I had reached.
As I came up to the sacre coeur the tourist traffic got worse as did the vendors hawking their wares. One even tried to hold my arm and stop me from walking by. He asked where I was from in at least four languages in one breath. After escaping the grasp of such individuals I found a seat on the steps leading up to the sacre coeur. With me I had brought a small dinner of camembert, baguette and red wine. As I was happily eating and people watching a few drops of rain started to fall. Looking around I could see sun on most sides and so thought little of the rain. Quickly the sky darkened and a crack of thunder could be heard. People started to run for cover as the rain started pounding down. I quickly packed up and ran for the trees only to realize that they have a fence aroUnd them. How I made it over the fence so quickly in a pencil skirt is hard to describe. After the rain let up a bit I tried to find an alternate route back over, with no luck. One guy even asked if I'd let him lift me over. I found my own way back. All in all, not bad for day one in Paris.
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Matt watching life go by is probably one of my favorite things to do while traveling. It takes the stress away from sightseeing and all the hussle 'n bussle of the big city. Paris was one of the nicer places I was able to do that, though the high school kids did get a bit annoying hahaha.