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Bonjour.....
So this is a very much belated journal entry for my French adventure. So with a much disappointed spirit Im sorry to say Paris was not as ideallic as I dreamed would be. I felt that somewhere between wanting to showcase Parisan culture and incorporate international flavours for tourists....its kind of a strange in limbo city. What I really wanted to do in Paris was chill in a lovely little cafe while people watching, reading and writing and getting my creative juices running wild....alas, I couldn't find such a place. Instead got mexican, italian, crepe takeaways mix that amoungst the most sleazy dodgy men I have meet yet and vast volumes of tourists like me looking for 'Paris'. To be fair, my expereince in Paris is hugely overshadowed by the fact that I was alone there....yeah, Paris alone..not that great hehe. The cheapest accomodation I could find was in a motel outside of the central Paris - I had to catch 2 trains, 1 bus then walk for about 15mins. Unfortuntly the area I was in was not the most friendly so going out at night to see Paris was a no go as I didn't feel safe.
My first night was bit tough and lonely. In Paris the public transport system is either the underground train (Metro) the overground train (RER) or the buses. After a long queue I finally mananged to get my ticket for the train station near my motel only to find that a huge accident had happend on that line, this all at about 5pm. Mayhem broke out and people where madly trying to find another way home - it was packed and hot. A lady informed me of an alternative RER train I could catch, so off I went to be sandwiched in the train like a sardine in a can. Got off at the station, wandered out the doors and found myself surrounded by dodgy men and the exit street that wasn't on my little map. Seriously I couldn't see any ladies around...said a quick prayer in my head...then a older married couple came around the cornor. I approached them and showed my map. This was when I found out that I was actually on the wrong side of town...I was supposed to be on the Metro line (sorry if this is hard to follow)....they then offered to walk me to the main street of town and my motel was a couple of streets off that. Thank you God....coz honestly, didn't feel that safe. After thanking them muchly, I finally found my motel at 7pm - all I wanted was to get to that motel before dark....and I just did. Got in my room.....and cried hehehe......but then I showered and treated myself to dinner at the resturant next door...then had some TLC converstation with my awesome man and thanked God for his protection over me.
Anyway, day 2 much better. Saw the sights of Paris....finished it off with going up the Effiel Tower. Im gutted that my attitude in Paris was more like "just want to see what I need and want to see and then get out". So day 3 (Fri) went down to see my friend from uni John and his beautiful wife Jo in Clermont Ferrand....which is in the middle of France and a 3.5hr train from Paris. I stayed there till Tues.
Was so lovley there, so glad I went as I got a better taste of the French culture - not the touristy vibe. And was nice be with friends. John and Jo spoiled me with their company and food (thank you Lord for the food hehe) and we had an incrediable church service in the living room on sunday hehe....John the pastor, Jo the children ministries leader and me....Worship leader woopwoop hehe....nah, honestly it was a awesome bible study about how we so easily forget the sufferings of our brothers and sisters of this world, how we are all members of a body and if one is hurting we should feel it also. I also experienced my first French rugby game, as John plays for Clermont Ferrand and I luved it. So much more joy I think, as opposed to the munters we have back home hehe...come on you know its true hehe. They took me to this wonderful lake for lunch and it wasj just beautfiul. Looked like the place where a summer camp would be.
Oh one funny thing happened in the players afterparty thingy after the match, there where 2 guys taking photos with the players etc....we (me, John, Jo and other player and his gurl) were standing around a table and one of the guys came up and stood next to me, while his other mate get set with the camera to take a photo with me. I turned to him and said, "oh no, Im not anyone famous buddy" and started cracking up hehe John on the otherhand thought it was hiliarous egging them on with, just take the spotlight Grace then hehehe......anyways, guess you had to be there hehe.
ANYWAYS hehe......so on Tues back to Paris for my eurostar back to London. Which by the way my train cancelled due to the fire in the tunnel so I had to get an early train and we had to use the other tunnel which takes longer - but I am so glad I wasn't on the train that caught on fire train. Eurostar.....so fast - you don't even notice your journey.
So yes, France.....my impression saved by the wonderful stay at John and Jos.
Much Luvs to you all
Gracie x x
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