Today was our second day in the great French capital of Paris. Today was a bit more rushed than yesterday, though. Sara and I woke up early and headed to the train station to try to book tickets home, while Yiting and Rosie headed to the Eiffel Tower. After struggling for a while to communicate with the French train workers, we determined that there was no possible way to get to Spain, or even back to Freiburg. The French trains were on strike, and which trains would run was impossible to predict. They also refused to sell reservations. Sara and I were pretty much stuck in Paris, which isn't the worst thing in the world. But after failing at the train station, we headed over to the Eiffel Tower to meet the other two.
The Eiffel Tower is a very impressive monument, huge and towering, as expected. We waited in line for a very long time, in different places: once to get into the tower base, up the elevator, a long line around the lower level of the tower, another elevator up to the middle level, and finally up to the top of the tower, where the entirety of Paris is stretched out before you. It's quite an amazing sight. Granted the most striking part of Paris is the Eiffel Tower, it is still a beautiful sight standing on it. Unfortunately it was absolutely freezing up there. This was expected, but it was rather cold. We met up with Yiting and Rosie on the middle level and left with them, taking many pictures of us with the Eiffel Tower in the background before getting back on the train to go get lunch at a place Rosie's friend had recommended, near the Notre Dame.
Lunch was a delicious affair, of course. I got duck that came with a kind of potato square. I'm not sure which was better, as they were both amazing. It was a very nice affair. French waiters are very accommodating and kind, even if they don't speak very much English. We've gotten by surprisingly well considering no one speaks much French. After, we headed back to the hostel, where we decided to cook a pasta and chicken dinner. I headed to the grocery store nearby and spent a long time trying to decipher the ingredients necessary. I eventually succeeded, and we made a delicious dinner. I always describe food as delicious, apparently, but it's all true. Afterward we had chocolate lava cake, which was just amazing. I love chocolate and I love cake.
Paris has been quite an amazing adventure. I just wish we had more time here. The Louvre could have taken up an entire day, let alone the evening the the art wing alone consumed. I would have liked to see more of the French landmarks, too, and maybe have taken a trip to see Versailles. Alas, Sara and I have plans to take regional trains back to Freiburg, which should hopefully be running successfully, but it will just take most of the day. We should be back in Freiburg by late evening, though, where we can began to plan our second attempt at adventures.
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