Day 25 : Paris

Ah! Paris! J'adore! It's true. I really do love Paris. I thought it would be more snooty and uppity than it really is. The people are friendly and really appreciate that I am able to speak French. Even if it is Canadian French. Sometimes they laugh because we both have to speak a little slower and more clearly, but overall they commend the effort.

So our hostel really isn't in a bad place at all, in fact, there is a very famous building just seconds down the road from us! The Moulin Rouge!

It was raining today so I needed to run to the store and purchase an umbrella, as my poncho just wasn't cutting it. Rain in Paris… seems fitting. However on our way to the store (and realizing that we were definitely in Paris' Red Light District) we saw a store on fire. It was a horrible smell and once we got closer we knew why… I didn't feel it proper to take a photo of a building on fire so I'll just tell you. It was a sex shop. No wonder it smelled so bad. All that plastic and rubber really goes up fast!

Today we went out in search of what every lady in Paris shops for. Lingerie! We stopped into Galerie La Fayette (So many True Blood jokes were swimming in my head) and some purchases were made. Not least of all, these delightful treats:

I chose to get 4 flavours: Chocolate, Mogador (passion fruit), Caramel and Citron.

After scarfing those down much too quickly I sadly decided it was not a wise choice to head back to Pierre Herme or I would quickly find myself the proud owner of at least 20 more lbs. So I opted to leave the shopping centre and head to somewhere without mounds of these confectionary creations The answer:

Notre Dame!

Inside is just beautiful. I can't get over the architecture all over Europe. We've got nothing like this at home. vaulted ceilings and such intricate stain glass windows. I just love all these old churches. However, I didn't see Quazi. I think he was on vacation or something. What's a hunchback to do in the summer months! You can't expect him to stay up in that hot tower all day. Everyone needs a break now and then.

It was cold and raining and we'd all about had our fill of Parisian culture for the day so we stopped at a local food store and picked up some pasta, sauce, couscous salad and some interesting shredded vinegar carrots. Oh, and a nice big bottle of wine. It might not sound like it at the moment, but trust me. It was a splendid little feast.

After dinner we just hung out a bit in the common room and met a nice guy from Australia, Braden. I'm noticing that I've met a lot of Australians on this trip. They are everywhere!