Miriam's Semester in Edinburgh: (Read the Barcelona one first!) PARIS. I WAS IN PARIS.

-Written from the Metro on Day 2:

Day 1 in Paris was terrifying. I don't speak French. And I didn't have a very good map. So I spent literally 3 hours wandering around blindly trying to just find a Metro station, let alone my hostel. But in the process, I accidently stumbled upon the Arc de Triomphe. And from that point on, though my heavy backpack was killing me and my feet hurt, I knew that it was going to be okay. Because I found a world famous landmark through aimless wandering.

CRAZY drivers. This is an intersection, with cars going in all directions.

I was really there! Accidentally, of course.

Of course, I got a map ASAP, but the city is huge and I did spend a considerable amount of tine lost, especially before I got the hang of the Metro. Now I'm a pro, and I fit in with the French so much that I've been approached, in French, for directions 3 times. I realized I stand out MUCH less as a tourist when I'm alone, since they can't hear Alex and I speaking English... I do my best to disguise my American identity: lots of French greetings with my best Parisian accent, and only checking the map when no one's looking. It's more fun to fit in.

The French and their cultural superiority

Metro tunnel! Made sure nobody was paying attention before I took this...

So what did I actually do while equipped with a map? I explored Christmas markets, where I had a simple but exquisite jambon et fromage (ham and cheese) sandwich on a perfect baguette. Then I decided to take my picture with as many Parisian Santas as possible (stay tuned for the results!)

Stacks and stacks of chocolate at the Christmas fair

Un gafre (waffle) with Nutella and whipped cream. They love Nutella here

I window-shopped and gawked at the super fashionable, but ridiculous, displays. I people-watched Parisians with their berets and tiny dogs and fancy coats and delicate glasses and perfect shoes. Stereotypes: confirmed!

Some have ferrets instead of tiny dogs, of course. Or are they possums? We'll never know.

I also discovered an amazing patisserie and boulangerie down the street from my hostel. I ordered the most amazing pastry ever- un Suisse (Swiss Chocolate). Finished it in about 30 seconds and debated getting a second.

My awkward pointing and French-lish ordering has been working fine so far, and people seem to appreciate my effort. They're right though- immersion is seriously the best way to learn a language. I can understand signs now, at least, and greetings.

Sadly it was closed for a service, but I got to see the Notre Dame from the outside. It's massive! And then I took a walk along the Seine, munching a fresh baguette along the way. I was aiming for the Eiffiel Tower, which I could see in the distance. Discovered Pont de l'Archeveche, the bridge with all the padlocks along the way, and it felt pretty unreal, like when I saw the Arc- so famous and iconic! But... those locks and the glowing river at night had nothing on the Eiffel Tower.

I took the elevator to the top and saw the whole city. Took a few pictures for foreign couples, lost feeling in all parts of my body due to the Everest windchill, and I just soaked it in.

-Written from the airport shuttle:

The next day, I woke up bright and early (well actually, it was still dark until 9 am), and did what every tourist in Paris must: visited the Louvre. They aren't kidding- it's big. Too big, in my opinion. Quantity doesn't always beat quality, and if I had been in charge, I would have been more selective. No one wants to see 3,000 naked marble men. No matter how chiseled (get it?) their abs are. But still, it really is an impressive place. I learned a lot about Islamic, Greek, French and Italian art, saw all the essentials, and explored until my eyes stopped being able to focus on and appreciate what I was seeing. My favorite part of the Louvre, honestly, was people-watching. Lots of Asian tourists frantically snapping pictures, bored school groups, a bunch of very Southern ladies from Alabama or something, and the painters and sketchers recreating the works.

Bangs and pigtails are very in in Japan

If it's in the museum, it must be important enough for a picture

The crowd to see the Mona Lisa

My Mona Lisa smile, with her in the background. See the resemblance?

The artiste in action

Henry Winkler's long-lost twin? Or maybe Scorcese...

Another recreationist in action (on the right)

It's a big, big place.

Next, I took the Metro (my home away from home) to Montmatre, an artsy district with tons of windy, hilly streets and stalls. At the top of the mountain is Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart)- a breathtaking cathedral. Just like in Spain, cathedrals are a huge deal here, and worship is always accompanied by stained glass and gold plaques.

I dropped by the hostel after that for a free afternoon crepe! The guy asked if I wanted it with sugar or with jam. I said both. And then I was off again.

The Musee D'Orsay. Too much to say about this place. Definitely the best thing I did in Paris. And because I'm a student in the EU for now, I got in for free! With Dad's advice, I got the audio guide, and was super glad I did. The museum has all my favorite artists under one (gorgeous and ornate) roof: Van Gogh, Monet, Seurat, Renoir. And a beautiful model of the Opera House. And so much more. It was just... I was just so glad to be there. I stayed until they kicked me out at closing. (Side note- they say "Van Gof"in British English, since it's Dutch. Do all Americans say it wrong?!) I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside, sadly. Just use your imagiation.

My hostel's stairwell. Fancy wallpaper!

The restaurants in Paris really do look like the little places in the States designed to look French! But the waitress was so rude and abrupt that it was definitely still France. The quiche du jour- with beef, tomatoes and pesto- was out of this world. It really was, Nanny. Sorry to keep talking about food! But French food really is superior. All the French people in the UK and Spain that I've talked to are very proud of it. But then again, they're French. They're proud of everything that's French!

With only a few hours til it was time to catch my airport shuttle, I shopped at a farmer's market that popped up by my hostel (must be a Friday thing). So much cheese! Fresh fish, olives, flowers and gorgeous produce, some of which I didn't recognize. I bought the best apple I've eaten in months. Everyone was nice and very cheery.

Next stop- La Defense, a cool, modern part of town with lots of outdoor artwork, and a Public String. Every city needs one.

But on the Metro trip over there, we were packed on the train with not even enough room to bend our elbows. Other cities besides LA have terrible rush hour traffic. Ours just happens on the freeways, not underground.

I'm on the shuttle now, reflecting back on my exhausting few days in Paris, France. I spent a decent amount of time just eating bread and looking around. It was perfect. Heard people say "Excuse moi" and "Oo la la" without trying to be funny or snobby! Got mistaken for a Russian by my accent. (What?!) Had conversations with people from Tunisia, Israel, Spain, Canada, Britain, and Australia. Got grossed out by everyone smoking. Tried caviar. Hated caviar. Noticed couples are all cuter when they're speaking in French. Realized that tons of music in France is from the States. (Heard the guy next to me on the Metro blasting Ke$ha.) Also realized that the US is not very accommodating to tourists- the Musee D'Orsay made loudspeaker announcements in French, English, Spanish, Italian, German AND Japanese.

Andddd I discovered that I can survive by myself in a foreign country! I'm glad to be going back, but very, very glad I went.

Au revoir, Paris. Bonjour, Edinburgh. One last week.

Funny food stuff: