Picnics in Paris!

Yesterday we were able to sleep in a little and get ready for a fun picnic by the Seine. We went to the grocery store and bought bread, cheese, wine, strawberries, olives and pasta.

Voila! :)

Simple picnics like this are perfect! We seriously had a blast. I wish we could do this every day and I may even encourage Daniel to take me on picnics when I get home! :) 

I'm having a blast here, but I've got to be more frugal! Everything here is just so expensive and I want to do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE! Today hasn't been a very nice day. I've been relaxing and working on things for school. 

It's raining outside, and the sound is so lovely. We leave the windows open in our room because they don't have air conditioning. I actually really enjoy having the windows open. We can hear everything on the street. All the busy people and cars. It makes me feel like I should get out right now and go do something, but i'm enjoying working on my blog.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention to the bridge with the love locks on it! It was so fun walking across the bridge and looking at all the different locks that people put up for their lovers, or even best friends! I will post some pictures of my favorite.

Aren't they beautiful? I may go put one on the bridge for me and Daniel! :)

xo

JB

Favorite pictures of Paris so far...

I should set this up for you. Tuesday was our field trip day with the Hemingway class. We went to Montmartre where Moulin Rouge is. We walked through this cute neighborhood and up the steep hill, and many steps. The walk was long, and I definitely got my exercise for the day. At the top of the hill was the Sacre coeur. Sacre coeur means "Sacred Heart." It was amazing.

I'm definitely hanging this on my wall when I get home. It's just beautiful!

As I was standing there I began to think (disclaimer: I don't know very much about this church, except that it's beautiful and provides a great view of the city) of the people in the little neighborhood down the hill and imagined them walking to church, up all those steps and never complaining once like I wanted to. I think that may have been what stopped me from complaining. Who could complain about going to see something so gorgeous? The people who attended the church probably walked up that steep hill often and enjoyed every moment, so I will too. 

From the church we had an incredible view of the city. I want to go back and see it at night time. 

It's like i'm in another world.

Do you think the people who see this view every day still marvel at how wonderful it is?

Hmm...

xo

JB

Paris est belle

Every morning at the Fiap (where we are living in Paris) we get to wake up to the lovely sound of construction right across the street. It's just wonderful....

...i'm kidding about it being wonderful.

But, since i'm up, I will blog! :)

Sunday we went to Claude Monet's gardens and it was so gorgeous. Unfortunately for me, I was exhausted that day. I felt like the jet lag and staying up late from the concert all hit me. However, I got over it and enjoyed the once in a lifetime opportunity. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the garden:

 It's pink, of course I love it!

Best friends in the garden! :)

Now tell me this isn't beautiful. Does this look familiar to anyone?:)

Funky flowers!

The gardens were beyond beautiful. I would like to go back and spend some more time there. 

After the gardens we drove a little ways to see where van Gogh is buried. We had to walk across this huge wheat field to get to the cemetery, but it was a lot of fun and very beautiful in the country side.

The pretty red flower is called a poppie! They were everywhere! 

 The group in the wheat field!

Our final destination, van Gogh's (and his brother) grave!

I know some of these pictures are probably truly boring to my facebook friends, because none of these pictures do France justice. The beauty here is overwhelming! 

xo 

JB

Magnifique!

I cannot believe that I am in Paris. It is so amazing here! We arrived on Friday, I can't even remember what time. I did not feel jet lag at all. I think I was just so excited I could barely stand it!

However, as soon as we got here we stayed busy 24/7. Which is GREAT! I was just incredibly exhausted yesterday. Which is why i'm just now blogging.

First I will start with how nice the people here are. I bought an international phone and I could not get over how incredibly helpful and kind the people were in the store. They spoke some English and I attempted a little French. It was fun! Also, the people anywhere have been nice as long as we try to speak a little French and be polite everyone is happy! Just like in America, people are rude to you if you are rude to them. Just say "Bonjour! Comment allez-vous" which is "Hello! How are you?" and "excusez moi" or "excuse me" Simple words can go a long way! :)

We went to the Louvre on Saturday, bright and early! It was a blast though! I will post my favorite pictures from there!

"The Nike"

 Statue with cupids hand on her back

The detail in this is amazing in person.

Saturday night I went with my best friends to the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. I don't know that much about them, but I seriously had a blast. We had to run to get to the concert because we were late, but looking back at that it was a lot of fun. After the concert we had to get through the HUGE crowd to make it to the last metro ride home! It was intense, but so much fun! I want to do it again!

Everything here is so busy all the time. Which explains why I'm just now blogging. We never have a moment to even think it feels like. I've enjoyed being out in Paris, but I am thankful for this down time i'm having right now. 

I miss everyone back at home, but i'm having the time of my life! I'm so lucky to be here! I will try to do better at posting, but I should cut this one off because it is long! 

Au revoir!

oh, P.S. Mrs. Eisenhart, if you are reading this, I went to Notre Dame on Monday evening to listen to the Gregorian Chants and they sang in Latin. It was beautiful! I will post the words from the program later!