Europe Day 3: Just Don't Die

Picnic on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower-check

Relax under the Arc de Triomphe-check

Stroll down the Champ Elyees-check

A few more things to check off my bucket list!

It really was the most delightful afternoon.  As we sat in a circle enjoying our picnic, I felt the bonds between us strengthen.  Beverages, cheese, and strawberries were passed around the circle so that everyone could enjoy the most local food possible during our stay.  The sun shone brightly, but a cooling breeze prevented us from getting too hot.  We took pictures and laughed, and felt very Parisian.  As Lauren pointed out: "There is nothing we have to do but not die.  This is the life."

Soaking up the sun and good company for an hour or two, a group of us walked to le Arc de Triomphe, built by Napoleon and re-decorated after the French Revolution.  One the way there we stopped at a bathroom, unique because the one room was for both genders.  The men had one large stall with urinals-I don't know how many, I didn't look-and the women had several single stalls.  Everyone who entered seemed a little taken aback that there was no Man or Woman sign outside the door, and I did not want to go in at first, but after I saw a few women coming out, I decided to take the plunge.  Public restrooms are a rariety in Paris, so it was worth the risk.

Music drew us to watch a group of b-boys performing on the street.  Street performers here are so legit!  They bring speakers and microphones, pump up the crowd, and wear matching t-shirts.  After a few minutes of warm up, they said the real show would start in five minutes, so we ought to pay a little or leave-we left.

When the Parisians are building roads, but a national monument is in the way, they simply make it the center of a round-about and keep building the road. While both pratical and history preserving, it means that the tourists have to track down underground tunnels to get to the monument, and that is easier said than done.  We walked at least halfway around this enourmous traffic circle before we could come anywhere close to the actual monument, but once we got there, we were duly rewarded.  We sat down underneath, refreshed by the breeze for nearly twenty minutes, enjoy a chance to rest our tired feet.  Walking around the entire thing, it is excellently decorated.  I am so amazed at what people could accomplish so many years ago!  I wonder if modern day humans could construct anything close to being so magnificent and elaborate.

At long last, we visited the Champ Elysees.  This is a huge shopping street filled with everything expensive.  Ironically enough, one of the first stores we notice was a Mcdonalds. How they managed to get on the Champ Elysees I'll never understand.

I so enjoyed today.  I intend to spend the remaining weeks abroad like this-doing absolutely nothing important except trying not to die.