Europe Day 51: Snickers Bar and Crepe

Today did not start very well.

I woke up later than I meant and threw on clothes to eat breakfast.

I missed breakfast.

I went back up to the room to take a shower.

I forgot my key in the room.

I got in the room.

I stubbed my pinky toe on the bed.

My toe split open and bled.

All I had to eat for breakfast was apple sauce and a granola bar.

Then I remembered-I had a snickers bar.

Tara from my floor last quarter gave me two snickers bars to take with me to Europe.  I was saving them for a bad day.  This morning seemed fitting.  So I dug it out of my suitecase, only slightly damaged from 51 days of travel, sat down on the floor, and ate my snickers bar.  I savored the crunch of every peanut, and carefully twisted the bar in my hand so that the long strands of carmel would not land on my chin.  It was absolutely wonderful. The world was not out to get me.  The sun was even shining outside! Everything was going to be alright.

Believe it or not, it was.  I made it to class on time, I ate lunch in the cafeteria without being horribly dissapointed, and I worked on homework.  I tried to walk to the grocery store to prepare for a picnic dinner, but could not handle it.  My foot hurt so bad! Instead, Josh, Melissa, and Kayla volunteered to do it for me.  Suddenly very concerned about my pinky toe, I mentioned that I thought it might be broken to Madame B.  Since she was already taking a student to the doctor today, she got me an appointment too.  I hobbled to metro and across town to the doctor.  She was a nice lady who spoke excellent English.  She chocked back a laugh when I told her I stubbed my toe.  I told her it was okay to laugh.  I had figured out the trip really was not necessary thirty minutes before, but by that time the appointment was already made.  I figured that at the very least she would give me a band-aid. And, of course, she did.

Madame, the other student and I went to buy Casey, our TA a cake for his birthday before going to the Luxembourg gardens.  You may recall that the last time I was here, a bird pooped on my head.  This time I did not walk under the trees-I ran.  It was not an experience I wanted to repeat.  Fortunately, the patch of grass we found had trees all around but none over head, so I was safe.  As we waited for the rest of the group to arrive, a little girl, no more than eighteen months old, tottered into our circle, standing in front of me.  I expected her to look up, realize she did not know me and run.  But no!  This adorable little girl in a pink dress with gray polk-a-dots came up to me and gave me a big sloppy kiss on the cheek!  Grinning hugely, she did the same for Madame B. and Kesley!  Then, seeing another pair of females laughing with glee, she ran to them and did the same thing!  It was adorable! She made a dash for another group of people, but her Grandmother caught her hand and led her away.  The moment she let go, little Lilly happily strode toward another group but was scooped off her feet before she could offer more kisses.  That little scene made my day so much better.

The picnic under the trees was comfortable, with everyone seated in a big circle, munching our sandwhiches and later the cake.  When we had finished, Kayla, Josh, Casey and I took the metro to Ilse St. Louise in the middle of the Seine.  Casey led us to his favorite gelato place, but I stayed true to my crepe spot.  The Mediterranean man in his white chef outfit made me a butter and sugar crepe and it was delicious.  I ate gelato in Italy, I will eat crepes in France.  It only seems fitting, at least for today.

Of course, we sat by the river and watched the sun set while enjoying our treats.  This is my absolute favorite way to spend an evening. The water flowing past, a pair of guitarists providing background music, a hot crepe in my hand, and good company at my side.  If Paris had no other wonders, I would still love it for this.