LES RUES DE PARIS!

We all know that the French people are notorious for protesting against the government. I applaud them for this fight, even though I had to spend all day at the airport due to the manifestations occurring in Paris. My flight was delayed several hours, and I occupied myself with some writing and studying. Since my itinerary was changed, I decided to stay at a hotel near the airport instead of bothering my hosts at such a late hour. The next morning, I did some adventuring. I trekked through charming little neighborhoods until reaching the edge of the metro line. Forty-five minutes later and I was in the heart of Paris.

It had been roughly six years since I had been in the city of love. The people hosting me were still at work, so I had plenty of time before checking in with them. I wandered the streets heading in the general direction of my lodging for the evening. Craving some caffeine, a fascinating cafe lured me inside. While sipping my double shot, I noticed the logo on the demi-tasse: Cafe Tomasso. Another exciting coincidence to add to my list on this voyage. My next stop was the public library to complete the usual todos. Finally, my hosts let me into my sleeping spot for the next couple of days. Germaine and Clemence were excellent, and their young kids were as cute as could be. After unloading my bag, I was out the door to meet up with my newest Parisien friend. She brought me to a popular spot in the area, and we spent the evening celebrating my arrival.

I quickly rolled out of bed and strapped on my running shoes. There was a heavy drizzle, but that did not stop me from getting my cardio in. With so many magical monuments in Paris, why wouldn't I make them my destinations? Naturally, the first one I had to visit was the famous Eiffel Tower. This legendary landmark looked mythical, with the surrounding fog and drizzle. The tourists were nowhere to be found on this precipitating morning. While the tower was my desired destination, I saw several other monuments on my trip back to the apartment. The most notable were: Place de la Concorde, Jardin des Tuileries, and the Louvre. After running around for several hours, I cleansed myself and returned to the streets of Paris. Finding a beer and baguette was easy, and I sat by the Seine to people-watch while refueling my body. After some studying and wandering, I returned to the apartment. My hosts had just prepared a lovely dinner and invited me to join them. It was a delicious meal, and we shot the shit for the remainder of the evening. Germaine even brought out a rare bottle of eau-de-vie, which was divine.

My morning was blessed with ideal weather conditions. The sun was shining, and there was a refreshing coolness in the air. My hosts told me of a beautiful park near our place. After a few laps around the park, I returned for a quick shower. Clemance and the kids were heading to the local Sunday morning market, and I could not miss out on this opportunity. Putain, it was magical to see all the vendors selling their wares. Naturally, I chatted with the oyster vendor with the most magical accent. After slurping down a dozen oysters and some white wine, I continued to explore the market. A few purchases later, we returned to the apartment for a little lunch. This was my first time tasting bulots, also known as snails of the sea. Germaine prepared a homemade aioli sauce for us, and I was seriously satisfied with the small snack. I found a local library to complete my usual tom tasks. After being studious, I grabbed a few more ingredients before returning to the apartment. Naturally, I had to prepare a meal for my generous hosts. It was another successful evening of dining, drinking, and discussing.

I would never overstay my welcome so that next morning it was back to the streets. After some walking, I found myself at the Gard du Nord. My new housing would be in the suburb of Saint Cloud. My host was very talkative and happily helped me settle into my new sleeping situation. Out of everyone I encountered on this trip, he was the most impressed with my French fluency. I strapped on my running shoes and was out the door, ready for more adventure. It was not long before I was lost in the Bois de Boulogne. This is the second-largest park in Paris and it was quite wonderful. Suddenly, I was back in the streets of Paris proper. I reached my destination several miles later, the famous Arc De Triumph. After hanging with the tourists, I retraced my route back to Saint Cloud. My shower was well-earned after the twelve-mile loop. It was time for some grub, so I sought out a local grocery store. For three days, I lived off of cheese, cured meats, baguettes, and wine.

The following morning I searched Saint Cloud for a proper double shot of espresso. Sadly the coffee was not super, but my study session was sufficient. My monument of the day was the Palace of Versailles. I had to pass through the small commune of Ville d'Avray. It was a quaint little community that I could see myself settling into one day. After jogging through some forestry, I found myself in the city of Versailles. It did not take long to locate the famous palace. Putain, what a royal residence this was. It might have been the most grandiose complex I have ever witnessed in my life. I arrived just as the grounds were closing and the tourist poured out of the pristine palace. The rain clouds were starting to form, so I retraced my route back to the Airbnb. I got caught in a bit of rain, but it was refreshing and added verve to my run. After my shower, I put together a cheese plate and polished off a bottle of wine. Exhausted from my thirteen-mile run, I promptly passed out.

I rolled out of bed early and started exploring the nearby park. Montretout's vantage point offers a stunning bird's-eye view of Paris that will leave you in awe. After my run, I packed up my belongings and found the local library for my daily studying. My next move was to take the metro into Paris. I met up with my friend Helene one last time before making the trek to Charles De Gaulle. There was no chance I was missing this plane, so I arrived several hours before my flight. Just like that, my five weeks in Europe were up.