A Summary of Paris

We arrived in Dublin around 8:00am, Wednesday the 26th. We arrived in France six hours later after a morning Guinness layover. Our flights were extremely easy and short, it did not feel like we were in Europe. We took the train into Paris, looking as foreign as possible; three people moving to Europe require half a train car for luggage space.

Our first hostel was beautiful. Great location, great view.

Day one meant parting with Nick, a loss indeed. He left to move to southern France for the year though, so I don't feel so bad.

That night we found ourselves at the Eiffel Tower.

It's amazing to me how familiar Paris seems. It's as though I recognize everything, it feels like returning to an old home, one that has kept living without you.

We met with a friend from Paris on our final day, rented bikes, and got a wonderful free tour around the city.

Notre Dame was undeniably astounding, but somewhat disgusting as well. This was the first real tourist spot in which we spent time. It was a Sunday afternoon church service and there were thousands of people meandering around snapping pictures. The church is beautiful, I see it's appeal. The lack of any sort of heavenly presence is saddening.


Much of our time was spent walking around and sitting at cafes. Paris has not only a diversity of people but of personalities. Fashions vary from person to person, not group to group.
Wine is regularly cheaper than water.

A typical evening.

I've moved to a different hostel for my last night. It's in the Montmarte area, about a five minute walk from Sacre Couer. All of our hostel roommates so far have been from Australia, except one from Argentina.

I'm very excited to move to Freiburg tomorrow, a little anxious as well. My whole summer has been moving and experiencing new cultures, Paris has been the climax of it all. I've hit a wall with traveling though. You're granted only limited access to a culture when you're moving through, and when you don't speak the language. I'm ready to immerse myself in a culture, begin establishing connections. There is a void without them.