Death on the Metro

This morning we slept in until 8:15, and were out the door by 9:15. We got to the metro and I realized I had left my carte orange at home in my coat pocket. Since we had to meet someone at 10, I had to buy a day pass. I was really bummed to spend an extra 6 Euros, until my roommate told me that when she leaves on Saturday, she has a pass that is good for all of June she will give me, so I won't have to buy any more metro passes (well, that is as long as I remember to bring mine in the mornings!)

We got off at the Cité metro stop and there were a ton of paramedics with an ALS machine trying to resuscitate some man! It was horrible! I have never seen anything like it, and I hope I never do again. I've thought about that man all day and wondered if he made it or not...

After that, we went to find the Police Museum. It took us a good 40 minutes and lots of stops to check the map, but we finally found it! A young policeman was standing in front and asked if he could help us. We said "oui - musee de police??" and he said, "Ferme." Closed. He went on to explain (and Lisa translated) that a movie was being filmed there and it would be open tomorrow. So...we'll be headed back there another day.

From there we went up to the Eglise St. Etienne-du-Mont (St. Stephen of the Mount). I have some pretty amazing photos - I will attempt to post them tonight, so look for those. We met a very nice woman who was happy to tell us about the history of the church, and we were able to see the remains of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris.

After that, we sat at a little cafe and had lunch - I had a ham and cheese sandwich on a baguette. It was tres bon! Stacey and I parted ways with Lisa (oh no! we were in Paris without our translator!) and headed to the Pantheon. Despite my freakish fear of heights, I agreed to go to the top of the Pantheon. We climbed to the top and went outside (where the guide asked me if I was okay - and I thought I was hiding my fear well...) and WOW!!! What a view! We could see everything in Paris. It was unbelievable (again, I will post photos). From there we explored the Crypt and I saw some of my favorite (and not so favorite) historic figures. They had a big exhibit on Émile Zola. I was so excited to see it, until I walked in and remembered that I was in France, so it was all in French...the only words I understood were, "J'Accuse!" Oh well...that is why I left there and headed off to French class.

We arrived at class and worked on introductions and very basic things like the alphabet and numbers. Our teacher's name is Laurent (as in the late, great Yves Saint). I made him laugh a few times...not sure if that was a good or bad thing yet. We spent the last hour of class at the computer lab and I just laughed. We had to do these exercises that French kids probably do in kindergarten! They had little "chansons" (songs) for everything. I learned to count to ten singing "dix petites fleures" (ten little flowers) to the tune of "Ten Little Indians." All of that was quite taxing, so Stacey, Lisa and two other girls (one from Colombia, the other from Argentina) went and had a glass of wine at a cafe by the school. That was probably the second best part of the day...the first was waking up and realizing I was still in Paris!

Tonight's dinner was veal. I ate it not realizing what it was. Oops. But, when in Rome (or in this case, Paris...) After dinner the grandfather brought out some children's stories for me - a comic series called "The Triplets." I think the children here got a kick out of listening to me read. I must have sounded completely (forgive my political incorrectness here) retarded. Lisa was so patient in helping me pronounce each word and helping me translate. Then the grandfather offered me French chocolate and told me it was the best in the world. He got no argument from me!!!

Tomorrow, we are going to Les Halles after our morning classes. I am sure I will have great stories to tell, so tune in "demain" (tomorrow).

Bonne Nuit!