Paris Take 2!

Leaving for Paris on Wednesday the 29^th I was headed to by far my favorite place in the world so far! This time my excuse to go back was to see my grandparents. They have been in Europe for about a month now. I was given the vacation time and have been dying to see some family so off to Paris I went!

Day 1, Thursday May 30, 2013
1^st stop. The Louvre! Meeting my grandparents at the museum it was the first time in 10 months I had seen some of my family. (Other then my parents) My grandparents are exactly how I remember them and for me that was something that was absolutely amazing to see and hear! I missed being with them and being able to hear all of their stories. In the past year they spent a great amount of time in Australia and New Zealand. So I was able to hear and get the low down on their trip and to hear all there classic Nana and Papa moments! But really I didn’t ever realize how much I enjoyed talking to my family and friends so much until everything gets taken away and you are ”alone.” But we met at the Louvre and stayed there for a couple of hours… Honestly there is so much there I saw all new things and it was ABSOLUTLY amazing! This time I saw a lot more painting and this is really something that I could stop and appreciate for hours! After we left the Louvre we separated, I went to check into my hostel and ended up sleeping so next I saw them on Friday.

  

Day 2, Friday May 31, 2013

Vincents painting and the real thing

Meeting up with my grandparents at the house that they were staying at which happened to be there past exchange student I was able to catch up with Jacqueline, which was nice. When we finally left we were headed for the old church that Vincent Van Gogh had painted and also his grave. I thought that it was amazing to be around something so old, something so prestigious, and beautiful. Although I was very surprised to see that the way they have chosen to “decorate” Vincent and his brother’s grave was though the solution of ivy. After visiting the Church and his grave we made a stop by Claude Monet’s house and garden. I honestly walking through here was just shocked. It was so beautiful the flowers were amazing and there were so many! His house was so small on the outside but on the inside it looked HUGE! Then we made it to my favorite part of going to Monet’s house and garden was BY FAR his pond area! It in a one-word description I would say extraordinary.  Now we walked threw all this area and while nana and I were walking behind my grandpa sneaking cookies it turned out he knew the whole time and made sure to tell us! And the best part was my grandma sticking her tongue out at him
and me on the side trying to hide my giggles! When finally getting back to Paris we had decided to take a walk and we went to see the Dôme Church. The golden domed church took 27 years to build. In the crypt lies Napoleon, whose final wish was to have his ashes “rest on the bank of the Seine.” This was truly a sight to see. From the outside your eyes cannot avoid the golden tip and once entering there is just so much to see it is rather overwhelming! Down on the same level as the crypt there were statues and 3Dmarble art “things.” I was honestly amazed. It was so beautiful and it made me feel so small! After walking around the crypt and surrounding area we decided to take a break. Grabbing a beer and a seat we sat and continued to catch up on life!

Day 3, Saturday June 1, 2013

Arriving to meet up with my grandparents and Jacqueline we went out at around 11 and started out with an amazing outdoor market! Walking through and just seeing all the food was killing me! I had just eaten and then walking through here… I think I could have tried one of EVERYTHING we saw! French food, bread, cookies, cheese, meat, BREAD, potatoes and MORE BREAD! And I would just like to put out this disclaimer that I am not a huge fan of bread but WOW in France I would die a happy girl to just have bread and butter! :D  After walking through there I was leaving a hungry little girl BUT we were headed to another area of Paris that I had not seen! And Laura came with us, which is Jacqueline’s daughter. Her and I get along very well we only had a small problem of a complete language barrier! Although even with that we still got along very well! After all the walking when we went back to the house and for dinner we had a “traditional” -ish French dinner including cheesy

potatoes, meat, different pates, cheese, bread, and SO MUCH FOOD but you also cant forget the wine! Jacqueline taught me how to appreciate wine, what you eat with what, and all that jazz! So now I guess I can fully appreciate wine! Finally at 12 I decided that I needed to get back to my hostel and sleep.

Day 4, Saturday June 2, 2013. Saying goodbye

My last day in Paris and saying goodbye to my grandparents for a couple of weeks was all good! I had some time after my grandparents left to see another amazing open-air market and really I wish we had more of these in the states. It’s all fresh and so yummy looking! I decided to buy a thigh and I took it over to the Eifel tower, which was near by with a pastry and sit and indulge in the sun.  After at around 330 I headed back to Jacqueline’s house to have a late lunch. This time it was traditional Brazilian and it was so good! After eating and saying my final good byes to the family I left and headed to catch my train home!

Honestly I love Paris so much! I am happy about being given the opportunities to go when I have, and I cannot wait for the future when I will return and how it will just feel like home! I feel blessed to have been able to see my grandparents and that they are here! As my days fly by homesickness comes and goes! Seeing family and friends from home makes me so happy and it reminds me that I am so lucky to be here and even luckier to have a great support system behind me pushing me forward! So thank you!

Your Wild and Crazy Little Traveler,

Natalie Romo

"The bold adventurer succeeds the best" -Ovid