Bienvenue à Paris

Last night was epic. We never did find the Belgian waffle stand outside Bruxxels Midi train station, but we more than made up for that failed adventure upon arrival in Paris.

First impression of the city: dreary and gypsy-infested. We were accosted by 2 gypsys almost as soon as we walkesd into the main terminal of Paris Norde. They asked up if we spoke English before holding up a sheet of paper with scrawled words reminiscant of a generous offer from a Nigerian prince.

It was also pouring, and the strange, sketchy-looking shops and knock-off Rolex hawkers were respectively deserted and in our faces. For the first time since the trip started, it was not a pleasant walk to the hostel.

After checking in and dropping off our bags, we went out to explore the Sacre Coeur, a giant cathedral perched atop hundreds of stairs, which was right down the street. The view from the top of those stairs was beautiful and gloomy; low, thick, gray clouds hung suspended, floating above the city.

Around 5:30 I called Ben, a friend I met at NUJLS in New York City at Columbia University in February 2008. We met in front of the La Boheme Cafe near the Sacre Coeur. Through the torrential downpour he took us to his friend Francois' apartment down the street from the Moulin Rouge. THey both took us to the cheapest bar around, where I got to order my first 1.50 Euro glass of rose in French. We also met this random girl there named Claire, who was celebrating her birthday with kiwi vodka shots and whose English improved with each one. She and her friends were a lot of fun.

Still soaked, we all walked Francois home before hopping the metro down to La Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris where Ben attends class for his month of study abroad from Yale. We got delicious pizza and many bottles of fine, cheap French wine.

The night was spent reveling in drunken conversation, laughing, and yelling with Ben's friends Nina, Kiet, and Esther while Ben tried the whole time, desperately and in vain, to keep us from waking neighbors.

After lunch at the school's cafeteria, we set off back to the hostel to continue our day.