Day 18 (Paris)

We had to wake up bright and early today in order to head back to Paris (yay!). We woke up at 6:30 (after being up till 3 in the morning packing) so that we could catch an 8:04 train to Avignon then hop on the TGV back to Paris. We got to Paris with no problems though fitting the ten of us with all of our luggage into Taxis was quite a feat. The hotel we're staying at, L'Hotel Virginia, is really nice. Our room is beautiful and we have a decent view from our balcony. Also it's nice to have a little more privacy. I'm so glad to be back in Paris, Isle sur la Sorgue was just a little too small for me, so being back to the hustle and bustle is a nice change. After we settled in, we went out for lunch and went over some of the ground rules and things to think about while in Paris like pickpockets. After lunch we were given some free time. Most of the girls wanted to rest after the long ride here but I was rearing to go, finally having something to do. Jessica and I decided to head to the Latin Quarter to see the Pantheon. I just love the metro here, it's easy and convenient. I wish we had something like that in the states. Unfortunately, by the time we got to the Pantheon, the upper level was closed so we decided not to go in. Why pay for it if you can't see the whole thing? But I'm definitely going to go back. However, all was not lost. On the way there, we ran into a Gay and Lesbian parade. It was amazing thousands of people gathering to celebrate diversity and acceptance. We had so much fun just watching all the floats (trucks) and the people that were dressed up for the occasion. Some of the stuff was a bit shocking...it's amazing what's acceptable in France. The other thing that thrilled me was the fact there was not a single protestor there. If this would have taken place in the State, there would have been protestors everywhere. Instead, here, everyone was just out to have a good time which is so refreshing. We watched the parade for a bit then headed back to the hotel to meet up with the group and head to the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is inspiring, though slightly overrated I think. Being that I'm afraid of height (and the fact that the structure is almost entirely open-air), I decided not to go up, though many in the group tried to change my mind. I know myself well enough to know that there was a strong possibility that I would panic on the way up there and I didn't want to risk it. Miles stayed with me while the group went up. We explored the beautiful greens in front of the Tower as we talked about movies and literature which was lots of fun. We also discovered a little monument that was absolutely fascinating. I think it was dedication to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and was full of intricate designs. It was so much fun to look for different thing that we recognized on the metal work some of which included a depiction of Galileo, an amphitheater, mathematical equations, and a pyramid with the names of famous french philosophers. As we were leaving the Eiffel Tower, it was just getting dark, so we got to catch a glimpse of it lit up, which was pretty. The Metro ride home was a bit of a fiasco: everyone is trying to crowd on and get home before the trains stop running for the night.