Parislog 2
Feb. 28, 2006


I am still unable to sleep the night through. I wake up at 3 and can't go back to sleep until 7. I hope that changes soon.

Yesterday I went on a long walk around a piece of the neighborhood and thoroughly enjoyed all the visuals.
Everywhere is just so amazingly old compared to our part of the world. Then right next to an ancient building will be a super modern glass structure. As I was walking down a boulevard, I saw the stereotypical French couple having a long and thorough kiss on the sidewalk. People carried their baguettes home and little tiny dogs stroll along.

I turn a corner; following a little walking tour that
I found in the telephone book, and was walking along a high wall that felt like it had been built 300 years ago and on the other side was some sort of ancient edifice. I could feel the history and it seemed as though the ancients were walking beside me.

Most of the streets are big enough for one car only and whenever a delivery truck stops the whole area stops moving. Then the other drivers start honking but no matter because that truck doesn't move until it is done. I guess they just want to make sure the world knows how annoyed they are.

Today I went on walk to the Catacombs. It wasn't terribly expensive, only 5€ for the visit. You go down deep under the city, under the sewers and subways to what was once an old quarry that was used as an ossuary during the 1800's. They are an unbelievable amount of human skeletons in there neatly piled up into designs. Very bizarre. One must not allow themselves to dwell on how far under the city they are as it is a bit unnerving. Then you come to a section where you can see what some of the cave-ins looked like just before the streets above collapsed. There is a big empty vault above your head, 30 ft. Now it is sealed with concrete so that there is no danger but it gives one pause.

On the way back home I chose a different path and found myself a cheap but cute and serviceable winter coat so that I can stop freezing out there. I checked out a lot of the stores and found a lot of different items than state side. I look forward to being employed and having some extra cash for ....shoooooooping.

Lastly I went to the local fromagery (cheese store) and bought myself some Roquefort and am excited to try it. The guy who sold it to me said that it was good right now. Did you know that cheese has a perfect stage of readiness?

Oh and I am on the 5th floor and am using the stairs every day even though there is an elevator. I like the built in exercise and somehow it just seems so French ;)

Hope everyone is well.