polarizeme

My journey to Paris, France began at 4:30am. I “woke up” (ie - stood up. I hadn’t been to sleep yet), put some decent clothes on, packed some remaining items and said my goodbyes to Krispy. I caught the first tube of the day - 5am on the dot. Once on the Eurostar, I dragged myself to the food/drink car and ordered some orange juice and a croissant; the taste told me one thing for certain about my impending trip to France - food was going to be good.

2 hours and 40 minutes later, I was in Paris.

I began my visit with a nice, long, welcoming hug as Chelsea and I made our way to the metro. Our mission: to drop off my luggage and get some food in our bellies. After poking around and checking out our options, we agreed on a Japanese place where lunch consisted of some tastey morsels - I had salmon teriyaki - and a brief lesson in how to say “check, please!” in French [l’addition, s’il vous plaît!]. Also, I’d just like to point out that Paris houses the coolest metro stop name ever - “Les Gobelins”.

After lunch, we made our way back to Chelsea’s apt, where I was introduced to her incredibly nice roomate, Jackie, and their equally as nice friend Natalie. Tonight was going to be a night for drinking; it was their friend Ashley’s birthday and what better way for him to spend it than with his friends, right? Right. We all headed out to walk around for a bit so they could show me around town a little, and so we could pick up some beer/wine for later. We stopped at a crêpe stand and the four of us indulged in crêpes filled with Nutella and sliced bananas; oh my God, you’ve never had anything so damned delicious.

After a small nap on everyone else’s part (and a re-read of “The Dark Knight Returns” on my end), we all got ready and headed out for the evening. To be honest, I can’t accurately capture the events of the evening into text. There was drinking. There was laughing. Ashley and I didn’t speak the same language, but through a few words here and there and lots of over-exaggerated gestures, we got along amazingly. Oh, also, Chelsea and her friends taught Ashley how to say “boobs” a few days prior… he went to painstaking lengths to make sure he said it at just the right time (translation - whenever he wanted to, he yelled it in the most animated way possible) and it was fucking hilarious. After hours of drinking, conversing, laughing, accidentally breaking the tops off of glass beer bottles, peeing and eating candy from the store accross the street… we made our way [drunkenly] home.

My last night in London I bought myself an umbrella. Smart move, as it rained quite a few times during my stay in Paris. Quite honestly, it wasn’t a bother. Nothing could have ruined my time spent with one of the most genuine, welcoming and lovely people I know.

The rest of my time in Paris was spent doing many various things with Chelsea and all of her wonderful friends that I had the pleasure of meeting while I was there. We visited Notre Dame de Paris, the Eiffel Tower, ate more lovely food, perused through a fruit/veggie/meat/everything market, and God knows what else.

Paris is actually a little dirtier than I had always imagined, but (to be quite honest) I don’t think it would be as charming without it… if that makes any sense at all. I couldn’t have asked for a better time, and I want to thank each and every one of the people that I met while I was there.
I want to thank you all for your hospitality and kindness. I want to thank you for letting a complete stranger into your circle of friends - it meant the world to me.

So, here I am… back in the States. My mind, heart and soul are all still stuck; spread throughout various locations in Europe, while my body drones on with some sort of life back here in America. I truly can’t wait for my return, and am counting down the days until it’s possible to be reunited with where my heart truly lies.

I miss you, England.

PS - while in England I discovered a candybar called Fruitasia.
EAT ONE OF THESE!