Author: streeter.30

 

Saturday was our free day. I spent the morning getting lost in the streets of Paris. I was out too early because there were some shops that were not even open yet. I went on a truffle and salt hunt and I ended up at a gourmet grocery store called La Grande épicerie de Paris. Walking in, I felt like I had went into food  Heaven. Spices from all over, cheeses, meats, wines, and even clothes. If I go back to Paris I am definitely going back there. It was one of the highlights of my trip.

At night I met up with Anu and Gianna and we went to a French hidden bar. It was really cool, there was music from the 40s and 50s. The drinks were also really good. We took one of the late trains there, it was so late that I thought we weren’t going to be able to take a train back. The leg room in the train made me feel bad for other tall people like myself. We bought some souvenirs and gelato and enjoyed our last night in France.

 

In the airport, i had a window seat and managed to photograph Scotland as we were flying overhead. Upon arriving home, I showed my dad the gift I gave him ( he plays cards for a living). And I took a photo to capture his joy.

 

Today was the day we visited the icon of Paris; the Eiffel Tower. It was grand and the view from the second floor was marvelous and breathtaking.  Afterwards we went the museum de l’homme. I really enjoyed this museum. Even though I could barely understand a lot of the French text, it was amazing to see mankind’s evolution and the animals, culture, and landscape that influenced us.

i really enjoy how eventhough we are all human, we have different thoughts, cultural norms, and lifestyles.  I could have spent longer in that museum but we had other places to be. The Pasteur museum to be precise.

 

This museum was really cool. Even though I could barely understand the guide, it was interesting to learn more about Pasteur, his patriotism, and his lesser known talent as a painter. After this museum, we went the museum of arts and measures. I was exhausted at this point, but I still found the history of the meter interesting. If I had to explain to an alien what exactly a meter is, I don’t think If I’d be able to.

 

 

 

 

 

This was one of the more interesting days of the trip. We first went to the Jardin des plantés and then to the archeological museum. At this museum, I got a bad migraine with photophobia, muscle weakness, nausea, and extreme dizziness. I walked to the first 2 floors of the museum then I sat helplessly on a bench as I tried to gather enough strength to make the trip home. I must have looked pretty miserable because a security guard came up to me concerned and with the help of a translator helped me get some water. Afterwards I went to the hotel for rest and my medicine to kick in. I was a bit upset that I didn’t get to see the other museums with my other classmates. I did however, get to taste delightful French food that night with bone marrow, escargot, and duck breast that was more like steak than any duck I had anywhere else.

This was the day we traveled to Paris via the Eurostar. In the train station I was amazed how there was alcohol left unattended like Red Bull is here in some malls.  I don’t think that could have ever happened in the USA. We visited Notre Dame where I saw everything and took my time( I didn’t realize people were waiting for me). Afterwards, I went to the hotel to warm up because I forgot my coat. I slept for most of the evening, woke up and ordered crepes in broken French and enjoyed my first night in Paris.

 

 

We started the day at Westminster Abbey. I was a bit sad that there were no pictures allowed but seeing as it was a church, I understood. I had heard about the Westminster choir and it was really cool to see where they sing and the school they belong to.

it was really cool seeing the different types of coffins and the history and planning that went into them. It was also interesting to learn that they have an unknown soldier as well, and all the “extraness” that the royalty put into their ceremonies.

after the abbey we went to the London eye and then the royal society. It was really cool to see Newton’s death mask and the very old first copies of books that were to change the world.

Afterwards, we went to buckingham palace (the queen’s least favorite). After group dinner, Anu and I visited a hidden bar behind a bookshelf. It transported me back to a time of prohibition and enforced the notion that I’d like secret rooms and floors in my future household.

 

 

That morning I woke up early to do a bit of exploring on my own. I had breakfast at the hotel where I just sat and witnessed London wake up. They still have milkmen who deliver milk in glass bottles! It was a shock as I hadn’t seen that before.aftee walking around our hotel area, I went to St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London and Tower bridge and Burroughs market. At the market, it was a sight to see, huge grapes, many varieties of salt, fresh truffles, and fresh sausage surrounded in a powdery white mold.  I had gnocchi that was delish, and tried honey that ranged from very light to…cough syrup. (I had to drink vinegar to get that taste out of my mouth).

 

i visited a shop and had a nice long chat about herbalism in modern London. I met up with Caroline and we went to Kings College, and to the sky Garden. The garden was very nice, but there was long lines, a packed elevator ride and light security. In the end, it was all worth it because the view of London was amazing and I had a chance to sit down and rest for a bit. After Caroline and I parted ways, I went back to the Indian restaurant and tried another dish. I was two pounds short, but since they were closing and I was there the night before it was alright. (I had a brief vision of me washing dishes all night though).

After lovely sleep( I over slept), we made our way to the British museum. I’m glad I had left overs from the Indian restaurant or I wouldn’t have had breakfast. The museum was amazing in its enormity and vastness. Nearly every inhabitable continent was covered, and I learned a lot. My mom and brother were there in December, so it was a bit surreal to stand in the same places they stood and see the same things they did.

In the Bible, I’ve read stories about temples and gates, but it wasn’t until that day that I realized how extraordinary they were. Gates the height of 5 men towered above me, pillars that just inspired awe stood before me. It made me wish that I could go back to a time when this type of architecture was actively used and constructed. (If only I had a TARDIS)

 

After the museum, I went back to the hotel to charge my phone and check on the directions to Chinatown. After getting everything situated, I went to Chinatown and walked into nearly every Chinese medicine shop I saw. I was able to practice my mandarin  and see a potential place where I could work in the future. After walking around, I went to a nice Malaysian restaurant and had food so delicious that I cried tears of joy.

I got to try herbal tea from herbs I had coincidentally bought in china. It was nice to see the proper way to combine the flavors.

I also witnessed a presentation of a cult that is banned in china. It was interesting to see two sides of the same story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After the plane landing and going through customs, we arrived in London. As I stepped off the plane, a wave of accents rushed over me and it hit me, I was in London! I was actually in Europe. I tried not to get left behind as I took in everything around me, the subtle differences of the airport, the vending machines with the pound sign and random British snacks and drinks. It all awed me.

After meeting with out guide and bus driver, we had a quick snack at a gas station before heading to Downe house and our first British Pub. The route there was a bit tricky as British two way streets are as wide as one way streets back home and we were in a tour bus, so needless to say passing drivers was a close one. Once in Downe, we went to the George and Dragon pub where I had fish and chips (sans the chips) for the first time. It was decent, the batter had a taste of beer and other flavours.

After lunch, we went to see the church where Darwin briefly laid and where the rest of his family was buried. Afterwards, we walked off our meal towards Downe house. It was nice walking the route that people of previous centuries have walked. (Minus the close calls from the cars of course.) it was really nice seeing the little things that still stood like Darwin’s son’s name carving in the cupboard.

 

After quick souvenirs, photos, we were back on the bus headed to our hotel. The tour guide said it was 17 miles, but it took longer than an hour…long enough for me to nap and wake up. After checking in and getting settled, we went our separate ways to enjoy London’s night life. I personally enjoyed some nice Indian food with Anu. The food tasted so fresh and tasty, I can see why the British enjoy Indian food.