Last post de France?

Well, this will probably be my last post from France, since I leave tomorrow.

Here are my observations/stories from today:

1. Today was the first day that my body has demonstrated any sort of adjustment to the time change (décalage horaire en français). This was good because I wanted to get a full day of sightseeing in, it being my last day here and all. So I got up a little before 9:00 (btw, the sun doesn't rise until about 8 and it's light until about 6). This was the first morning that I was up early enough to partake in "le fooding"--I'm not making it up...that's what my hotel's breakfast bar is called. It was very decent, with scrambled eggs, sausage, fruits, sliced mystery meats, and of course, croissants and pain au chocolat.

2. So, with a full tummy I headed into the city...I feel very comfortable with the trains & métro systems now! My first stop was the Centre Pompidou, the modern art museum. I like modern art because I feel like I could replicate a lot of the works, and those that I couldn't, I don't understand anyway. Pictures forthcoming...I had a ham & cheese crepe for lunch @ a café. Even though the temperature is just a little above freezing here, you can still eat outside at every café because they all have a plastic sheet surrounding the patio and space heaters--it's great! The birds think so, too, as there were cute little sparrows in the heated area, scavenging for crumbs!

3. After lunch, I just walked around for a while--taking in the culture, shopping, etc. Here are some new words that i learned during that time: verglas = ice (the kind that forms on the ground in the winter); barbe à papa = cotton candy.

4. I have also observed that the Paris métro system offers something similar to the EZ Pass...it's called Navigo and you just hold your Navigo up to a detector and walk right onto the platform. It would be a very useful thing to have if you lived in Paris!!

5. Gas costs 1.09€ per liter.

6. Oh, and I went to see the Eiffel Tower. I didn't go up it because the line was too long and I'll be going up it this summer. That has been my philosophy about a lot of things this trip btw...I've decided to save time, frustration, and money by not standing in line to do things that I'll be doing with my students this summer. Again, pictures forthcoming.

I think that's all for now...I have to decide where to have my last French dinner! Be sure to check back because i will be editing my entries, adding pictures, and I'm sure I'll have at least one more entry before i go back to school.

Thanks for following me on my trip!!! (Special shout-out to Mom, Dad, and Matt for leaving comments...thanks you guys...je vous aime!)