If the blog is French, is it a bloguette?

London Wednesday. Paris Thursday? Oh yea, that’s my life. Our ship docked in Le Havre, France and I was lucky enough to be an escort on “A Taste of Paris.” There was a crew tour going into town, but why spend $40 when I knew I could probably go in for free with a bunch of guests? I saw the crew going to their bus, it was filled with my friends, but also some people I’d rather not spend 2.5 hours on a bus with. I was glad I went alone. That would be the theme for the day.

My tour gave us about an hour drive around the major sights of the city – L’Arc de Triomphe, Le Champs-Elysees, Le Notre Dame Cathedral, L’Opera, Le Louvre, Les Hotels des Invalides, etc. – and dropped us off at the Eiffel Tower for four hours of free time. I saw John and Jamie taking photos and rushed to meet up with them and my other friends they were with. I tried to convince Jamie to go shopping with me while she tried to convince me to go sightseeing with them. I did the sightseeing thing last year and the moment I found out about this tour I told myself I was going to stroll the Champs-Elysees and have lunch at a sidewalk café like I’d always dreamed of as a girl. When Jamie and my friends asked me to go I was tempted. It was nice to have company, but I remembered I had a few hours and I’d regret not doing what I went there for. So I said bye and went off on my own. Did I get lost? Nope! I walked on that beautiful French day with the sun shining along the Avenue d’Iene down to the Arc de Triomphe and began my relaxing stroll along the Champs-Elysees. I browsed the shops, drooled at the diamonds in the Cariter window and watched the fabulous people eating their 22 Euro ham sandwiches knowing someday I’ll come back for my own overpriced lunch.

I found a small sandwich shop where I got exactly what I wanted – a jambon blanch baguette (baguette with ham and butter) and a coke – and sat at the table on the sidewalk. I finally did it. I couldn’t help but smile at my progression. A year and a half ago I was eating plain baguettes and bottles of water on park benches, this time it was a jambon blanc baguette and a coke, next time a salad, croissant and glass of wine, perhaps? Before you know it I’ll be staying at the Ritz and buying my own Cartier necklaces!

After a long stroll I still had an hour and a half before my bus came. Rather than rush through the city trying to see something else, I went back to the Eiffel Tower and nestled into a nice soft spot of grass. I laid in the sun closing my eyes just so I could open them again on the Tower. What a thrill to open your eyes to such a sight. I had some brief visitors, Kyle and Natalie from the ship, Sarah and Christina from the ship, and of course John, Jamie, Matt and Marc stopped and sat with me until their bus came. In my last half hour alone I laid in the sun listening to the French around me and watching the Tower.

If love is what I feel for London, then there are absolutely no words to describe what I have for Paris. I’m hopelessly, undoubtedly, entirely, devotedly captured by Paris. I swear that city never disappoints – well, me anyway, sorry Tiff and Kate. : )