Sorry it has been a while since my last update! I still have terrible internet here. This past weekend I went to Paris with a few people on a bus tour that was a great amount of fun! We had a tour guide that looked like a mix between Jesus and Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. We got onto a train at 8pm which connected us with our bus that we rode throughout the night. In the morning we woke up at 5:30am in front of the Arch de Triomphe to being our tour.
Following the Arch de Triomphe we saw the Eiffel Tower and then our tour guide was able to get us into the Louvre for free!
Following that we toured around the city. I climbed the tower of Notre Dame to see the bell and went into the cathedral as well. We found a nice cafe to eat some french baguettes at fora decent price and shopped along the streets where are the vendors are located. I was able to find some very pretty artwork to bring back to hang in the new apartment in July which I was very excited about. After touring around all over the main centers in Paris we finished up the day on a boat tour of the historical sites and then went off to the hotel to eat some chinese and get some sleep.
The next morning we went to the Palace of Versailles. We were not able to go into the palace unfortunately because the queue alone was 1 1/2 hours long and then it would take about 3-4 hours to take a fast walking tour of the whole thing. So, we spent the morning and afternoon touring the gardens which alone would take about a day and a half to see. They are like a huge maze. You pick a path and then wind up at a new fountain/garden area and then turn another way and find a new path.
These are pictures of some of the gardens we discovered in the maze. If you look at the pictures you will see that the paths are high bushes that have different ways you can turn all along the sides. It truly is a maze.
Following the gardens we went to a french market where we got a few different types of cheese and a large baguette to split between us. Lastly, before we left to go back to London we went to visit Monmarte to visit the carousel where Amelie was filmed and to tour the art corner of Paris. Unfortunately I could not afford any of the artwork but it was great to see. This is also where the only vineyard in Paris is located. The grapes are supposed to be so strong that they sell very small wine bottles for about 55 pounds each. Unfortunately we also were so pressed for time that would couldn't find this in time. I had been hoping to purchase the wine only so that everyone at home could try and bit but apparently we had been circling around it for quite some time but didn't see it past the gates and playgrounds...so we missed it. But, I did buy some wine to bring home from the markets.
After our travel in Paris we came back to London to get back into classes and work again. Yesterday we were at Oxford for a lecture from the Oxford Internet Institute. They did not set aside time for us to tour so we didn't get to see the campus so I will have to try and find a time to go back before I leave. Throughout the week we plan to get to the tower of London and the Eye as well as a play. We wanted to see Warhorse but unfortunately they were sold out. I hear it is coming to NY soon so I might have to make a trip there to see it as it is supposed to be amazing. Today we will be going to "A Taste of London" in Regents park and hopefully doing some shopping in Camden market.
I will try to update a little more frequently. Only 10 days left!
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