Good new impression of Paris

I have so much to say about the arrival and night in Paris, even though it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. However, seeing as this sentence alone has taken me a few minutes to type due to the Azerty keyboard, I'll make it short.

15 minutes later I managed to switch it! Now I just have to guess where the keys are...

Seeing as our bus was 2 hours late, we didn't arrive at the station until shortly after 10. By the time Alison was there, and her friend Paul drove us back to her place, it was about 11:30. Because Julija and I were both so tired from the night before, we pretty much just ate and went to bed, woke up, had breakfast, and here we are. However, there is so much more to what happened than simply this.

The car ride back to here, for one, was interesting. Her friend Paul is actually an artist, the musical kind, Paul Latour. His car was one of the fanciest cars I've ever been in, althought he modestly claims that it's "not bad". On the drive here, which took a little while because Alison's flat is outside of Paris centre, we passed and saw so many things. One of which, was the Marché aux Puces, or literally translated, Flea Market; at 11pm. I guess selling used crap works better in the dark, haha. We also passed, in typical Parisian style, SO MUCH graffiti. Even though I've already mentionned this in a few different blogs, I still can't get over how absolutely everything is graffitied. Even parked vans in parking lot are covered. Once you get used to it, it does add some colour to the city.

Once we got to Alison's "modest" flat (better and nicer than any of mine or my european friend's), in true French style, she had this amazing, yet simple meal ready waiting for us by a very elegantly set table. A delicious salad, 2 different kinds of cracker style breads, a variety of juices, and some excellent French wine from the Vallée de Loire. So at midnight, the four of us sat, ate, sipped some wine, and talked. It was fantastic. Afterwards Paul showed us a few of his music videos, and Julija and I basically passed out from exhaustion.

This morning again, in true French fashion, our breakfast was so simple, yet so delicious and amazing. The same as any other breakfast I've had, yet different, like our meal the night before. We sat and talked around the set table, drank tea, hot chocolate and coffee, ate some cereal (which chocolate of course), with some brioche pain on the side, while gazing out the window to the sunny and warm Paris day lying ahead of us :).

These events while very normal, and completely ordinary to Alison, were still amazing. Such a relaxing atmosphere, great, fresh French food and drink, and good company. We truly are in France. I've realized that I don't hate Paris; I actually love it already. I hate touristy Paris.

Today however, should be much more exciting. First stop on the agenda is the Champs d'Élysée to take in the glitz and glamour and stop by Alison's modelling agency. We will see where the day and night takes us from there:)