Museums: Day 1

I got a late start this morning. I don’t know if I set my alarm clock and just didn’t wake up, or if I didn’t set it at all... both are very possible. So, I basically sprinted out of my apartment to my list of places to visit today: First on the list: Eiffel Tower.

I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to go to the top, or just go look at it... so I compromised... I WALKED to the 2nd floor. (This may explain why my legs hurt so bad right now.) Here’s a great view from the 2nd floor:So after that, I went back to the shop, figured out what I was supposed to do, grabbed a bike, and headed on for the rest of my list. First the Dome Church, then Les Invalides.The Dome Church is pretty incredible. It was built by Louis XIV and now is a tomb for Napoleon. Napoleon is buried in 6 coffins, and you have to look down over a railing in order to see him. We say that he had himself buried like this so that everyone who came to see his tomb would have to bow to pay their respects. It was at about this time that I met up with the rest of the crew: Dmitry, Kregg, and Andrew T. We cruised through Les Invalides (its an Army Museum... not that interesting in my opinion. The stories are what make it important.) And then on to the Musee Rodin.

Mom & Dad – I have found where I want my wedding to be sometime in the undetermined future. If its not in the Musee Rodin, it needs to be exactly like it in every way. Roses, gardens, house, sculptures, fountains... the works.Anyway, I think I may be obsessed with Rodin. Everyone knows “The Thinker” – but I think I fell in love with the rest of his work today – not just the famous stuff. In my opinion, his work is very romantic. It looks unfinished to the naked eye, but I think that just allows you to fill in the gaps with the emotion that he invokes. You feel the shame of “Eve”, the passion of “The Kiss”, and the sense of purpose in “The Walking Man.”

And then there are the roses. I really could have just stayed and hung out in the garden for the rest of the afternoon. But unfortunately, we had other places to be… Lunch on Ile St. Louis (we ate right on the banks of the Seine), then Notre Dame. (Here was where I got angry at the boys for leaving me while I finished my ice cream.)

I think Notre Dame became one of my favorite places in Paris. You can literally feel the weight of history around you. When you think of the amount of people who have walked on this same floor – the momentous events (Napoleon’s coronation, the wedding of Margot and Henri of Navarre, the mass after liberation day), it really makes you feel like you too are a part of history.

Another thing – you can’t help but look up. They built Notre Dame in such a way that you have to look towards the heavens – but by looking up and up, you also begin to feel your own smallness. In a way, Notre Dame magnifies the brevity of human life. It took 180 years to build this cathedral… just imagine being that person who began to work on the cathedral knowing that it would not be completed in your life time, nor your son’s, nor your grandsons… but many generations down the road – they would be the ones to see it completed for the masterpiece that it is.
But again, in a way, Notre Dame is also a testament to longevity – it has survived when many of the things around it have been destroyed. Through wars and droughts and famine and the French Revolution and the Commune of 1871 (that in itself is a huge feat) – this huge building really begins to grow on you after a while.

Sorry to wax eloquent – our last stop of the day was Saint-Chapelle (which is literally down the street). It was built in the 13th century to house the crown of thorns that Louis IX bought from the emperor of Constantinople for 3 times the amount of what it cost to build the church. The building itself is best known for its stained glass windows. So there you go… day 1 of museums… more to come tomorrow.

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Velibs

Now that bikes are my primary mode of transportation, I've really begun to appreciate them. And of all the cities in the world, Paris is one of the most bicycle friendly. We all know about the price of gas and all that jazz, and so bikes are becoming more and more popular. So much so that Paris has recently implemented a new program called "Velib."

"Velib" is a cross between two words - "velo" meaning bike and "liberte" or freedom... so "bike freedom" or "free bike" is what this translates to. Its basically a rental program that was launched last summer.

Now a brief history of this "community bike" program... basically, back in the 60's a group of hippies tried to start a kinda free bike program in which they bought a bunch of bikes and painted them white and left them all over the city. The idea was that you would take a bike, ride it where you needed to go, and leave it somewhere for someone else to ride. The problem was that white bikes can just be painted to look like blue bikes and be sold or scrapped or whatever. So it ended up not working.

Paris (according to Franz) is the first city to do it right for several reasons:

• they have enough bikes for the amount of people who want to use them (over 20,000)
• they are readily available all over the city (1,450 docking stations)
• they are very distinctive looking (a velib will always look like a velib no matter what you do to it)

The program works like this: you subscribe to this program (for about 29 euros a year), and then you have an unlimited amount of rentals. Now to prevent you from stealing a bike, you have to insert your credit card into the machine for each use. The first 30 minute ride is free (with a subscription), the next 30 mins is 1 euro, the next 30 mins is 3 euros... once you hit 10 hours its 71 euros.

Now the other cool thing is that the bikes have little computer chips in them that not only report how many minutes YOU have ridden it, but also how many hours its been riden in total. Once a velib has been riden 20 hours, you can no longer check it back out and the city will come and pick the bike up to service it. So all the bikes are in good shape.

Finally, do you know how the whole project was funded? An advertising company paid for the entire thing for exclusive rights to all the public billboards in Paris. Pretty cool deal if I must say so myself.

So all that being said, I see these bikes all the time... they're pretty funky looking, but so is my beach cruiser.

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My Room

First of all, let me tell you about my first night. So, I get home from champing it up, I pass out till like 2am. Then I woke up and tried to check what time it was – well, instead of finding out what time it was, I accidentally turned on the sound machine on my alarm clock which just ended up waking Megan up. So after that, my body decided that it was 5pm like it is supposed to be in Houston – that coupled with the fact that there was a party going on in the street below up (I wasn’t invited... rude.), and we didn’t have pillows...

Tanget: Pillows are a very underrated part of a bed. I don’t think you really appreciate pillows until you don’t have one. A rolled up t-shirt does not work... neither does a rolled up towel or my arm or anything else for that matter... it must be either a real life pillow, or a stuffed animal.

So needless to say, it took me a while to go back to sleep. But now, I am loving my room. Its in the 16th arrondissement – about 30 minutes from the shop by metro but supposedly its shorter by bike (I think I’m going to buy a bike tomorrow if I can). Its close to the Bois de Boulogne. Here are some pics for your enjoyment:

Now time for Q&A:

1. Is there only one bed?

- yes. Megan and I share a bed. (Stop smirking.)

2. Who is that strange girl?

- Megan. duh.

3. Ya'll are really messy. Is that normal?

- This was several days ago before either of us had had anytime to do anything. So now, Megan's side is slightly cleaner - and mine looks worse than ever.

4. Your kitchen doesn't look so small.

- Lies. If I weighed 10 lbs more, I wouldn't be able to fit my entire body inside of it.

5. Other than the smallness, it looks pretty nice!

- True. Its very nice. Except for the fact that the electricity keeps going out and we've blown like 4 lightbulbs but can't figure out how to change them. Oh well.

So that is my apartment in which I am scamming the internet off my neighbors at this very moment. Life is good.

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Bike Theft

So supposedly Fat Tire has had problems in the past with people trying to steal bikes from our shop. Mike has caught a few - once by running after the guy, and once just walking through the park (the guy was smoking pot on the grass and Mike just walked up and took the bike back from him).


One of my favorite stories that I heard during training was about a guy stealing a bike while on a bike tour. Supposedly, the guide was talking and one of the guys on the tour just rode off with the bike. Funny thing was that the guy's friend was still there, so the guide just asks the friend, "where is your friend going? he just stole one of our bikes!" And the friend just replies, "Ya... he's been doing a LOT of drugs today." Not only that, but the guy who stole the bike just rode it back to the shop a few hours later. Hilarious.


Well, a few days ago about 5 of us were standing the back of the shop talking, a few more were at the computers, Mike was there, even David Mebane (the owner) was there just hanging out when all of a sudden we here someone scream, "They're stealing the bikes!" We glance out the window and there are about 6 kids around 15 years old on our bikes... at that moment, the shop CLEARS... everyone sprints out the door and the kids just take off. (I'm not sure what I was planning on doing once I caught one, but I was going to run after them as long as I could.) There were probably 7 or 8 huge guy tour guides, plus me, plus anyone else who cared to run after these punk kids. Well, as I go sprinting past, I see David Mebane (the owner) lying on top of one of the kids with the kid in a head lock. Then I see Mike go sailing past on a bike.

So I eventually lose the guy I was chasing after, but as I'm walking back to the shop, I see another guide (John Phillips) with another kid on the ground. John is pretty much IN HIS FACE screaming at him - using every cussword in the book and possibly making up his own. He had body slammed him to the ground, and John was all cut up and I think the kid was shaking. Battle scars. Glorious.

So then the French undercover cops show up, and they are like the coolest most bad a people ever. They just kinda sauntered up with their guns and their street clothes - they take everyone's statement and put the kids in their unmarked vehicle.

We find out later that Mike also caught his guy. Supposedly he chased him for a few blocks until he saw that the kid was starting to get tired. So he chased him a little longer (the kid was on foot; Mike was on a bike) until Mike finally ditched the bike and tackled the kid.

The other ridiculous thing was that David Mebane had actually been watching these kids for a little while. He saw them hanging around and looking shady, so he sat in a corner of the courtyard and was staking them out basically. So when they finally tried something, he dove at them and got one.

All in all, this may have been one of the most exciting things to ever happen in my entire life.

Tour Guides - 1; Punk kids - 0.

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The Scavenger Hunt

I am a competitive person. I try to surpress this baser part of my personality, but sometimes I can’t help it. But under the right circumstances: this part of me comes alive... like the Hulk. Yesterday was one of those days.

When Franz gave us a scavenger hunt, I initially tried to talk it down to myself. “I don’t know how comfortable I’m going to be riding around Paris on a bike – I may get lost, I might fall, I don’t really know where I’m going”.... I soon changed my mind.

We start out with this list of 5 major monuments that we HAD to visit with about 25 extra things to find/do/explore on the way. Some things we just had to know (like which bridge Rush Hour 3 was filmed on, what bridge is in Bourne Identity, what fountain is in Devil Wears Prada, and what bridge was in the last episode of Sex and City [the answers are: Pont Alexandre III, Pont Neuf, the fountain in the middle of the Place de la Concorde, and Pont des Arts in that order in case you were wondering]). But for the most part they were just big sights (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Pompidou Center, Opéra Garnier, The Thinker) – so me, Murray, and Chris were “Team Red.” And we set off... and take a wrong turn to get to the Eiffel Tower (which is right next to our shop)... rough start.

So we keep going and haul it from the Eiffel Tower to the Musée Rodin, to Les Invalides, to Pont Alexandre III, to the Place de la Concorde. Along the way, we saw a tour, took some pictures, did some karate kicks and climbed into a fountain (also met a random Aggie couple... WHOOP).
But things start to get more complicated – it starts to rain... minor set back. (By this point in time, my competitiveness has set in, and I was in it to win it.) We make a tactical decision and decide to skip the Louvre for the moment and head down to the Champs-Élysée. So... remember my fear about riding on the streets in Paris... well, I got over it... we were weaving in and out of cars/buses/CRAZY taxis, running through red lights, going the wrong way on one way streets, cutting off pedestrians... all the typical Parisian traffic maneuvers (although we did see a car totally crash into a lane barrier... AND a moped underneath a bus.) Way to dominate the street team... the honks just mean “Welcome to Paris!” right?

By then, an hour had gone by, but we were on the ball... so we decide to make a risky move and go to the Opéra Garnier (note: this sight is NOT on one of our tours... we had NO IDEA where this was, but we had a map and a dream... and that’s all that matters). So off we go again – take a picture of a Ferrari, some smart cars, us impersonating Napoleon, and head down... the wrong street. Fortunately, along with losing my fear of cars, I also lost my fear of speaking French, so I asked for directions, and we were off again.

Note: I think my French is already better than it was yesterday... YAY!

We booked it down to the Opera... it was a long way and still raining (by this time, we are soaked)... took some pictures, sang some opera – off to the Louvre. Make a pyramid, see Louis - off to Notre Dame... take pic at the Pont des Arts.... but then, the inevitable happens. As Murray looks down to change his gear, I stop suddenly next to a book seller to ask if they have a copy of something by Victor Hugo... and Murray CRASHES into me. Man down.

I was ok, but I have a huge bruise on my leg that is kinda swollen... but such are the perils of battle. No blood. All is well.

Back to the race – we finally get to Notre Dame – take pictures in front of the church and with a street performer. But then who should arrive but the competition!!! Its Team “Office Girl Kregg” – they talk some smack, we talk some smack... but I know that we must immobilize them in order to be victorious! So as they turn to take a picture... I unscrew the seat of a bike and start to ride off. But I wasn’t fast enough... they catch me and make me give it back. But as we’re riding off, Murray goes missing... AND RETURNS WITH ONE OF THEIR BIKE SEATS!!! All is fair in love and war... the rules were, “there are no rules.”

45 minutes to go, we start heading back to the shop. We take some more pics along the way, snag ourselves a baguette, a pic with a wheel of cheese bigger than my head, and an old man holding a baguette.

In the end: We were the first ones back with the most pictures worth the MOST points – We won by a landslide. Victory is sweet. It tastes good too... we’re going to eat at some awesome restaurant called “Breakfast in America.” Way to go team, way to go.

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Champ it Up!

Champ – pronounced “shahmp”; verb; to hang out on the Champs de Mars while drinking wine and eating baguettes and cheese. Now you may ask, where is the Champs de Mars? Well, I’ll show you...


Yup... its the field in front of the Eiffel Tower (this is me and Murray). (Scamardo, I hope you like the t-shirt... represent.) Now here was the feast for the 15 or so people who were there (more baguettes arrived later)...

I have never been so tired, but this was seriously the coolest thing ever. I don’t think any amount of frustration and layovers and jet lag can make a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower un-cool. In short... if this was any indication of the level of awesomeness of this summer – its going to be a great one.

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Leavin' On a Jet Plane

Last night, I couldn't sleep. I mean... I got to sleep fairly easy with the help of a rather boring book about Paris that I'm trying to read; but then I woke up at 6am, and again at 6:30, and finally at 6:45 I figured that sleep was going to elude me so I might as well get up.

So, now I'm up and thinking about Paris. I can't tell you the range of emotions that are coursing through me. First I'm excited, then I'm nervous, then I'm terrified, then I'm paranoid, then I'm excited again. Why won't my mind just pick one?!

So in less than 8 hours, I will be on my jet plane on my way to Paris... well Heathrow, if we want to be technical and then on to Paris. I will land tomorrow afternoon at 1pm at Charles de Gaulle, and I'm pretty sure we're going to hit the ground running.

In the next week I have to: 1) learn all my info about Paris, 2) learn how to fix a bike and a Segway, 3) visit all the major museums of Paris (is this really a job?!), 4) learn how to train people to ride the super awesome Segways, 5) go on at least 9 tours, and 6) learn the logistics of all the tours. Does that sound like a lot to you? cuz it does to me.

So even though that's overwhelming, how could this summer be anything but amazing?! The incredible experiences will far outway the challenges. I can't wait!!! Au revoir Etats-Unis! A bientot!

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Tour Guide Boot Camp

As some of you know, I minored in French at A&M. I've studied French for 9 years. I've read over 9 books about French history and culture. I've studied all the information in the packet we were given.

I also have never worked harder in my life these past 3 days. I eat, sleep and breathe French history. I recite facts to myself in the shower and when I'm putting on my make-up. I go to sleep and dream about Napoleon riding up on his little horse and scratching his hemorrhoids.

And I'm loving every minute of it.

I feel like this can't possible be something that I'm getting paid for. This is everything I love to do all rolled up into one - I get to have 25 people pay to listen to me talk for 4 hours about French history in Paris! That's travel, history, and me being the center of attention all rolled into one! It really doesn't get any better than that.

This morning, 6 of the other guides and myself were sitting at Starbucks discussing the fact that Robespierre was a really bad guy, and how Louis XIV maybe liked himself a little too much. What would have happened if Hitler had been killed in the Dome Church in 1940? And what is your personal opinion of the Carrousel du Louvre?

When else would I be able to have a conversation like that? And who would listen to me? Every night, I go home and read about the Eiffel Tower and the Impressionists... could this really be a job?

Now on the down side... lets discuss the hotel that we are now staying at in Austin. I don't think Mike (our boss) could have picked a shadier place. This is the place where you live if you don't want an address or a paper trail. The illegals and the crack dealers live next door and can frequently be seen out in the parking lot or at the local Hooters.

But there are so many positives... and not just the awesomeness of this job. I can't tell you how much I love the other guides. I have already learned so much from them. They drink 5 cups of coffee between the hours of 9am and 6pm. That in itself is a huge accomplishment in my eyes. I really just can't wait till tomorrow to see what will happen next... FTBT-TC208 for life :-P

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What Dreams May Come

So some people, when they're stressed, they have dreams about falling off a tall building or walking around naked in public. I usually have dreams about sleeping through a test or a final (both of which have happened to me... I really need to start getting more sleep.) But in the past couple of weeks, I've had some more unusual dreams.

Dream #1
So I get to Paris, and I'm looking for an apartment. I have a roommate (who is fabulous!... Her name is Megan... in real life) - but part of the way through my dream, Megan morphs into my "boss" who looks a lot like Jackie from this cheesy Bravo reality show called "Workout" (see pic for details). But whatever... as long as I have a roommate I'm fine. So we start looking for an apartment, and I originally think I'm going to have to live by myself in some run down roach infested place.

(Sidenote: my other reoccuring dream/nightmare is being trapped in a small confined space with roaches).

But we finally find this really cool apartment in some Haussmanian building. This kinda odd French guy lives there, and there's not a whole lot of furniture; but it will be ok for the moment. So, he's supposed to leave for the summer - but then he kinda turns into even more of a creepy recluse and decides not to leave. So I have to live there with my weird boss and the creepy French guy... and I don't have a bed, so I have to sleep on a window seat that's not really a window seat and very small and cramped. Not cool.

Dream #2
It may or may not have had something to do with me giving my first tour naked. I don't really remember, but it was something about tours and it was something terrifying.

Anyway... those are my weird dreams... (someone's probably muttering something about "subconscious fears" at the moment... but I'm choosing to think about them as natural paranoia.)

Whatever helps me sleep at night, right?

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Nervousness & Home-Cooked Food

Some deep thoughts:

So I'll just go ahead and say that I'm starting to get a little nervous. I think it hit me the other day when I was thinking about how much time 3 months is exactly... 3 months is 3/4 of a semester... and an entire season! (well, everywhere except Texas). That's a long time!

Twice as long as I've ever gone without seeing my family.

But now I feel kinda guilty - I've been dreaming about doing this for so long (almost 3 and a half years to be exact) that I feel like I should only be excited. Like I'm kinda letting myself down because I'm feeling scared and uncertain. Yet something as extreme as this trip is bound to come with a little apprehension, right? Like finding a place to live, giving my first tour, making myself speak French :-/

So I have to keep telling myself, 3 months isn't that bad - Its exciting really... in a nervous kinda way.

On a lighter note:

1. I am FINALLY a college graduate!!!
2. I'm completely moved out of my house in College Station
3. I may not have to worry about getting my visa and dealing with the French government until I actually get to France
4. My mommy is going to feed me home-cooked food until I leave for Paris (no more freeze dried dinners for a while :-D)... its good to be spoiled
   

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