It's official! Paris has turned me into an insomniac. Just wanted to keep you up to date on my lack of sleep! Moving on...
Don't ask me why but for some reason Ryan and I thought it would be fun to head out super early and ride bikes over to the Catacombs... I know right? STUPID! It's no secret that I stink at bike riding in Paris. We already discussed this. However, at the time we were sure there would be no cars on the road and we would be safe. We were wrong, no surprise there. There were more than way to many cars on the road and they were just as dangerous as yesterday and the day before and the day before and I was just as hazardous on that bike as before. Not only did we almost get turned into road kill but we also got lost! More than once... Oh and did I mention it was raining outside?
I put on my pouty face and made Ryan put the bike away. Early morning bike mission= failure! In reflecting back on this I decided that other than the fact that it's a big fun game of dodge the cars when on the road, I think the biggest reason the bike ride failed is because I was not dressed appropriately. I mean, I was wearing pants for goodness sake- much too modest for a bike ride!
Ryan- "Hey, I think I know where we are!"
Rachael- "We're lost, put the bike away!"
We did finally make it to the Catacombs on foot. It ended up being perfect that we put the bikes away next to a metro station because on our on foot journey Ryan actually gave directions to that exact metro station to a lost couple IN FRENCH. Let me repeat that... Ryan gave directions IN FRENCH!! Way to go Ryan! I just smiled and nodded like I knew exactly what was going on.
Even though we got to the Catacombs early we still had to wait in line a while. Once we got inside it was totally worth the wait!
In line at the Catacombs.
Ryan and I have accepted that we might be too big for Paris. Yesterday we were ashamed of our feet size and could barely fit through the door to the bell tower at Notre Dame. Once we got underground in the Catacombs our heads bonked on the ceiling. It's totally fine though. Like I said, we've accepted it.
It was very spooky in the Catacombs but so fascinating. This is a wall of real human bones from LONG ago! It goes on and on and on. So sad but crazy to think how they managed to create this with the bones!
After the Catacombs we decided to visit the Louvre museum which is the home to some of the world's most famous paintings. Rather than walking our feet off (literally) we thought it best we take the metro. When walking through the tunnel to our stop the music suddenly got REALLY loud! We were confused as to why there was no music and then all of a sudden the metro people wanted to blow out our eardrums out. We realized that there was a lady with a speaker and a microphone standing in the middle of the tunnel. SHE was the one creating the music. Based on how loud it was, I'm going to guess she was set on making sure we (and all of France) heard her! We were still trying to understand what we had just witnessed when the exact same thing happened ON the metro. It was quiet and then BAM! Loud music. This time is was a man with a speaker and a saxophone. He was playing along to background music. Since we now had schema about this live music thanks to tunnel lady, we discovered right away where the man was. He enthusiastically serenaded our train of grumpy, tired, irritated people. I thought it was hilarious so I happily bobbed my head along to his peppy music.
Finally, we arrived at the museum!
As you can see it's ENORMOUS!
The museum was also packed! I don't think I've ever seen this many people contained in one building. I think I may have actually experienced every emotion in the museum; happy, confused (most these paintings made no sense to me. Let's be honest, I wouldn't exactly call myself an art expert), clausterphobic, in pain (from people stepping on my already sore and swollen feet), and humored by Ryan's beyond random comments about paintings.
The museum was actually very amazing, it was just hard to appreciate with all the people. It was worth fighting the crowds though to see the one and only Mona Lisa!
If you look closely passed the angry mob of people you will see her hanging on the wall. This is as close as we were brave enough to get!
Now comes the part of the day you've all been waiting for... BEACH VOLLEYBALL!!! There are four courts with sand and everything set up in front of city hall not far from our apartment. After I discovered these yesterday I was determined to find myself a team and join in the fun today. Ryan had a great attitude about coming along even though he didn't want to play. He gave me the thumbs up frequently and took pictures. I had my own personal photographer. It was perfect!
I found a team of three French guys who needed a fourth player. Obviously they all spoke French and I very much speak English and only English so there was a lot of smiling and nodding on my part. Luckily, all three of my new friends spoke enough English to order me around the court. I found out real quick that I landed myself on a team of extremely kind but competitive French men.
We started off strong! We instantly had great teamwork and complimented each other well on the court. During the first game I made this amazing dive and you won't believe it but I RIPPED MY PANTS!! We're not talking just a little rip in the knee either. We're talking about a ridiculously noticeable rip from the top of the butt crack all the way down my leg! I of course was in complete shock at first. A.) Because my amazing dive was actually successful and B.) because I had a huge rip down my pants. I looked at my self appointed team leader and said, "ummm.. can't I get a sub?" He said, "What? Why?" I explained, "Well, I ripped my pants." He looked confused and said, "What?" "I ripped my pants I repeated. He still looked at me puzzled so I just turned around and lifted up my shirt to show him the enormous hole running down my butt. His eyes got really wide and he said, "Wahew!" (Don't worry, I had on cute underwear). As I mentioned before though, my team was very hard core and were not about to let my dilemma keep us from winning the game. I could have just completely taken off my pants and nobody would have cared. They insisted I keep playing. So I just pulled my shirt down as far as it would go and pushed on through. I can't imagine running down the street with this rip being much better than continuing on. THANK GOODNESS I HAD RYAN THERE!! While I continued playing with pretty much no pants left Ryan rushed back to the apartment, grabbed some clothes from my suitcase and rushed back. Luckily, we had just finished when he returned so I ran behind the men's toilet room that was set up specially for volleyball (I couldn't find the women's toilet room) and changed my clothes. I played the second game in a skirt and leggings!
Playing volleyball was the highlight of my trip so far. Even though I didn't understand what was going on half the time I had an incredible time taking part in the Parisian festival! That's what I call living like a local!
The beginning of game 1!
About to serve the ball. My team was pleased with my serving.
They were not please with my setting however. Dani Burke, I needed you here to set the ball for me. I'm a terrible setter. I just like to hit it!
Luckily Ryan caught the whole amazing dive and splitting of the pants on camera.
The moment just before... running to the ball...
And down I go! RRRIIIIIPPPPP!!!!
I seriously owe Ryan for saving the day! He knew I'd be safe to play the second game in leggings and a skirt. Nothing to rip in this outfit...
Goodbye black capris!
It was sad saying goodbye to my team. I mean after all, we went through A LOT together in only two hours. This is a day we will ALL remember for the rest of our lives there's no doubt about that!
We finished the evening with a trip to the Eiffel tower at dusk. Naturally we got lost but it worked out perfect because we made friends with a man named Jack from Philadelphia who was heading to the same place and was also lost. We ended up entering the wrong metro station about four times but once again Ryan pulled through and got us there! Jack made the whole journey with us.
Thank you new friend Jack for taking our picture!
We got to see the tower twinkle!
Day three in Paris and the best so far! I'm not going to lie, I didn't foresee today's adventures but that is what makes it exciting! Stay tuned because tomorrow we are taking a day trip to Versailles!
Last summer Ryan and I went to Disneyland California and I dragged him around the park on a "find the Princesses mission" the ENTIRE day! I decided since I already owe him for saving the day yesterday, I could settle for a quick tea part with the Mad Hatter instead!
But we carried on anyway! Hoping my hair would scare others out of their places in line. Thunder Mountain was AMAZING!!!! It is WAY better than ours!
