Bonjour Paris! Sunday

I had trouble sleeping last night. I really am excited for Paris. I got up and showered and packed up my stuff. I gave the man my key and he carried my suitcase down the stairs in spite of my protests. At the bottom, he shook my hand and told me to have a nice trip (or something of similar spirit). I took the metro to Rossio square and got my usual carmel muffin to go. I ALMOST got 2 they’re so good. Then I started to search for the appropriate bus to the airport—its sign anyway. Then a woman I’d asked saw it about a block down the square. I took off running. By the time I got close, I saw the bus driver motioning me to chill out. I paid and sat at the back and thanked him on my way out.
I was nearly 3 hours early so I read my book a bit before checking in. When I did check in, it was super brief. Then I bought a bag FULL of candy (choose your own gummies) and went to security. I set off the alarm again. I think it’s the metal pocket closures on the butt of my jeans. I can’t really take those off so I got patted down.
I had Pans for lunch and then waited in line for EVER to get on the plane. I finished my book and tried to sleep but the kid behind me was head butting my seat. Eh-HEM! The people all around me were speaking in French. I liked it and tried hard to conjure up whatever is left in my brain to try to understand a bit.
Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle, I got my suitcase and asked how to get to the city. The info desk man asked where in the city I was going and I told him. He looked at me uncertainly. Oh dear, am I in a bad part of town again?! I got the train to Gare du Nord and wondered what it would take to have an accordion player follow me around all of the time to ensure 100% Parisienne atmosphere 100% of the time. Just then an accordion showed up to play for money. I also decided I should have a striped shirt and a beret. And eat a croissant and des crepes all day long.
When we got to the station, I tried to find the appropriate subway. I couldn’t figure out how to get a ticket then realized I hadn’t even used my ticket out of the train-train yet. I went down toward the subway and there were no machines and there was no gate. In I go!
The people on my train looked sketchy and I quivered a bit. I got off at my stop and found a Chinese restaurant and then a steak restaurant and then my hotel. Across the street was the post office. This is like a whole little town, and it’s not shady! I was pleased. My room is on the 5th floor and requires some effort to lock. The bathroom is down the hall but the sink is in my room.
I went to eat and had Japanese. Honestly, my first bite of rice and I thought it wasn’t good. It was slightly mooshy for my taste. The second bite was better and I remembered it’s not frowned upon to use soy sauce here! I had 6 sticks of yakituri and miso soup and salad (pickled).
Then I went to the grocery store and found out they make WHITE chocolate Buenos. It’s got white chocolate instead of milk on the outside with little sprinkles on it and cream cheesy filling. Yum!
My hotel has internet in the lobby. I chatted with friends from all over! Aude (our foreign exchange student from when I was in high school) saw my status on facebook, saying I was in Paris and suggested we meet. We were in talks all night about when and where tomorrow might work. I stayed in lobby for hours and heard the receptionist guy start to snore. Another guy was also online in the lobby and we shared a giggle over it.