So made it to Paris in the end. My amazing Sussex friends helped me out so much. Plus, there was a series of fortunate events. First, I was able to get a hold of Sam, my roommate from the beginning of the semester. She was about to leave for Birmingham and the Cadbury factory, but they pushed back when they were going to leave.were able to get the porter to let them into my room, grab my passport, run to Falmer Station, hand off my passport to Nora who happened to be comng into London that same day and then I met her at Victoria without any problems. Had Sam left earlier, or if nora had already taken the train into London, I would've had to spend three more hours, at least, traveling back to my room on campus.
As it turns out, after I met up with Nora at Victoria, we went to the National Portrait Gallery, which I found out I love. The Tudor rooms were especially impressive. You know that portrait of King Henry the Eighth with his legs spread apart in a really commanding stance, and he looks massive? I saw it. Plus, what I didn't realize is that the backgrounds behind the Tudor-era portraits are really vibrant jewel tones. It struck me as oddly modern.
The other benefit to forgeting my passport was that I got these really funny "refusal of entry" forms. My plan is to go around with me holding the forms and taking pictures in front of really french things. Today Maryse and I got a picture of me and the forms in front of a poster advertising a movie with Gerard Depardieu, the consummate french actor.
In the two days I've been here, I've accomplished almost everything I wanted to do in two short days. The first day we spent most the day in the arrondisement with the Eiffel Tower. So I got to see it from many different angles. The best was at sunset and it was beginning to light up. And, on the all important subject of food, I've had amazing falafel in the Marais (Jewish and gay--i.e. Daniel quartier), steak frites followed by mousse au chocolat washed down with cote du rhone wine, and an indecent about of pastries, breads, and general desserts. I also got to go to the Musee Rodin which I've been dying to see for a while.
Tomorrow we are going to Cimitiere Pere Lachaise, to pay homage to Oscar Wilde. Apparently you have to wear red lipstick and kiss his tombstone.
I think of the Marais as the Daniel neighborhood, too! In my head, I'm already planning places to take him when he visits -- I'm thinking falafel, then the shower bar.
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