Yeah, none of this happened.
I didn't get out of the apartment until, oh, 2:30pm because I decided I was sick of walking around seeing things. I roused myself enough to get to the Rodin museum since it was so close, only to find that there was some sort of protest (this IS Paris, after all) going on in the street in front it and that the police had barricaded the street just in front of the entrance to the Rodin museum. Apparently, between yesterday's Picasso fiasco and today's lack of Rodin, I'm not meant to see any more museums in Paris. There was a lovely view of Invalid on the way to the museum, though:
After that, I had a brilliant idea!
So the new, cool thing to do in Paris is...rollerblade, naturally. According to this article, which you all should read because it's funny and great,
"Le roller is not only the pleasure of skating together, but a philosophy and a social phenomenon," sums up Boris Belohlavek, a 27-year-old computer engineer and the president of Pari-Roller...Ashley has a pair of blades that this flat's former resident left here, and they fit me perfectly. Granted, I haven't roller-bladed since like middle school, but it's like riding a bike, right?
Not exactly. I was definitely wobbly and had this distinct problem of not being able to stop. Then I remembered that maybe it wasn't a problem of just forgetting how to do these things since I was little, maybe it was the fact that I didn't really know how to stop (without running into something, that is) when I was little either! Also, there are cobblestones in Paris. Also, there are slopes that send you in the direction of large groups of tourists. Also, there are French people to laugh at you as you grab on to walls to slow yourself when going downhill.
I ended up having a slightly nerve-wracking but perfectly great two hours, and I made it from Invalid to near Notre Dame and back again (although I had to walk part of the way, I can't figure out how people can blade on cobblestones). Here's the view over the Seine looking back towards Ashley's aparment. Not that you can see her apartment from this picture. But it's back there, I promise.
And as for what I reeeeally did in Paris, here's me sitting in front of Ashley's computer. Check out how close the wall I'm facing is to the one reflected in the mirror! and that's the front door behind me. But what more do you need as a student, right?
Tomorrow morning I leave for London again, where I know the computers don't like my camera so you won't be getting any pictures for a bit. Then Saturday I head to Budapest to prepare to meet the Flinn kids on Sunday. So with a tear, say goodbye to this daily photoblog posting. I'll try my best to post the best of the best, though, when I get a chance! So this isn't an excuse to stop checking ;)
5 comments:
Wow, wobbly, holding onto walls, but you still made it around town? I'm impressed. I'm way too unsure of myself on blades to actually go anywhere. Although I DO want a pair of those new shoes with the wheels on the bottom. Those I could do, I think. Now if you could only flip crystal sticks while roller-blading, THAT would be something to see.
Oh and P.S. roller blading is a trend, according to that article, which was published in 1999. :-)
Just caught up with your blog. It's great!!!! What a travel guide. So what's with the roller blades -- alternative fuel source. Take care.
whatever. roller blading is STILL a trend. THE hot thing in Paris on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.
I'll have to avoid the Jewish quarter -- the excitement of "'effervescent' streets" would likely be too much for me. I might suffer from The Vapors.
If people can write wacky stuff like that in guidebooks, I should seriously consider guidebook writing as a career (you know I've been trying to figure out what to do with my life). I can misuse adjectives like nobody's business.
your sister and uncle steve showed me how to see your blog...where is your blogging on china? hope you are having fun and that it is cooler than here (today over 115!).
Love, Grandpaszio Arturo
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