quasimodo's stomping grounds (and opera hopes)

Second week of school: done.

We do not have school Thursday or Friday of this week. Yeah for a three day school-week. ESCP is a great facility (and offers very very cheap food), but I wish we had more interaction with the French students. Given it's summer, attendance is lower than normal, but I wish we didn't feel so isolated. I realize that our courses are taught in different languages, so I cannot possibly expect to be in actual class with them. We are only in the same room as the other students during lunch. It is hard to walk up to a group of French students and start a conversation when the extent of your French vocabulary pretty much consists of standard greetings and "parlez-vous anglais?" I should probably work on that.

On Monday, many of students on my program went to Notre Dame. While I had already visited the cathedral, I had not climbed up to the towers. We managed to conquer the dizzy, staircase up 400 steps to the top. We were greeted by stoic gargoyles keeping watch over the city:


Quasimodo's door and his bell. We did not see him. He must be on vacation.

Athough we didn't spot the hunchback, we did see Esmereldas. Handfuls of gypsies were walking around the entrance of Notre Dame and asking if anyone spoke English. If you say yes, they hand you a piece of paper summarizing their depressing (but hardly believable) situation and then beg for money. I think I prefer the Disney Esmerelda.


Wednesday evening, our program liaison took us to the new Opera House. We were planning on buying tickets to Les Capulets et les Montaigus - a take on Romeo and Juliet. There was some confusion in how early our group should arrive at the Opera. Our liaison had even tried to buy tickets last week, but she was told to come an hour before show time. We arrived an hour before only to be told that all the tickets (in our price range) were sold out. I'll try to go to another show before I leave. All dressed up, we decided to go out to dinner. I suggested we go to the St. Germain area. We found a small whole in the wall.

Our Host/Waiter: "Are you from America?"
Us: "Yes"
Host/Waiter: "Where in America?"
Us: "Texas"
Host/Waiter: "Ohhhhh, TEXASSSSSSS" (while flashing the Hook 'em Horns sign)

Even the Parisians know about us. I decided to order two French classics: French Onion soup and Beef Bourguignon.

Naomi, Brittney, Nora, Paola and yours truly after dinner:


I am leaving for Nice (pronounced 'Nees', not like the adjective) today. It is in southeast France and near Monaco. Check back in for Mediterranean shenanigans.