boat ride through paris and shopping spree!?!?!

stillll not used to the time change, getting kind of rediculous :\ grrrr

so slept in saturday pretty late after disney (in all fairness stayed up til like 6am) and basically just hung around playing games until getting pretty for the BÂTEAU MOUCHE!!!! we tried going earlier in the week and couldn't because of traffic, but it is a dinner boat ride on la Seine, in which  you get to see all the monuments.




it was awesome.
we got there super early this time,  enough time to walk around a little.. get pictures with my favorite 'tour eiffel' and go wait on the main boat which has a bar with complimentary drinks? mm i can get used to france! jk didnt get anything but there were all these beautiful paintings and big black fancy couches and everyone walking around all dressed up wishing happy new year with their little wine glasses.. it was so classy!

We then went over to our boat which was "La Patache" and sat at a big round table in the middle with laurens family, minus one brother, and plus one girlfriend. we were immediately served champagne.. with a white wine and red wine waiting in the middle ice bucket as well and a crumbly bread/cracker with creamy cheese appetizer and bread. (i took pictures of all of my meals by the way.. almost)

conversation went well.. or better, but.. yes french do like to talk about current events/politics with comparing lifestyles and cultures so i got a lot of practice... describing how we think of canada as just our hat and that there is french culture in louisiana (and some st louis) and all that. my appetizer was 'swordfish' with balsamic drizzle. WOW seriously, delicious, it was very thinly sliced and tasted much different than any other fish, which im sure was just how they cooked it but, very good. Then i had veal and caramelized carrots. also absolutely delicious, im usually against veal cus its sad :( but i just couldn't resist haha sorry peta.

NEXT was our cheese. we were given two 'in season' or something cheeses so im not sure what they were but one was verrry blue and the other pretty average. i actually liked them both, the blue ended up being kind of sweet. I still couldn't eat all of it though just.. from looking at it. following that was coffee.. or an espresso. and lastly THE BEST crème brûlée i have ever had in my life, whether in the states or in france. just absolutely the best dessert ever. UGGHH mmmmmm sooo good

so meanwhile.. eating all this delicious food.. oh and drinking all the delicious wine, we got to pass the eiffel tower several times all sparkly, grand palais, invalides, musée d'orsay, under all the bridges.. (which btw my knowledge of them is pretty good.. got it down). at first i was peeved as nsync christmas music.. britney spears (didnt even know she had a 90's xmas cd.. but i guess she did) and other old american pop artists were being played. when i say peeved i meant pissed. but THEN.. a man with a violin came out and played 'la vie en rose'.. 'oooo champs élysées' and much more frenchy music.. and it was amazing. one of the best things i have ever gotten to do. i just love paris, and i dont care how cliché that is, it's beautiful in its oldness

had to leave :( and came home n crashed.

sunday, we got up to go to this 10th century church in étiolles, the town im staying in. super old.. and cool. the mass was in french, obviously, and it was catholic. not many people which was weird as they only have mass in the town once every two weeks? much different than our 1000s of people masses.. with 6 services as each church.. and 10 churches in a town US. guess we are a religious country? but i really liked it, im looking forward to seeing the ones in aix.

on the way back went to the boulangerie (they remembered me ;) ) and got a 'galette du roi' or some of you may know of a King Cake. Its a new years/jan. tradition in which you each get a slice of cake and in one piece is a figurine. whoever gets that slice is lucky for the year and gets a crown to wear for the day. (i had pics of the ones they collect earlier with darth vader n stuff). I didn't get the piece but it was delicious and fun!

OH how did i forget, for breakfast there was handmade orange juice :) yummm (totally buying a maker for it when i get back). the rest of the day we basically hung around playing uno, watched 'taxi' 2 and 3 (french version). and dancing. i also was reading a huge list of french slang i found on the internet and asking them which ones were worth knowing and not.. so kinda studied up a little. went to bed somewhat early but still slept in today.


[WAIT: so maybe only 100... maybe 1000 now i cant get a clear answer]
so shopping spree....
i apparently have 1000 euros (1300 dollars) to spend since my one piece of luggage is still not here to buy 'necessities' with.. aka clothes, shoes, jackets, makeup, etc. they have my luggage, so i will be getting it eventually but.. YEAH. only pain is i have to spend it, send in the receipts and then get refunded, but hey? 1000 euros of clothes.. for 'free'. im game. SO i have today, and the next couple days in lyon to buy allll these clothes. ready.. set.. go!

i love getting fb messages from you all updating me on your life :) keep it up