France Day 17

Today was an amazing day and probably one of my favorites so far. We woke up at about 9 and ate breakfast before we headed to Versailles to go to the open market! The open market is really really cool. They have everything. While I was there I took about 50 or so photos of all the fresh produce, meats, spices, cheeses and pastas. While I was there I picked up a few things for my mom and then Marion and I went down the the best bakery ever. This is where we went a few days ago when we went the the gardens at the palace. Their pain au chocolat is to die for.

After the market we went home and had lunch outside again because the weather was amazing. It was cloudless and the high today was about 73. This is the most amazing summer weather I have ever had. Today in Texas it was over 100. When we finished lunch we got everything together and went to the train station and went to Paris!

The train ride is about 30 minutes long. We got off the train at the station closest to Musee D'Orsay. I looooveed this museum. It is a lot smaller than the Louvre. The building is actually a converted train station. Musee D'Orsay, if you don't know, is the modern art museum that houses paintings from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. So impressionism and post-impressionism. With Monet being my favorite artist of all time, this is the perfect museum for me. Marion and I got there around 3 and had to wait in a very, very long line because we totally forgot that all the museums are free to the public the first sunday or every month. Inside the museum you aren't allowed to take pictures so I didn't get one of me with any of my favorite paintings, which is very sad. I did get to see it a huge collection of Monet's most famous paintings and that made me feel better.

After we finished looking around the museum, Marion and I walked around Paris for a few hours. We stopped at these little booths next to the Siene that sell paintings, old books, and random souvenirs. It was soooo much fun! I love Paris so much and was happy just to walk around and soak it all in. We walked all around and took so many pictures, ones that I am actually in this time! We also went to an a sidewalk cafe that had the best ice cream I have ever had in my life. I had pistachio and dark chocolate and Marion had caramel and pear. Seriously, best ice cream everrrr.

Around 7 Marion and I got on the subway and headed to Champs- Elysees to meet everyone else for my birthday dinner! We went to an amazing Italian restaurant. I had Spaghetti Bolognese that was sooooo good. Marion and I shared a Mousse du Chocolat for dessert because we were so full. IT WAS FABULOUS! After dinner we drove around Paris at night. <3 We went to Sacre Coeur, which is on a huge hill on the outskirts of Paris. If you go to the top of the hill and look down, you have the most amazing view of all of Paris. It is breathtaking. After we looked around there and took pictures, I got my picture taken in front of Moulin Rouge. We drove around Paris for a while longer and then stopped at the Eiffel Tower to get so photos of it all lit up. Paris at night is the most enchanting place in the world. If you have never been, you MUST go at least once in your life. I promise, you won't regret it.

Well, I've officially been 18 for almost 2 hours now French time!! Tomorrow we are going to spend the day in Paris again and go shopping on the Champs- Elysees and then go see L'Arc de Triomphe! :) I am so excited. This is going to be my best birthday ever.

Love you all,

Sara