I’m in Bordeaux now. Just arrived late last night. Got here late because I was having a fantastic last 24 hours in Paris and I figured why ditch good company?
It started after a lonely day of window shopping in the most exclusive shopping area of Paris. Thought I had found a jackpot when I spotted a Gap, but then it only came down to Louis Vuitton, his Chanel and every other store I cannot afford. I figured I’d head back to my comfortable red-light district neighborhood, Montmarte. Smaller streets, much quieter and much much quainter. I passed through and was really hungry, but I thought I’d check into my new hostel first before finding a crepe place. It was 4pm and I had to move to a new hostel since I decided to stay in Paris another night. Had to make sure my bag got into my new room okay. SO I check in and run into 2 Aussie girls who were on my walking tour from the first day. I’m in their room so I take it upon myself to do a little venting, adding I’m too tired to go out and search for food.
A girl from South Africa walks in. She offers me chocolate (btw, French chocolate is amazing, and I don’t even like chocolate bars on a casual basis, normally, until now…). She says I can have some rice that she is making in the kitchen. I take up her offer and after eating my really good white rice with French spices there in the common room of the hostel, I meet two guys. One’s from South Dakota, the other from Toronto. We chat. The SD one is traveling alone too, but for less time, but we still find lots in common. I announce I have yet to try the 3 euro bottles of wine, and we decide to go share a couple bottles between the 3 of us and drink it at the Sacre Cure. We buy 2 bottles of Bordeaux red wine for a total of 7 euro. We end up sitting on the steps of the gorgeous church where there’s others drinking wine, hanging out and playing guitar. Really really sweet. And much needed. The 3 of us sit and chat for an hour to two. We realize it’s about 30 degrees or less out, so we begin to head back. I meet a student from University of Michigan who’s walking with her parents next to the church as we are walking out. I had seen the dad wearing a Michigan shirt from afar, and being wine-giddy as I am, I announce a proud, “Michigan!” and point to his shirt. They probs thought I was crazy for noticing his slightly hidden t-shirt as well because I’m holding a plastic cup full of wine in one hand, and an empty bottle in the other. Next to a church. I swear I wasn’t the only one looking like so around there.
After this chat with the girl and her parents, we head to a market near our hostel and buy a big baguette, some bananas (I was feeling healthy), amazing chorizo and some cheap cheese. The 3 of us proceed to indulge on that combination plus another bottle of red Bordeaux wine (only 1.75 euro!!!! And it was really good) and a couple bars of chocolate. Was amazing. Esp bc we shared paying for it all, so I really only shelled out about 7 euro total….? AMAZING. And I was in Paris. Ha. Found a way to celebrate cheap….
The 3 of us went to a graveyard this morning. Very old and found some crazy gravestones and tombs. Went to the Arc de Triumph after and headed down the Champs-Elysees just for kicks. I finally had my first Parisian crepe, filled with butter, cheese and ham. It was amazing. Finally, my 2 new friends, Jordan and Ben, parted ways. I to Bordeaux, Ben to a museum, and Jordan to Barcelona. Ah the life of a backpacker.
Weird, the graves were under a bridge!
Alexandre Dumas, anyone?
After a evening train to Bordeaux, I get to the station and am simply confused on the tram system. It’s probs the easiest thing to navigate, but for some reason, I was all turned around. Fate liked me because I ran into 2 Americans, girls from UC Berkeley, who helped me find my way to my hostel. They are studying here and were really sweet, giving me the lowdown of the area I was staying in. They invited me shopping today, but I really want to go to this wine-tasting tour, so perhaps later I will meet up with them. I’m staying in a hotel. HA. Finding a hostel was hard. So I’ve got my own room and sink. It’s pretty sweet. Nice street, good area. Nice owner.
Couldn’t find a market when I arrived, so I found McDonalds. Had me a Royal with cheese. I splurged and got an extra value meal, full of a medium fries and a Fanta. I was starving. Funny thing. Since I’m sticking to such a strict budget, I don’t really eat much. My stomach was having a tough time eating the whole meal at McDonalds because it’s not used to food! Ahhh…..and they say you gain weight from eating too much when going abroad. Yea right, tell that to my bank account.
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