Day Six (and last day) in Paris

(Tuesday, March 17) Today has been a very fun and much more relaxing day. I fell asleep last night shortly after 2:00 AM (this jet lag thing has completely messed with my body). I got showered and ready this morning, and at 9:30 Staci had her tutor Sylvie come over to talk to us in French. Sylvie is a very sweet French woman, who served her mission in St. George, and got her degree from BYU. She was very kind to me, and said that my french is very good. While speaking with her, I realized that I have lost a little bit of my french accent, but I am still a good french speaker. I also had to think hard about some vocabulary words, and some had completely left me. But I was surprised that I could actually still carry on a conversation with her, and feel pretty good while doing so. I was definitely slower than I used to be, but what can I expect after 11 years of not using the language at all?

So after visiting with us for a little over an hour, she offered to take us shopping at a mall somewhere near the Opéra National de Paris. I bought a dress and a scarf that are both très chic. Oh là là! We window shopped a little, just checking out a few stores in the mall, and then walked to the Opéra and took a few pictures. Then Staci & I parted ways with Sylvie, and we took the metro to the Place de la Concorde. I took so many pictures! There was the obelisque, and the fountain where Andy threw her cell phone in The Devil Wears Prada, and the Hôtel de Crillon, which is the hotel where every famous person stays when they visit Paris (no, I didn't see anyone famous and yes, I was a little bummed.) The Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe were in the distance, and there were also other important government buildings that I took a few pictures of. Then we got to visit the U.S. Embassy, which was so cool.

Then we came home, dumped our bags and backpacks, and went shopping at the Monoprix one last time. I bought more chocolate. You know, because I don't have enough.

For dinner tonight - un crêpe avec du jambon et gruyère, and a whole assortment of leftover desserts in the fridge (I'm not kidding - I had four desserts. Four full-size desserts). Tonight I will pack up, and tomorrow morning at 6:15 AM the Parishuttle picks me up to take me to the airport! The flight is 11 hours, and then the drive home is 3 1/2 hours. Tomorrow will be a very long day, but then I will be home with my family again!

I have been so appreciative of the hospitality Rob & Staci have shown me. It has really been an amazing trip, and I have enjoyed every minute of it! (Well, not the lack of sleeping due to jet lag, but everything else.) Thank you so much Rob & Staci!

The Opera House

Sylvie and me in front of l'opéra. I wish I had a french woman at my beck and call to speak with every day of the week. Seriously, she was so nice. I loved our conversation. Being as how it was in French, how could I not?My chic french dress and scarf...

The obelisk at Place de la Concorde, with the Eiffel Tower in the background

Egyptian heiroglyphics on the obelisk.The Hôtel de Crillon - wish I had time to camp out in front of these doors. Just to the left of the hotel is the U.S. Embassy. I was afraid to take pictures of the Embassy itself - isn't it against a rule or something? But going inside was one of the coolest experiences ever.The fountain at Place de la Concorde where Andy from The Devil Wears Prada throws her cell phone. Yes, I romanticize my life based on my favorite movie. When I talked to Christian on the phone that night, he asked, "Was the cell phone still in the fountain?" Smart alec. But he's a cute one anyway.