I've gone à l'Hexagone: Recap!

After an 11-turned-17 hour flight process I made it to Paris!! Sans baggage..but it was soon delivered.
Arrived at my homestay, the Diaz family from Martinique in the 11th arrondissement, not too far from the Bastille.
Went for a celebratory drink with the two other girls staying in the flat, toasting the beginning of our foreign adventures
CRASHED

First day of Art and Architecture-Visited the Musée de Cluny and the Arènes de Lutèce...quite a trip to the Middle Ages.
Found a bright pinkish purple patisserie on the way back to the Metro and bought my first chocolate croissant and a strawberry slushy-like drink..so very yummy. I will be going back.

Day 2 of art and architecture-The Saint Julien de Pauvre and the Notre Dame. St. Julien ( the-supposedly-oldest church in Paris, next to the-supposedly-oldest oak tree) was closed unfortunately, but the Notre Dame was unreal. Crowded, of course, but so beautiful. Mass was in process, and the playing of the organ created a magnificent atmosphere to experience the cathedral for the first time. It even served as a sanctuary from the blazing heat that day.
Walked with a few classmates to a pub after class, as we got out a bit early, and caught a bit of the world cup.
Picnicked at the Eiffel Tower with my roommate, and saw it sparkle for the first time :)

Woke up at an ungodly hour to make our way to St. Malo. It was WELL worth it. The walled city sits adjacent to the English Channel, and is as charming as can be. The weather was prime, the sky was blue, it was stunning.
Ate some lovely seafood that night, and went out for ice cream and cocktails with some study abroad folks.

Possibly the coolest day to date. Woke up early to grab some breakfast and make our way to Mont Saint Michel, another walled city...with a twist. The sea sits around the city for 5 hours at a time during the summer, until the tide goes out for 7 hours (and back in for 5 hours and so on). We arrived at a point across the bay in order to walk to the city over the ocean-less mud and sand for several miles-as people used to do (and clearly, still do) to make pilgrimages the the abbey at the top of the city. Through patches of quicksand and watery channels we walked, eventually making it to the outer walls by the early afternoon.
Grabbed a quick lunch inside the city, and climbed the seemingly never-ending stairs to the abbey for a tour of it's many chambers and curiosities... like a human-sized hamster wheel contraption to open and close the main gate.
Returned to Paris.

French class testing-Intermediate I for me!
A and A-The Louvre!! Grabbed a quick lunch before including a delicious cherry tart. Viewed a fraction of the Denon wing, including the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory.

First french class..wonderful professor, minimal homework...no complaints.
Visited the Musee Carnavalet with A and A. Mainly consisted of art dedicated to the French Revolution, and other various war efforts. The Carnavalet had artifacts I never expected to see...such as a lock of Marie Antoinette's hair and toy soldiers her son played with while waiting to be guillotined. Morbid, but pretty darn awesome at the same time.

French class as usual from 9 to 12 and a trip to the Saint Chapelle and Pont Neuf with A and A. The Saint Chapelle was absolutely GORGEOUS. Stained glass made up the majority of the upper chapel, scattering colored light across the floor and inner walls. The apse was closed for renovation, unfortunately. (this is where the crown of thorns, burial cloths, and other such relics were held until they were moved to the vaults of the Notre Dame).
Walked to Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, and Place Dauphine-which I believe is the oldest square in Paris as well.
Took a boat ride on the Seine with the other folks in the program, after which we found a cafe in the Saint Michel area and chatted for the night.

French class 9-12
MUSÉE L'ORANGERIE!! Oh happy day...I saw Monet! 8 pieces of the Water Lilies series were on display, not to mention hundreds of other works by impressionist artists (Renoir, Matisse, Modigliani, Gauguin, Cézanne..) Best museum so far.
Called it an early night..I MAY have finally adjusted!

French class 9-12
Headed to the Pont Neuf area to do a little shopping, and a lot of walking!
Went out to a little place called Polly Maggoo with friends for the night, just around the corner from the Notre Dame.
Had my first banana nutella crepe...I'm addicted.
Walked back from Polly Maggoo to witness Paris in the late hours of the night. Found a local hangout spot...a bridge around the Pont Neuf area that was completely PACKED at 2 am with groups of young people...adorned with guitars, wine, cheese, and lots of smiles :) We only passed through this time, however.

Today!! Finally!! I had the day off, and used it to visit the Sacre-Coeur and the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre. Weirdest sight in Paris so far? Some sort of uber-goth badass-looking club in the area...NO idea what it was. We merely saw hordes of people clad in black gathered together outside of this place, each ensemble of combat boots, leather, and fishnets rivaling the next. Intense.
Sat a small cafe for some cappuccinos, finding that the walls of this place were covered in song lyrics, and some signed by the bands (Phoenix, Stone Temple Pilots, and Charlie Winston among them).
returned home and wrote this baby!

I've gone à l'Hexagone