Beginning of day trois

Day three in France (which in reality was like day six of the program) was a free Friday.

But before I was free, I had to get down to business (no, not to defeat the Huns). 

I had to get my Navigo. I called API and left a message, and a woman quickly called me back to tell me to go straight to the center to sort everything out. 

So I bought a metro ticket (no Navigo) and headed for the center.

And just so you guys know, a one way metro ticket is like 1,70€, so it's not that bad.

You know what is?

The eternal struggle between me and time.

It quickly became a race against the clock. One of the women from the center called me on the phone, her voice frantic.

She wanted me to know the center closed at 3 p.m., so I needed to get there soon.

It was only a little after 2. I'd make it.

When I got to the center a few minutes later, they were really cool about my wallet situation.

Preview staffer-esque API worker took me to get another Navigo. She spoke in amazing French to the woman at the counter, and turned back to speak English to me to make sure I understood.

Soon the woman at the counter inquired and found out we were from the U.S.

She said something in French about having been to Florida.

And then I chimed in "Je suis de Floride!"

Anyways, long story short, the lady behind the counter was super nice and apparently some rule had changed, making it only 8€ to replace.

You might remember earlier preview chick told me it would be in the 60-70 range, so I was more than happy to pay.

Things might be looking up for Jenna May Lyons

Well, not exactly.

I accidently left my Mac charger at home (I mean Apopka. Like, across the Atlantic Ocean) so my computer was dead (which partly explains why I'm leaving Paris Saturday but am still on day 3 of my blog posts). 

I asked Preview chick where I could buy a Mac charger.

She told me there was some underground mall by the Louvre and gave me pretty decent directions.

But hey, this is me we're talking about.

I was actually meeting friends at L'Arc de Triomphe too, which was conviently in the same direction.

I decided to go straight to them. I didn't want to make them wait too long.

But of course, I went to a smaller arc we already visited first, hoping that's what they meant.

It wasn't.

Time to find L'Arc de Triomphe.

I told them I was on my way, and they recommended the metro.

I thought it would be easier to walk. I could get lost on the metro. On foot, I knew it was just a straight shot (according to Preview chick).

So I walked.

And walked.
And walked.
And walked.
And walked.

And soon, I started getting the "where are you?" phone calls and "are you lost?" texts.

Uh oh.

CPT strikes again.

I kept on heading straight, and soon I turned into a store to ask for directions.

The man at the front told me tout droit, so I guess I wasn't lost.

I kept straight, heading toward the huge roundabout I finally remembered Preview chick mentioning.

How do you cross a roundabout of that size? Like, it was huge.

Well, my memory escapes me but somehow I crossed. I kept straight for another span of forever until I could see L'Arc de Triomphe in the background.

Yeah! I told them I was close.

More like yeah, right.

Optical illusion.

Something that big looks a lot closer to the eye.

So I continued walking

And walking
And walking
And walking
And, well, this is getting pretty repetitive.

So after finally reaching the place, wandering around to figure how to actually get to the arc ( I felt like it was on an island surrounded by a road with no crosswalks) I met up with Jasmine and Lizette.

They were super nice, but I could see the wear of having to wait for someone more than a bit too long in their faces ( a look I'm not unfamiliar with).

I felt bad, so I decided not to waste any time taking pictures (I could go back later) so we headed for our next destination:

La Tour Eiffel.

It was...

crowded?

I don't know how to describe it. Just a flurry of tourists, a few trying to do the whole "oh I'm holding the Eiffel Tower" pic with their hands.

But hey, can't judge.

Jasmin and I were helping Lizette do a Gator chomp illusion.

I was impressed, but I didn't take too many pictures of myself (I'm not much for the cliché Eiffel Tower profile pic most Paris study abroad students do).

In fact, the structure's amazing but I think it's a bit overrated to be honest.

What I want to do is go to the top before I leave.

Now that would be legit.

Anyways, I wonder how many rando's Eiffel Tower pics I'll appear in on Facebook.

It wasn't on purpose, but I mean, I'm pretty sure I photobombed a lot of them.















P.S.

Obligatory Eiffel Tower pics.
I still took some. ;)