I’m heading to London at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning! I’m taking the train straight into the city and should be running to hug Caitlin by 8 a.m. I can’t wait! On a very surprising note… I somehow managed to fit 4 days worth of clothes in my normal-sized backpack. May I repeat, normal-sized, not some huge backpacking contraption thing. If you know me, you’re stunned! And this bag contains all of my outfits, makeup, 2 pairs of shoes, jewelry, books and a towel! Don’t ask me how, but I did it. As for my purse, it’s packed full of junk food. Got to keep up my good record of nutritious potato chip breakfasts 🙂 Here I come, Prince Harry!

And as for today, it is starting to hit me that this experience isn’t going to last forever 🙁 so in an attempt to make up for my past laziness I am going to try to venture out and about every day. Today Renata and I grabbed lunch at home after class and immediately headed over to Bois de Bologne. This little (or should I say huge) part of Paris is a never-ending park located on the west side of the city. We hopped on our metro’s line 2 and rode it all the way to the end.

Upon exiting the metro we found this unnaturally green and nature-like scene. Could this be Paris? Apparently so… I didn’t know Paris could grow grass and real trees! Although the park is noted for the prostitution that occurs there at night (?), it is a spot that the Parisians frequent on pretty weekend days. There are horse race courses, lakes, waterfalls, lots of paths and even an amusement park for the kids called Jardin d’Acclimatation. We even got to witness a hill of old men sunbathing in their underwear. Rather than scar you with the image, I took a mental snapshot of that moment in my life.

Bon voyage! xoxo.

-T