A night on the town

A few weeks ago, we had a little nighttime outing with a few of the elderly people we visit. Since it's so hot during the day here, the volunteers who organize activities decided last year to start doing these evening outings to make it more comfortable for everyone. I was excited to go (there were three of us volunteers, 5 elderly people (+1 of their granddaughters)), but I expected that since we were leaving around 8, I'd probably be home by 10:30, 11:00 at the latest. WRONG! I got home at ONE in the morning! I couldn't believe it. I felt like I was the most tired person in the whole "minibus," as we call it. Obviously I'm not quite up to hitting the town with old folks yet! No one warned me that I needed to take a nap beforehand. Oh well, I'll know better next time.

We started off at the harbor in Hyères, a little town just to the east of Toulon. They had all these cute vendors lined up along the harbor, selling everything from jewelry to artwork to candy to wooden bowls. It was adorable. 

Madame Robert, Nicole, Yvonne, Nathalie, Alain & Gabriella, and moi-meme.

After walking up and down the harbor (just slow enough to make sure that we didn't miss a thing!), we sat back and relaxed while eating our "petites" ice creams.

Melanie with her mint shake.

The whole group with our ice creams! I am definitely going back to that place. Luckily we have the same restaurant at our harbor here in Toulon. 

This couple was so adorable. He's French, she's Italian, and they met while both of their families were living in Colombia. They have quite the story. It was Gabriella, who doesn't speak much French, who said afterward that the ice creams were "très petites." Haha!

We finished up our ice cream and headed over to walk around this little summertime carnival, Magic World! Who could pass that up?

This was hands down the weirdest stuffed-animal prize I've ever seen in my entire life. A smoking, rasta banana. Who is coming up with these things?!

The swings went up as they went around...

...and we were all mesmerized.

Another group photo

Something that makes me laugh: cotton candy in French is called Dad's beard. Appetizing, eh?

They had all these really strange ride names, most of which made reference to either American cities or movies or culture. What can I say? That's why we're the best.

 Indiana J. Word.

Even the garbage cans were really cute. Who wouldn't want to throw their trash into that wide open trap?

A la prochain, Magic World!

That time we rode first class to Paris.

To start off our great weekend in Bretagne, we had a 4 hour stopover in Paris. Luckily I was there with a real Paris regular, so we had no problem getting around in so little time. But we had quite the surprise when we got to our assigned seats: they were first class. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, except that our rail passes are for second class. Whoops. Good thing the guy who sold it to us asked. Pas.

So we had a quick debate: pretend we don't speak French and just hope that the guy who checks our tickets doesn't want to bother with it? Try to solve the issue before we leave? Well, the train left, and we decided that English would be our best bet. We had the two ladies sitting across from us convinced that we didn't speak French, solidified when another woman came over to try and tell Jacqueline that she was sitting in her sit. Jacqueline made a feeble attempt at responding in French, and then just pointed at the seat number on her ticket with a confused look on her face. The ticket-checker guy came by, we put on our best confused looks, and he looked at our tickets AND our passes (after asking for them in broken English), gave them back to us, and went on his way. Woot!

Here's how excited we were:

(notice the ticket-checker guy in the background.)

 But I totally blew our cover a few hours later when the ladies across from us were talking, and the one said that the cute little boys with her actually were twins, and I made a noise of enlightenment, clearly indicating that I'd not only eavesdropped, but understood. Oh well. The point is that we made it to Paris, first class all the way!

In the train station:

 My first sight in Paris after stepping out of the Metro: L'arc de triomphe!

Climbing to the top...

 And the even better view from the top! It was so awesome to see all the sites from the top, and the old houses and beautiful architecture. Loved it.

View of the Champs Elysee.

 We got hungry up at the top there. Good thing we bring snacks along wherever we go.

Jacqueline is so talented at taking pictures while walking.

 Walking along the Champs Elysee. I pretended to attempt to learn the song before going, but I didn't. Prochaine fois.

It was at about this point that I got overwhelmed. I mean, this was Paris. PARIS! I couldn't even start taking it all in. How will I ever be able to know this city, or to even scratch the surface? Impossible. After spending so much time imagining how it would be, I almost couldn't handle being there! Somehow this little face across the street from Sephora was very comforting.

We stopped by the famed macaroon place. 

 And then we also stopped by the LDS visitors' center and the church, where we chatted it up with some missionaries and picked up some pass-along cards. 

 On the way to Notre Dame... It was at about this time that the overwhelmed feeling went away and the so-excited-I-can't-think-straight feeling set it. I mean, this was Paris. PARIS! I asked Jacqueline to not let me buy anything, since it would have only been provoked by my excitement. 

 ...we found a drinking fountain! What a shock! 

 La Seine! Ever since my earliest Ariana days, I've wanted to see this river. And there it was!

 Notre Dame! I really wanted to just sing a couple of verses from "God help the outcasts." We may or may not have at least hummed a bit of it.

We sat down to enjoy the view as well as the macarons we bought. They were so good. and French. 

 I could not believe the detail on this door! I mean, seriously!

 Jacqueline tried to talk me through each of the different Apostle's symbols. I had no idea. 

 We didn't have time to actually go inside, but it was still a lovely experience to see this famous church and appreciate its beauty. 

 The smallest road in the world... or something. I didn't actually have time to read the sign, but Jacqueline pointed it out, so I had to take a picture. 

 Jacqueline with this quintessential French man standing next to her.

 Eating our Nutella crepes before getting back on the Metro. Somehow crepes are better in Paris than they are anywhere else. 

I do believe it was the best 4-hour stopover in Paris that ever was. PARIS! I'm on the verge of quoting a few verses from the song in Anastasia, but I'll refrain. But in case you really want it, there you go.