A few days in Paris, just arrived in Normandy

I had some more fun exploring London with some new friends, then they took off and I went out to the airport to pick up Roxanne. We spent two nights in London at a pretty decent hostel. It was a 17 bunk dorm with the bunks stacked 3 high, yet each bed had a privacy curtain, it was pretty strange. We went on a free walking tour of the city and saw all the major sights. Then we did a pub crawl on our last night which was pretty fun, but Roxanne managed to leave her debit card at a club. We left for Paris the next day, she is still trying to figure out if she can get her card or have to cancel it. All in all, I spent 6 days in London so I got to see just about every major museum and tourist sight (all free!). After that, we took a 9 hour bus ride to Paris through the Chunnel (much cheaper than the train).

Paris was the first place on my trip where everyone didn't speak English, and that will probably be true for the rest of my trip! It is definitely a different experience trying to figure out where to go and how to get there. I seem to be recalling quite a bit of French I took from 7th - 9th grade! I can't believe it, I am able to ask basic questions and understand a little when people talk to me. I bet a month alone in this country and I could speak conversational French. We saw most of the major sights in Paris - the Louvre, Notre Dame, Musee D'Orsay, Arc de Triomph, Eiffel Tower, and more. I managed not to spend too much money despite Paris being very expensive. A baguette and some cheese and a bottle of wine, all for about 5 euros!!! The wine is so cheap at the store I can't believe it. I got a glass at a cafe my first night for 4 euros, then the next day I bought a bottle at the supermarket for 1.4 euros! That was the cheapest one they had, but supposedly some of the wines that sell for 50-100 bucks in the U.S. cost about 3-4 euros at a Paris supermarket.

It rained quite a bit in Paris, which I wasn't expecting. There was a freak rainstorm while we were in line at the Eiffel Tower which sent everyone running. We are now in Caen, a city in Normandy. Tomorrow I hope to visit the D-Day museum and see some of the beaches and war memorials. Should be pretty interesting. I will post some pictures when I get a chance. Time for bed!