Jamon at the Eifel Tower and Lost in Paris

Wow, so a lot has happened since I posted last. Yesterday in Paris we had quite the adventure. After wandering the Louvre Museum for a couple hours and paying visit to the Venus DiMilo we found our way back to the Eifel Tower. Clearly Liz and I were fans of the tower considering that this was our 3rd visit to the Tower in less than 3 days. Anyways, we found ourselves waiting in line for tickets to the top for almost 2 hours. Surrounded by screaming children we decided that small children should not be allowed in Europe. Sorry. No children allowed. They aren't going to remember going to the top of the Eifel Tower when they are 2 years old so.... WHY TAKE THEM? Really, PLEASE DONT BRING YOUR SMALL CHILDREN TO EUROPE!!

Anyways, we surrived the 2 hour wait and were amused by some Spanish people about our age on the elevator up to the Eifel Tower. The entire ride up they didn't realize that we understood what they were saying. (This is the mistake we usually make when speaking English and presuming people don't understand us.... a cute security gaurd may have overheard and understood me telling Liz how adorable he was... oops!) Anways, back to the Spanish. Liz and I were entertained with ourselves being able to figure out what they were saying. I was trying to convice Liz she should introduce herself and we were clearly entertained by our new Spanish friends. Then while waiting for the final elevator to the very tip top of the Eifel Tower the loud, goofy Spaniard of the group pulls out this bag out of his backpack. Liz and I could not help but laugh hysterically when we realized it was Jamon (ham, the staple and obsession of the Spanish diet). They even offered to share but if 2 months in Spain has taught me anything at all, it has taught me that Jamon and I are not wonderful friends, so I politely declined, in Spanish of course. You would have thought that this would be their clue that we UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING they were saying but no.... they were still presuming, in France no one speaks Spanish. Man were they wrong. Anyways, this story is getting long and later in the long line Liz and I were casually talking about a certain someone in our group that would have been complaining in our paticular situation (aka Maletas) and this was over heard by our Spanish friends. At this point they get the shocked look on their face and one guy says ellas es espanolas, realizing that we had understood just about everything they had said for the past 2 hour wait. Ok so maybe that story was longer than necessary but the point is, don't say anything in a foreign country and presume everyone else won't understand you. It doesnt work that way. So after this long wait we made it up, absolutley petrified by the fastest elevator ride of my life, to the top of the Eifel Tower. I saw it sparkle twice and then came back down to enjoy another picnic.

On the way home after our wonderful final day in Paris Liz and I fell upon a minor problem. Our lack of French thus far had not been a burden. We were still able to order NUTELLA CREEPES, get into museums and enjoy our time in Paris. Or atleast until the metro died that was. We were headed home and waiting for our final train when we realized it was dead. We couldnt understand the announcements or comprehend what the French people were telling us. By some act of God we were rescued though by a random French woman who showed us how to get back to our metro stop via a long, maze like walk through a strange part of town. Although doubt crossed my mind when I realized I was following a total stranger home (she lived close to our metro stop) but it all turned out ok. We got home and without the un-named French women we would have still been in the metro today instead of in Prague.

But now we are in Prague and things continue to be amazing. After checking into our hotel and taking a quick nap (siesta is vital when vacationing!) we headed out in search of food. Although we have only been here a short time we have learnt a couple of things. 1. Food in Prague is cheap (thanks to the crown) and all comes backed with cheesy goodness topping. 2. Chocolates in Prague are even cheaper and rather amazing. We spent the rest of our evening wandering around the cold yet beautiful city of Prague. I will post pictures soon, I promise.

Anyways, now I am spending Halloween night hanging out in my hostel with Liz, meeting interesting American/French boys who would have been helpful to know before our Paris adventure. But I should be going. This post is entirely too long, sorry! I hope all is well state side and can't wait to see you all even though I don't ever want to leave Europe where I can fly to Paris for the weekend for less than 100$. But I will be home in 40 days, until then, be good, stay in touch and enjoy the DC fall for me.

love and besos!
Heather