I love travelling, but sometimes…
Thursday. I am super-tired. One of my roommates elbowed my bunk bed several times and crinkled her essentially-empty water bottle numerous times during the night. Miss Irritating. It’s times like these I have to remind myself that it was my choice to stay in a hostel so I wouldn’t be alone so much. It wouldn’t be so hard to take if she didn’t seem so negative all the time. She complained about the lack of space. She complained about the breakfast, which I loved, telling me how she has seen “much better spreads” in hostels where there are 20 people to a dorm room, when we have four people to a room here. In fact, she complained so much I asked her why she was staying here: It’s not like anyone is forcing her to stay here. She said she was staying here because her friends were staying here. She seemed nice enough when I met her, but she’s turned into Miss Irritating. I wish I could tell her, PLEASE KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. I won’t.
The Sephora on the Champs-Elysees is absolutely gorgeous.
I had a pretty good day. I went to Sephora (and Monoprix) to replace the items that went missing; I haven’t decided whether to get Bumble & Bumble hair products. Monoprix is very close by. They’re like a Target in the States, only classier. They sell many types of items. I bought L’Oreal moisturizer, an eye cream, baby lotion. I took the Metro from Blanche to Champs-Elysees to go to Sephora. I admit I had more jitters using the Metro than I did before (probably because of all I have been through), but I know I have to learn to be gentler with myself. I’ve been through a lot. I’m here to recuperate and enjoy Paris. The Sephora on the Champs-Elysees is HUGE – it must be at least 10 times the size of the one in Montgomery Mall! And gorgeous! I couldn’t get over how busy they were…like the day after Thanksgiving, every day. It wouldn’t surprise me if they had close to 100 people working. What a nightmare it must be to write a schedule that large. But all the employees were so nice…and they helped me find what I needed.
After Sephora I went walking. I walked so much that I later took a hop-on, hop-off bus tour for 2 hours just to get off my feet. I didn’t have to pay the full price – it was late, and I told the driver I only wanted to get on for an hour or two. We negotiated the price and he told me I could get off in 2 hours. Thirty-nine euros seemed like a lot to pay for a bus ride no matter how long or how many days it was for. I’m so tired I’ll wait to get my free weights another day. I made a list of people to send postcards to. I want to remember Nicdadya’s name at the hostel and get Irene’s LA Fitness address for her souvenir. I’ll bet she’ll be surprised.
T-shirt souvenirs are always a good gift.
I need to get a little fruit at the market and spend the heavy change I have. One- and 2-euros weigh A LOT. Maybe carrying all that change helps to keep French women thin! (If only, right?) I also need to organize my money and put it all in my locker. And pray. And reorganize my stuff. And work on my CV and set up my account for possible teaching jobs. And write Wells Fargo’s international number in my luggage and keep it with my passport.
Let’s hope Miss Irritating doesn’t crinkle her water bottle again tonight. Notes to self: I LOVE TRAVELLING. I’VE LEARNED TO TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD. A BAD DAY IN PARIS IS BETTER THAN A GOOD DAY ANYWHERE ELSE. I like the last statement the best.
Salut !
Image of Sephora on the Champs-Ellysees by the author. All other images by Can Stock Photo.
