champs d'elysee

I have officially finished my first week of "work". I realize now that work is a very relative term. It consists of me being here at 4 when the kids get back from school, I grab them a package of cookies for their "gouter" (snack) and sit with them as they do their homework. I am lucky that grade 4/5 work isn't hard because trying to do it in French would be difficult otherwise. I do not have any complaints yet. There is another au pair that lives in Saint Leu (where I am), I met her this week so we might get together once in a while.

On Friday I got up early, at 7 am, to talk to my parents on skype so I decided to capitalize on the day. I was going to wander around Paris. I got off the metro at Les Halles, which is a giant shopping center. I have never been so confused in my life. It is worse than metrotown, West Edmonton Mall and any other horribly convoluted mall I can imagine. I had to ask someone just how to get to the street that is how lost I was. After 20 minutes of walking around I finally came across the Louvre.

The Champs D'Elysee is a huge road that runs from the Louvre to the Arc de Triumphe. So what better way to see Paris than to do that. Needless to say after 2 hours of walking in the hot sun i felt like I had seen Paris, or at least a portion. I passed so many designer shops I didn't know what to do with myself. I wanted to buy a shirt, because I always need more. But I soon realised I can't afford anything on champs d'elysee. Louis Vuitton, Versace, Dior, Dolce Gabbana, Benetton, Armani etc. I settled on a baguette sandwich between those shops and ate under the arc de triomphe.

I then strolled back down the other side after navigating a massive, what appeared to be about 10 lane round about, I made way for the Eiffel Tower. Might as well hit the big three in one day. En route I came across the Canadian Embassy. It was a pleasant surprise and made me feel happy and at home. I went into the door but the security guards and metal detectors were not that inviting. I didn't make it to the Eiffel Tower because I had to head back to start "work".

So 3km later I was a little tanned, tired and touristed out.

Tomorrow... The Louvre.