Getting "Oar"ganized in Paris

The Youds at Sacre Coure
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So-- we thought we'd leave London and have a few hours of travel into Paris. A subway train, a bus, another bus, a ferry, a third bus, a train, another train, another subway train, a fourth bus, a trolley, and 11 hours later we arrived at our new hostel.  And we didn't even get lost once! Our first experience with travel in Europe was a real adventure.  At least we proved to ourselves that we could do it.

At first, our new hostel was disappointing.  Being a novice hosteleteer, I didn't realize just what a great place the Globetrotter in London was.  CISP Kellerman sure didn't match up.  Overall, Paris didn't seem to match up with London.  The weather was nicer, but there was the language barrier, the subway system was not as good, and our hostel was located far from the important sites.

But the absolute highlight was August 29th, Ryan's 3rd birthday.

Our srerotypical old French woman... isn't she cute?
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But then we ran into Lisa and Fat Tire Bike Tours!  When we found their brochure in the lobby that stated that they were an "English speaking oaisis," we jumped a subway train and headed there.  It didn't hurt that their office was blocks from the Eiffel Tower.  Lisa, the manager, sat with Dan Hodge (our professor) and I for about 40 minutes and gave us advice about what to see, what to skip, and how not to be ripped off.  Meanwhile, Shelley caught up on her email while another girl who worked at the shop brought out a soccer ball and kept Ryan entertained!  Fat Tire really started our Paris stay off on the right foot.

Look what I got!
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We did a lot of tourist things in Paris like visiting Sacre Cour, Notre Dame, the Louve, and the Orsay; taking a boat tour on the Seine; and and even having a day without Ryan while he stayed with our RA, Annemarie.

But the absolute highlight was August 29th, Ryan's 3rd birthday.  We started the day with a train ride to the palace at Versailles.  Upon arrival, we learned that while you had to pay and stand in a long line to get into the palace, the gardens are free and have no line.  We skipped the interior and headed for the back yard, the unbelievably enormous back yard.  We had just finished our picnic lunch when we realized that there were row boats on the grand canal, a man-made lake in the middle of the gardens.  So, for the next hour we took turns rowing, or "organizing" as Ryan called it (get it-- you row a boat with an oar-- oar-ganize???).  That kid sure is cute!  We got home (we call where ever we are staying "Home"-- Ryan seems to like that) just in time to head to dinner with the group.  Ryan had been so good all day...until dinner!  I have never heard a kid scream so much about having to eat fried rice!  But once he ate his mandatory 10 bites and I took him  to the park across the street, he calmed down. Our night culminated with chapel under the Eiffel Tower.  We sang some worship songs, took communion, and prayed in small groups.  The coolest thing about the Eiffel Tower at night is that it sparkles the first 10 minutes of every hour.  The coolest thing about it being your third birthday is that anything interesting MUST have been planned for you!  So, Ryan believes that the sparkling Eiffel Tower was his birthday candle and that it stopped sparkling because he blew it out!  Life is good.  Around 11:30 PM, the group sang our tired yet beaming little birthday boy "Happy Birthday" and we headed home.  It was a great day.

Ryan "Oar"ganizing at Versailles
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Overall, Paris was great!  I think we will probably go back.

The trip is flying by.  Two cities down, six to go.  This weekend, we are in Haarlem, Holland, the home of Corrie Ten Boom.  I'll fill you in on the details soon.  Love you all.