A Random Plethora of Pictures!

In my first week or two in Paris, I went on a couple of little outings, mostly organized by AUP, that don't really need their own individual posts, but did get me a nice collection of pictures that I'd like to share.

First of all, a pic of my bed back at the FIAP hostel before I got my apartment. I meant to put this back on my post regarding said apartment, but forgot as this was in a separate photo folder on my computer. But just so that you can contrast with what I have now, this was my home for my first four days in Paris (in a big room I shared with SIX other girls):

The day after I arrived in Paris, the AUP Student Advisors, who were each assigned a small group of us newbies, took their respective groups out to dinner. Mine teamed up with a few other advisors and their groups and we all went out to the Champs de Mars (the big grassy area in front of the Eiffel Tower). We got crepes from a vendor nearby and ate on the lawn and watched the sun set:

The following weekend AUP put together a handful of other activities designed to get us out into the city and learn about the different areas. I went on a bus tour that went around to all of Paris' major sights (but didn't take any pictures because I plan on visiting all of those major sights for real and nobody wants to see pictures taken through the window of a moving bus). BUT right before the end, the bus did stop and let us off for about ten minutes at Trocadero, the spot right across the Seine behind the Eiffel Tower:

A bunch of us also went on a walking tour of Montmartre, the very hilly neighborhood whose edge is only about a seven minute walk from my apartment. Features of Montmartre include:

The Moulin Rouge, which is trashy and full of tourists and VERY overpriced.

Killer views like this (but look at how steep the street is that I had to hike up to get to this view!)

This statue, called Le Passe-Muraille, based on Marcel Aymé's story of the same name about a man who suddenly woke up with the ability to walk through walls (it's a neat little story, Google it!). 

The most famous part of Montmartre: Sacre-Coeur!

View from the top of the steps. Watch out for pickpockets, gypsies, homeless people, and men trying to sell you beer, water, souvenirs, etc.

The rest of these pictures are all from the last AUP outing before classes started: an evening cruise on the river with Bateau Mouches, the most famous river cruise company in Paris. Their boats are ENORMOUS, with the biggest (like that we were on) having seating for 1000 people. It took us up and down the Seine around Ile St. Louis and back:

Pont Alexandre III, one of the most famous (and certainly the most beautiful) bridges in Paris.

Musee D'Orsay.

Notre Dame!

Sunset on the way back.

Sara and me (looking a bit like a unicorn!)

A very good shot, if I do say so myself.