FIRST STOP PARIS

Jeeez! Paris is almost as cold as Sweden! How could I possibly believe Paris would be warm in december? I know very well all of Europe is covered in snow but for some reason it never occurred to me that it would be the case in Paris too. I’ve only been in Paris during spring or summer so it just didn’t cross my mind that it could be freezing and covered in grey slush puppy ice. Damn, my trainers are ruined… I’m stoooopid. My sweet splendid pink blazers! Oh well, in a few days a pair of trainers will be the last thing I will worry about.

Carrying two massive suitcases and a backpack up and down stairways and through endless tunnels in the underground in Paris almost crushed me. Only ONE person offered to help me ONCE. Thank you anonymous old man! I don’t like to fire up the rumours of Parisian’s arrogance since my friends in this city truly are some of the nicest people I’ve met, but I have to say, no smoke without fire…
I was going to meet my friend somewhere central so i decided to go to Chatelet, the only station i have somewhat a clue of where it is. Still i got lost in the spider web of exits with different numbers and tunnels leading to escalators leading to other exits that lead to other exits! Embarassing, thinking of how many times I’ve been to Paris… Feeling crushed (literally and morally) I finally sat down in a café with a grumpy owner looking at my big muddy bags with a sigh. He looked like he hated his job, especially when I asked for something vegetarian…But after having scrutinized the menu and decided on a salade de chèvre chaud he actually lit up. His name was Ali and it turned out he has a brother who lives in Linköping in Sweden and is married to a woman called Gunilla. It’s a tiny world. I honoured him to be the first person to be captured by my new camera!

The weekend included loads of eating; d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s Indian dinner with friends, over priced pizza, skanky Quick fries, dry baguette, thirst quenching strawberry mojitos and yummy MACARONS. I also enjoyed the view looking out over Paris from Sacré-Coeur and tried out my new camera. The last night we went to a house party and stayed over at my friend Zaïra’s place (although she had a water leek in the bathroom, so the carpet in the hallway was soaked). After a good few days of fun I couldn’t help but feeling restless and when the big day arrived for my departure to BURKINA FASO I couldn’t wait to get to the airport. I got there five hours early! A lot of time to kill but I simply couldn’t take the risk to miss this flight. Even if all trains would get stuck, all bus drivers would go on strike, the roads would stand still in traffic jam or there would be a power cut shutting down all of Paris, I would still be in time for my flight!!! Giddy, nervous, exhausted and excited. Let the adventure begin!