Yes, it's true, my plan to post daily has been sidetracked slightly. After 10 lovely, mostly internet-free (other than AmeriCorps-position-related emailing) days with my mom in Barcelona, I'm here in beautiful Paris. Internet at the hostel, like most things in Paris, is not free. This has encouraged people to resort to other measures (mostly wine and good conversation) for evening entertainment. We spend our days out in the sun, wandering parks and busy streets, or sheltered in the magnificent shade of the Louvre or some other wonder. I spent four hours inside the Louvre yesterday, during which my love of Michelangelo's work was reaffirmed. (His 'Captive Slave' sculpture is on display there.) It made me even more excited for Rome & Florence.
There'll be time for more travel stories later (mostly lots more on Ghana), but I'll share three highlights now so you too can soak in culture from your home or office (not that you would ever read this at work, of course):
1. Watching Rafael Nadal, the top-ranked tennis player in the world right now, overtake international #6 David Ferrer in the finals of the Barcelona Open. Both players are from Spain, but Rafa was more of a hometown favorite as judged by the posters and cheering of the crowd. I enjoy that tennis spectators use a slow clap to encourage players in break-point situations.
2. Making new friends on a free 3-1/2 hour tour of Paris offered through all the local hostels and spending the entire rest of the day taking photos of and in front of monuments of stunning grandeur (e.g., the Eiffel Tower, Paris' Arc de Triomphe). (Note: Most of our pictures were far less lopsided than this one; many involved jumping.)
3. Meeting about ten English-speaking individuals or pairs at the hostel after an entire day of near-silence not knowing anyone or being even close to passably speaking the language (reading: yes; comprehending: sometimes; speaking: no) and spending five or so hours sitting around in the common area playing card games and such. Extroverts love such happenings, in general.
Okay, I'm off to read the book I picked up at the Barcelona hostel (after leaving the one I had finished, I chose one of the few English options on the multi-lingual 'library' shelf) then get some sleep before an early train to Lyon in the morning.
Upcoming plan: Lyon then a month in Italy with Dad. Back in the States on June 9th.
Hope life is fantastic!
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