I got to the airport yesterday at noon (thanks mom and dad!) and breezed through security. I headed right for Ruby’s (which has now become my ‘Before Departing on a European Adventure’ tradition) and had a chicken Caesar and a Blue Moon, then headed for the gate. I hadn’t been there ten minutes when Laurie, Brock, and Lara showed up, wanting to eat. So we headed…back to Ruby’s! Laurie and Brock got some food, and I realized that it was my last chance to have TEXAS beer, so I ordered a large Shiner Bock. While we were chatting about the trip, I saw Sherron walking along the concourse and yelled to her. She had met Mar by chance as they started into the airport, and the two of them joined us for a meal.
We made a special toast to those who had wanted to make the trip but hadn’t ultimately been able to go (Joel, Ann, Glenn, Marta, Rusty, Diana, Bert, Dana) and the many who would have loved to go but just couldn’t from the start. You are all on our minds, and you make our experience richer!
After finishing our meal, we headed to the terminal with 40 minutes to spare, and found Natalie and Brad worried about where we all were! They were boarding our rows when we got there, so we headed right onto the plane.
The flight was fine and miserable at the same time. Customs and baggage claim were miserable and fine at the same time. ‘Nuff said.
But as we grabbed our bags at the carousel we looked over to a bench and saw two very familiar looking strangers. We all introduced ourselves to Aaron and Tracie from Philadelphia. Okay, THAT was easy!
After some indecision and confusion over how to get to the hotel, 7 of the ten took a private shuttle to the hotel (the shuttle would only accomodate seven) , while Natalie, Brad, and I took the Air France Shuttle.
We dropped our bags at the hotel and found that a few of our rooms were ready, but some wouldn’t be ready until check in time. In twos and threes we headed out into Montparnasse for a meal.
My room was ready, so after a Croque Monsieur et Vin Blanc, I took a 4 hour nap! Afterwards we joined back together, as a group of ten for the first time outside those few moments in the airport, and headed for dinner.
Our main concern for dinner was a restaurant where we could all sit together. Aaron and Tracie didn’t know any of us, and were anxious to get to know us all as a group. We found a nice café, the waiter spoke just enough English, and we managed just enough French. I saw lamb shank, steak with bleu cheese sauce, burgers, pasta, and even some curry on the table.
Back to the hotel for a 30 minute break, and then it was off to the first real event of the trip, THE PARIS NIGHT SKATE!
We agreed to meet around 9:15 to head over to the skate rendez-vous point—skaters begin to arrive at 9:30, and the skate starts PROMPTLY at 10:00. Several of us headed to a previously-agreed-upon location to meet Soren and Celine. Within 5 minutes, two strangers came out of the Metro and became our newest friends!
We headed to Place Raoul Dautry, just a couple of blocks from the hotel, and saw skaters EVERYWHERE. 40 in blue t-shirts from a European tour group. Dozens in yellow volunteer shirts. Cops on skates. Guys with dreadlocks. Girls who I suspected might be VERY cold by the end of the night.
Aaron had sussed out the location to purchase t-shirts—he and Tracie and I had all missed out on getting them on our previous skates, but we all get them this time! Pari-Roller on the front, and Le Tour Eiffel on SKATES on the back! Now we just had to EARN them.
Brad, Paul, Lara, Sherron, Mar, Steve, Aaron, Laurie, Brock, Dana, Celine, Natalie, Soren
The skate started right on time (no Skater Time for the Parisians!) Aaron, Tracie, and I were the only ones who had done this before, so we felt exceptionally giddy knowing what a glorious skating experience our friends were in for! Aaron and I estimated (later in the night) that there might have been 4000 skaters there—small for the Paris skate, due to all of the Parisians who take vacation in August, but still larger than anything we had skated before. When the group got going, especially down a narrow street, we stretched out for 8 or 10 blocks! Skaters as far back as you could see, and a sea of bodies ahead as well!
Downhill over cobblestones was a challenge! Skating surrounded by bodies was a challege! The views, the speed, and the companionship of 4000 friends was beautiful. Racing down into a tunnel under the Seine and cruising under the river without a worry in our minds about a car was one of the top skating moments of my life!
WHAT A NIGHT! Cops on skates in amongst the crowd (SEXY cops, I might add; and there to ensure our fun and the cooperation of the locals, not to harass US!), young (6? 8?) and old (many in their 60s…at least!) Many languages and nationalities, and all of us in our home town shirts—Texas flags, cowby hats, Philly Free Skate shirts—we represented! I saw one guy in a Texas shirt—turned out to be a Parisian. Lots of people questioned us on our ‘Texan-ness’, and many ‘yee-hawed’ as they passed Laurie in her cowboy hat.
Alas, 14 of us started, and only 11 finished. Lara had a skate malfunction that took her out of the skate, and worried us all terribly. Far too many people for us to stay together, and when we realized no one had seen her since the first part of the skate, we could only trust in her good sense and the luck of the gods that she was okay. (We ultimately found her cuddled up in bed and in good spirits. I look forward to her full story tomorrow!) Soren and Celine left the skate early on, as well, Dana saw them leave, but we still don’t know just what happened—though they appeared to be in good health when they left. They’re not staying at our hotel, so we’ll have to follow up with them tomorrow.
After the skate (and checking that Lara was okay!) we headed for a local Brasserie for beer, crème brulee, ham and cheese sandwiches, and a banana split!
I was sitting next to one of my newest friends, Tracie, when she said, “I’m happy. I’m eating a crème brulee." I corrected her: “You’re eating a crème brulee in Paris.” She agreed that life was INDEED good.
More tomorrow, and I promise pictures and maps (though we go to the Moulin Rouge tomorrow night and again get in after 2:00AM, so that may have to wait another day).
My love to you all. I wish you were all here. My heart is indeed full, and my life is blessed!
That was such fun read. Now it's been hours.. surely you aren't sleeping! Tell us more ...more ...more!
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