Black Orpheus

**Rue Faubourg St Antoine Paris, just west of Place de la Nation. Copyright 2011**

Bon soir tout le monde!

Hey everybody! Wow, it feels like it's been a while since I last posted on here! I am currently back in Paris, with my pops, rocking out in the 12th district, just beside Place de la Nation! It's nice to have my computer for a few days, just to un-learn all the french keyboard typing habits that I started to develop... And, I have to say, it's nice to be in a hotel, with a guaranteed place to crash just for a week... after that it's back to the usual excitement!

It's so nice to be back in Paris! Paris is incredible - everybody should see it at least once in their life! I would absolutely give this city two weeks - there is so much to do!!! And it's also a wonderful city for just sitting and relaxing... I'm really glad I came back - even though I haven't spent any time in large (by american standards) cities in the last three weeks, my confidence has vastly improved, and I'm able to visit monuments and busy sections of town and actually look at what it is that I'm supposed to be looking at, instead of my bag and wallet...

**Dad having a go at the oars - Chateau de Versailles. Copyright 2011**

For example - the first time I was in Montmartre (18e) I was TERRIFIED of getting robbed. I don't know why, but I was. Have to say I really didn't enjoy it! But my dad and I went up there a few days ago, and it's wonderful to realize that there's nothing to be afraid of! What a stunning area. It was fun to see all the artists painting in the square, to sit on the steps of the Basilique du Sacré Cœur, and even more fun to leave the tourist area (which doesn't take very long - it's not very big) and wander the quiet back streets, laden with Brasseries, Épiceries, and Laveries.

I have run into at least four films being made in Paris - it was fun to walk by the stashes of gear and be a total "bogey" for once. Even better was seeing a Steadicam guy rocking out near Place de la Bastille.... I could live like that... I think from my minimal experience here that I would like to live on the Right Bank...

When I was in Paris the first time, I spent most of my time (for some unknown reason) on the right bank (everything north of the Seine River). When I showed up a few days ago, I learned what I had been missing - TOURISTS

RUN

AWAY

!!!!!!!!!!!

Not quite that bad, but it was really strange to be walking along, you cross the street, and you find yourself in an street that is just filled with tourists - like - FILLED. It's a very young crowd, and I can see the appeal for certain types of people, but I'm a more low key guy when it comes to that sort of thing. I found that everything had this plastic, over the top sort of feel - it wasn't real at all. Then I flipped back over the river, and life was normal again! This is not me dissing the south side of town - I suspect that I probably just wandered into a really popular section of a small part of town, but regardless, I've really loved my stay on the right bank!

In news, I just found out that the NDP party in Canada has formed the opposition.

**Auberge de Jeunesse - Genêts. Copyright 2011**

Mont St. Michel was wonderful. Such a great experience. It was my first go at hosteling abroad (my experience in Québec city doesn't count...), and it was wonderful! I pretty much had the run of the place! The hostel was in the old railway station in the village of Genêts (population 400). Such a great location, and the management was unbelievably friendly! The walk to the Abbey across the Baie de Mont St. Michel was amazing! Gotta love quick sand and rip tides! Our guide was so cool. His name was Didier - I think that says enough....

**The "Pilgrimage" to Mont St. Michel with guide Didier. Copyright 2011**

And a big shout out to Marie-Noëlle and André in Bayeux, as well as Claire, Alexandre and Helène in Caen! - awesome hosts! It was absolutely wonderful staying with them there! Bayeux is a beautiful city - one of only two in Normandy that didn't get totally destroyed by the war (I think I may have already mentioned this in an earlier post, so I shall stop here...). I loved the tapestry - it's incredible to be so close to something that is almost 1000 years old! The history here is unspeakably incredible. Oh right I almost forgot - Happy 401st Birthday Québec! (I got to be in Normandy for its 1100th birthday - lots of fun!)

And before signing out here, I shall record some more pointless statistics!

Days: 44

Couch surfing : 28

Camping : 8

Hostels : 3

Dads here! : 5

Kilometers : 1050

Flat Tires : 1

Baguettes : Have lost track due to increased wine intake

Fresh bread dipped in melted wheels of Camembert : Priceless

Much love to everybody!

All is Well

-Ryley