Travel Blog to France : July 12th Post

Segway Tours

Okay this is the last day I am blogging on our journey and then I believe Lexi will be blogging next. Today, July 12^th, 2013 we woke up and saw that the weather was beautiful outside. We ate quickly and walked outside to enjoy the sunny day and weather in the mid 60’s. To me, that is absolutely perfect! We decided it was a perfect morning to see the city by staying outside. We saw the sights of Paris in a very interesting way: segway tours! In case you've never heard of a segway, it is a unit of transportation that is just becoming popular in cities. It is a two-wheel device that moves based on your balance. If you don’t have good balance, good luck getting around on them! It is your own personal transportation device that can be used almost anywhere. As we walked up to the place where you can check them out for the morning, we were offered lessons. It was an extremely good opportunity, because without a thirty minute lesson, we might have been in trouble! When our lesson was complete, we felt like we were ready to head out on our own. We had a blast cruising around the streets of Paris on segways! I must say, I became pretty good at it the time our adventure was up! Unfortunately, we could not get any pictures while on them, or else we could have crashed! It’s ok though, because we just toured the outside of Paris, passing cute little boutiques and shops along the way.
As our journey continued, we got hungry and stopped at Au Bourguignon du Marais. There, we had some of the weirdest foods I'd ever tasted, but definitely had a meal that was traditional in France! We experienced a taste of many different parts of France, and every bite was delicious! As they brought out the first course, we all squealed and debated on who would eat it first. It was escargot! This famous French appetizer, is a dish of cooked snails. I was very skeptical about eating it, but it was heaven! I wanted to eat the whole plate, but then my next course arrived. For the main dish, it was one that Au Bourguignon du Marais is famous for! Boeuf bourguignon is a dish that consists of beef in a stew form, cooked in red wine, traditional beef broth and garnished with many flavors including garlic and onions. It may sound gross, but trust me, it was DELICIOUS! Although I was full, dessert came out and I couldn't pass it up! We then enjoyed lemon souffles! These were absolutely delicious, and a dessert that is a classic in France! The term souffle refers to a dish that is light and airy, and can hold its' shape but isn't too stiff. It did just that and with every bite, it melted in my mouth. Our stomachs were absolutely full and that traditional French meal was perfect!

We continued and saw many monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and other places we had already seen. We also ventured into new parts of Paris that were quaint with little shops and cafes. Finally, after a few hours, we finished our tour and returned our little machines. It was one of the most fun things I've ever done, and it challenged me to not crash! In any city you are in, look for the opportunity to tour by segway, it is a really cool thing you won’t want to pass up!

After that, we went back to the hotel for just a little while and got a power nap in. Then, at about 3 o’clock, we were well rested and took a nice long walk that put us at the Arc de Triomphe! Besides the Eiffel Tower, I personally believe that this is the most known and famous monument in Paris. In early 1806, Napoleon had the idea of having his city become more beautiful, and wanted a place in which people could pass through while entering Paris. In early 1806, many famous architects came together under Napoleon’s orders and began the project. Many delays occurred along the years, and about thirty years later, the project was finally complete. Inside the monument walls are carved with the names of French generals as well as the names of battles fought during the Napoleonic era. Beneath the arc lies the tomb of the unknown soldiers from World War 1. Many visit here and pay respect to all those who lost their lives during this war. Every year on November 11^th, a ceremony is held here to remember the armistice signed between France and Germany way back in 1918. Like I said, it is just a magnificent place with fabulous architecture and great historical meaning. While we were there, I’d say at least a few thousand other tourists stopped by or drove through it to get pictures of this historical place. It was so marvelous and incredible; no words can really describe it! We enjoyed it because it is an absolute must-do in Paris. Checking that after our list, it began to get dark so we strolled back to our hotel. I am so worn out after such a fun day! It’s been great writing on this blog; I can’t wait for the rest of our adventures! Until then, goodnight!