This is what defines my day today... I'll explain. This morning I woke up at 7 a.m. to accompany Ordy to breakfast before he went to work. No big deal, I figured I would eat then head back to the room to nap before a little sight seeing. Well, I realized that Ordy Boy was genuinely nervous about me going out and venturing. He knew I would be alert, he just worried if anything happened. The biggest concern was that neither one of us had phone service. I figured we could e-mail each other throughout the course of the day while he was working. Anyhow, Ordy had a point. I really shouldn't be alone venturing with my big camera, and risk getting lost. The fact that the sun set at 10:30 p.m. made me feel like I still had 4 hours after he got off to go sight seeing. Long story short, after breakfast I figured I would take a loooong nap to kill time and just wait in the hotel room reading while he got back. He said he didn't want me to feel like a prisoner in the room- and I definitely didn't, because I chose to be in there- but it was crazy thinking I'm in Paris- but in a hotel room!
So, at 8:15 a.m. I hung the "Please do not disturb" sign on the front door so the cleaning ladies wouldn't disturb my slumber. The door tag had it in about 9 different languages, but my favorite translation was, "Porfavor no molestar"... and let me tell you, disturb they did NOT. I slept for (I'm embarrassed to admit this...) 7 hours. I woke up at 3 p.m. and was surprised/horrified/embarrassed/amused/happy. Happy that I only had 3 more hours to wait for Ordy Boy. I couldn't believe how much I slept!!! I woke up and decided that I would try to find a local grocer to buy water for the week. It's about $7 to get water at the restaurant, and being in the room all day I figured I should have a supply of it readily available. So, I showered and went down to the street and the busy square around 3:30. I walked to the local pharmacy because I forgot my deodorant (or can't find it in the mess of my luggage) and am tired of smelling like Old Spice "Swagger". When I walked in, it was so small and I was the only person and seriously had a minor panic attack. NOTHING looked like CVS. I found myself trying to read lables because it seemed like everything was in a generic sized box covered with French writing- no pictures. I was paranoid that I was trying to look for deodorant but intently trying to decipher a box of suppositories! Nothing looked like it would in a normal drug store. I couldn't even find chapstick. Too bad I didn't need Listerine, because that was the ONLY thing out of a box and easily identifiable. I wouldn't mind taking my time searching, only it was a small store and I felt three men pharmacists staring at my every move. I finally waited until another customer walked in, while I safely stood by the listerine display, then made my escape.
I guess the most traumatic part of the whole experience was that I never took a day of French growing up. I took 4 years of Spanish. While I've been to Paris before, I don't know why it just occurred to me, I'm that American... I know most people understand and are more than willing to work with you... but it still bothered me that I didn't even have a book in my hand to show effort. All I could say is, "merci" and that's only because it's the same way to say, "thank you" in my own language! I get by in Spain, even in Portugal, Brazil, and Italy... I remember having this mini panic attack in Sweden, when I couldn't even tell which sign said "Exit"... I feel like I should've at least attempted to brush up on some French, but then there's a part of me that is like, 'are you kidding? why would they want you butchering their beautiful language??'... so I'm definitely torn. Oh well, needless to say after the ordeal, I walked back to the hotel at 4:20 p.m. and read a book in bed until I fell asleep...again... until 6:20p.m. when Ordy Boy got back. So... yes, I have been up a total of 4 hours all day today... it's 9:15 p.m. Call me pathetic!!!
Ordy and I were hungry so we walked to the local shops and cafes before we settled on a cute Italian restaurant for Pizza. We walk around the city and noticed all the shops (even big name Lacoste, H&M, etc) closed at 7 p.m. We walked the pizza off just enjoying the beautiful city and the weather until we got back to the hotel, where I am typing this and he is already snoozing... Let's just blame this on jet lag...k?
